[GUN FU] How to offensively defend yourself with guns?

[binn05]

Originally Posted by Varyon

Holding your weapon against the target before pulling the trigger ("Dodge this") is a Telegraphic Attack (as explained in Tactical Shooting). But if you're shoving the weapon into its mouth to try to stop it from being able to bite you (and then presumably later pulling the trigger), that's something like a Weapon Bind, from Fantastic Dungeon Grappling. ... For the ratdogs, I'd say the character would first use their weapon to Parry a bite, then use that as justification to start a Weapon Bind, using their weapon to Bind the weapon of the Ratdog (its mouth). If the ratdog jumps back, the bind ends - but if it keeps trying to break through anyway, it's grappled. In that situation, I probably wouldn't bother calling for a roll when the character attacks the next turn - just resolve it as a hit to the Skull, ignoring the target's natural DR (if any) on account of being in the mouth. Of course, I'd also rule that the gun being in its mouth means the RatDog is effectively grappling it, so there's the risk it may be to disarm you before you can fire.

I have FGG and forgot completely about Weapon Binds. I like your solution.

Originally Posted by Anaraxes

Defensive Grip and Reversed Grip (MA 111) both allow a warrior to shorten the reach of long weapons for use in close combat. The rules are written with the usual melee weapons in mind, but they both allow swords and spears to be used with these grips. You might consider a shotgun to be close enough to a spear to use these rules. (For this thread, let's sidestep the dread spear and staff debate.) My mental image of holding the barrel and stock in a staff/spear-like grip seemed like it would allow use in CC, with the usual disadvantages of Defensive Grip (reduced damage, etc).

The GM might well require the use of the Spear or Staff skill; lacking that skill just means calculating the Parry or to-hit values from the character's default for the skill. Or you might consider that the character's training included enough hand-to-hand use of a rifle that you're willing to use the Guns skill for these purposes. (But note that there's no reason that gun fighting style can't teach two skills; most martial styles do.)

Neither of these grips sounds like the warrior is keeping the gun in a firing position, finger through the trigger guard, and so on. (Seems like a good way to break a finger.) A character planning on fighting this way probably wants to take Grip Mastery so they can change from the "staff" grip to the "shooting" grip without taking a turn to Ready.

Sticking the barrel into the mouth of an attacking animal I'd treat it just as a Spear thrust, targeting the mouth at -7. (That's one point harder than "Jaw", from MA 137 "New Hit Locations".) A shotgun is a blunt "spear", to be sure, so no damage from a success. But you will get to claim that inside attack if the opponent doesn't manage to disengage from the weapon before the shooter's next turn to fire comes around -- assuming the shooter's got that Grip Mastery to switch back to a shooting grip on the stock/trigger. (I'd probably resolve the disengagement as breaking a grapple unless the animal just runs away. The real question is whether the animal's smart enough to do so, or whether it's just going to try to worry the shotgun to death. So the GM might let the mundane guard dogs get blasted, while the wily, experienced maneater is more wary of firearms. Whatever works in the game.)

I think those two answers are the ones that more closely match what I and my players were trying to do. Again, I appreciate everyone's contribution and the learning process.

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by binn05

Thank you, Christopher. Your work is always of high quality, sadly buying DF books again will not be a priority considering Post Apocalypse will be our next line of games.

No worries. There is actually a lot in that book that could be used for Gun Fu stuff to be honest. I think that's because I wanted dual-wielding pistol crossbows to be a thing. But yeah, no pressure. :-)