Martial Arts: Facing multiple opponents - Page 9

TheOneRonin · 03-31-2014, 09:41 AM

Recent gaming experience has shown me just how difficult it is, under GURPS rules, to deal with multiple opponents in unarmed melee combat.

I understand the core strategies (movement to keep them out of your side/rear arcs, throws and sweeps to knock them prone, TA to vitals/neck/skull, etc.), but even with those approaches, it's still a struggle to defeat a small number of low-skilled opponents even with very high skills and improved techniques.

So I come to the forums to tap the wealth of knowledge and experience of this community. How do YOU overcome the odds when confronted with multiple opponents in melee combat?

Here are some basics that I'm working in:

-Modern Campaign...TL8 here on Earth (circa 2016)
-No cinematic rules
-VERY skilled and capable character (ST 14, DX 13, HT 13, Judo/Karate @ 18, Very Fit, combat reflexes, etc.)
-Opponents are human, no body armor, and run the gamut from untrained gangbangers to Chinese Special Forces.
-I have GURPS MA and Tech Grappling, and all of the non-cinematic options in those books are available.
-Let's assume I can re-build my character and, staying within my current point totals, adjust my skills (20 is the cap for this campaign), techniques, and advantages (nothing cinematic or supernatural).

Also, here are some things I would like to remove from the discussion:

-Use a weapon: I totally understand that adding a weapon to the mix can be a game changer, but that's actually irrelevnt for this particular discussion.
-Have buddies helping out: Again, this changes the scenario significantly, but not relevant.
-Extra Attack: Even 1 level of this is not approved by the GM in the current campaign. So can we be effective against multiple opponents without it?
-Running away: always a good choice when you are outnumbered, but sometimes you can't. For this scenario, assume you can't.

So given the above, how do you approach dealing with multiple, unarmed opponents? What maneuvers, skills, techniques do you use, and how do you use them?

03-31-2014, 09:41 AM	#1
TheOneRonin Join Date: Oct 2010	Martial Arts: Facing multiple opponents Recent gaming experience has shown me just how difficult it is, under GURPS rules, to deal with multiple opponents in unarmed melee combat. I understand the core strategies (movement to keep them out of your side/rear arcs, throws and sweeps to knock them prone, TA to vitals/neck/skull, etc.), but even with those approaches, it's still a struggle to defeat a small number of low-skilled opponents even with very high skills and improved techniques. So I come to the forums to tap the wealth of knowledge and experience of this community. How do YOU overcome the odds when confronted with multiple opponents in melee combat? Here are some basics that I'm working in: -Modern Campaign...TL8 here on Earth (circa 2016) -No cinematic rules -VERY skilled and capable character (ST 14, DX 13, HT 13, Judo/Karate @ 18, Very Fit, combat reflexes, etc.) -Opponents are human, no body armor, and run the gamut from untrained gangbangers to Chinese Special Forces. -I have GURPS MA and Tech Grappling, and all of the non-cinematic options in those books are available. -Let's assume I can re-build my character and, staying within my current point totals, adjust my skills (20 is the cap for this campaign), techniques, and advantages (nothing cinematic or supernatural). Also, here are some things I would like to remove from the discussion: -Use a weapon: I totally understand that adding a weapon to the mix can be a game changer, but that's actually irrelevnt for this particular discussion. -Have buddies helping out: Again, this changes the scenario significantly, but not relevant. -Extra Attack: Even 1 level of this is not approved by the GM in the current campaign. So can we be effective against multiple opponents without it? -Running away: always a good choice when you are outnumbered, but sometimes you can't. For this scenario, assume you can't. So given the above, how do you approach dealing with multiple, unarmed opponents? What maneuvers, skills, techniques do you use, and how do you use them?