MA/TG: Performing a Beat (MA100) on a parry?

Ultraviolet · 07-13-2022, 10:32 AM

Greetings

I'm trying to get my head around using Beats (MA100) i.a. ST-based Feints correctly.

To begin with, I find the mechanics of Feints to be problematic sometimes: You perform a Feint, ideally you don't know how well it worked, and neither did the opponent. If the numbers are known, it's a cheat that the enemy may simply AoD, because he is likely to blow his defense.
But aside from that, once you've Feinted, the enemy has a turn to attack you or whatever. It sort of breaks the flow.

I find that even worse for Beats used on a succesful parry. You supposedly parry hard, to bring the opponent's arm or weapon out of line. But this is just a setup, your next action needs to be a Feint, where you just substitute DX with ST. So once again, the enemy has time to attack you, with the arm or weapon you've supposedly Beaten out of line.

Wouldn't it make more sense if this kind of Beat was a type of Parry?
MA already has Aggressive Parry, where something happens at once.
Judo parry allows you to Arm Lock immediately after without spending time to grapple the arm.
TG has Grabbing Parry.

Any good hacks from TG? That book has mechanics to cover a lot of stuff. A Beat is not a Grapple, but still...

Note that both Praying Mantis Kung Fu and Pak Hok lists using Beats initiated from parries to pull or knock enemy off balance.

What about:

Defensive Beat (H)
Def: prereq skill Parry-2
Prereq: Judo or Karate (maybe other unarmed skills?); cannot exceed prequisite Parry
If the parry is successfull, immediately roll a Quick Contest of ST-based unarmed combat skill versus the foe's ST- or DX-based unarmed combat skill. If the aggressor wins his MoS lowers alle the opponent's barehanded parries as a Feint would. The penalty lasts until the end of the next turn of the fighter who performed the Beat.
Might work for melee combat as well

Effectively this is a "free Feint" (although ST based) which is allowed because you perform a harder than normal parry (but probably spend extra points to buy off the penalty). Is that too good? Aggressive parry is already a free (but weaker) attack. Grabbing Parry is a free (but weaker) grapple etc.

Offensive Beats are just like normal Feints, you perform one instead of an attack. It just bugs me that you actively pound the enemy's arm or weapon away, then he attacks at no penalty. Then you attack and he has a parry penalty.
Maybe Offensive Beats ought to penalize the enemy's next attack?

07-13-2022, 10:32 AM	#1
Ultraviolet Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Århus, Denmark	MA/TG: Performing a Beat (MA100) on a parry? Greetings I'm trying to get my head around using Beats (MA100) i.a. ST-based Feints correctly. To begin with, I find the mechanics of Feints to be problematic sometimes: You perform a Feint, ideally you don't know how well it worked, and neither did the opponent. If the numbers are known, it's a cheat that the enemy may simply AoD, because he is likely to blow his defense. But aside from that, once you've Feinted, the enemy has a turn to attack you or whatever. It sort of breaks the flow. I find that even worse for Beats used on a succesful parry. You supposedly parry hard, to bring the opponent's arm or weapon out of line. But this is just a setup, your next action needs to be a Feint, where you just substitute DX with ST. So once again, the enemy has time to attack you, with the arm or weapon you've supposedly Beaten out of line. Wouldn't it make more sense if this kind of Beat was a type of Parry? MA already has Aggressive Parry, where something happens at once. Judo parry allows you to Arm Lock immediately after without spending time to grapple the arm. TG has Grabbing Parry. Any good hacks from TG? That book has mechanics to cover a lot of stuff. A Beat is not a Grapple, but still... Note that both Praying Mantis Kung Fu and Pak Hok lists using Beats initiated from parries to pull or knock enemy off balance. What about: Defensive Beat (H) Def: prereq skill Parry-2 Prereq: Judo or Karate (maybe other unarmed skills?); cannot exceed prequisite Parry If the parry is successfull, immediately roll a Quick Contest of ST-based unarmed combat skill versus the foe's ST- or DX-based unarmed combat skill. If the aggressor wins his MoS lowers alle the opponent's barehanded parries as a Feint would. The penalty lasts until the end of the next turn of the fighter who performed the Beat. Might work for melee combat as well Effectively this is a "free Feint" (although ST based) which is allowed because you perform a harder than normal parry (but probably spend extra points to buy off the penalty). Is that too good? Aggressive parry is already a free (but weaker) attack. Grabbing Parry is a free (but weaker) grapple etc. Offensive Beats are just like normal Feints, you perform one instead of an attack. It just bugs me that you actively pound the enemy's arm or weapon away, then he attacks at no penalty. Then you attack and he has a parry penalty. Maybe Offensive Beats ought to penalize the enemy's next attack? __________________ Playing GURPS since '90, is now fluent in 4th ed as well.