09-12-2015, 12:16 PM | #1 |
Join Date: May 2012
Location: New Hampshire, USA
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[MA] Leaving hit locations "open" by focusing defenses elsewhere
I'm wondering if there are any rules for focusing ones active defenses to protect certain locations while leaving other places open.
I.E.: I want to focus on parrying any attacks to my abdomen but leave my shoulders, upper back, and head open (e.g. hunching over and pulling arms in to cover abdomen) In theory this would give you a bonus to defend against any attack to the chosen location, but prevent you from making any defense to the exposed location. This might seem like a stupid idea, but if the exposed locations are heavily armored and the protected area is not it would be a useful trick to know how to do. Anyone have any ideas? |
09-12-2015, 12:19 PM | #2 |
Join Date: Sep 2007
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Re: [MA] Leaving hit locations "open" by focusing defenses elsewhere
GURPS Martial Arts: Gladiators has some rules. An old thread discussing them: http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=125484
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09-12-2015, 04:42 PM | #3 |
Join Date: Apr 2010
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Re: [MA] Leaving hit locations "open" by focusing defenses elsewhere
You'll actually see this in mixed-martial-arts competition. For instance some fighters don't attempt to block (i.e. check) leg kicks at all, preferring to stand in a heavy stance. Or when a fighter gets hurt and trapped along the fence, you may see him raise his arms to cover his head, trying to avoid a knockout punch. Savvy fighters have had great luck attacking the body when a hurt opponent does this, while fighters that just keep swinging for the head sometimes strike out.
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09-13-2015, 12:23 AM | #4 | |
Join Date: May 2012
Location: New Hampshire, USA
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Re: [MA] Leaving hit locations "open" by focusing defenses elsewhere
Quote:
Alternatively (more along the lines of presenting a side as discussed in Gladiators) you could also adopt a low leaning bent over stance that offered your head, arms (at least upper arms and shoulders) and upper chest (hit location 9), even allowing strikes to the back of hit location 9 from the front, but made it a little more difficult (or perhaps easier to defend via blocks and parries) strikes to your lower torso. This stance would be relatively low and probably require one leg to be forward and therefore also easier to attack at any time. Thoughts? |
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09-13-2015, 05:06 AM | #5 | |
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Central Europe
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Re: [MA] Leaving hit locations "open" by focusing defenses elsewhere
Quote:
In armed combat, stances with a strong forward lean, such as in MS I.33 and Salvator Fabris, are usually meant to protect targets below the ribcage (Abdomen, Groin, Leg, Foot) by moving them well behind the threat of the stander's own weapon. They tend to work better out of armour.
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09-13-2015, 06:08 AM | #6 |
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Vermont
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Re: [MA] Leaving hit locations "open" by focusing defenses elsewhere
There are also deceptive openings, where you intentionally leave a target open so you opponent will strike at it, allowing you to use a specific counter.
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09-13-2015, 06:13 AM | #7 |
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Central Europe
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Re: [MA] Leaving hit locations "open" by focusing defenses elsewhere
I would treat those as instances of Feint, Riposte, Evaluate, Wait, Counterattack, the benefit of Style Familiarity in your opponent's style, etc. No position is a guard to the ignorant, and every position is a guard to the expert, and all that.
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"It is easier to banish a habit of thought than a piece of knowledge." H. Beam Piper This forum got less aggravating when I started using the ignore feature |
09-13-2015, 08:59 AM | #8 | |
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Vermont
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Re: [MA] Leaving hit locations "open" by focusing defenses elsewhere
Quote:
However, one way to trick your opponent into attacking your head, for instance, is to deny him any other targets. A perk like the following might make some sense: Deceptive Guard: When using Focused Defenses (Martial Arts: Gladiators, 21), the -1 penalty to parry presented locations counts towards the voluntary parry penalties of your Riposte.
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09-13-2015, 11:58 AM | #9 | |
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Central Europe
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Re: [MA] Leaving hit locations "open" by focusing defenses elsewhere
Quote:
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"It is easier to banish a habit of thought than a piece of knowledge." H. Beam Piper This forum got less aggravating when I started using the ignore feature |
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09-14-2015, 11:37 AM | #10 | ||
Join Date: May 2012
Location: New Hampshire, USA
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Re: [MA] Leaving hit locations "open" by focusing defenses elsewhere
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Quote:
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