Weapons getting stuck

[AllenOwen]

I'm sure this is somewhere in the Basic Set, but I've yet to find it. How would you go about modeling/simulating/etc rules handling swords/bladed weapons getting stuck after an impaling attack?

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by AllenOwen

I'm sure this is somewhere in the Basic Set, but I've yet to find it. How would you go about modeling/simulating/etc rules handling swords/bladed weapons getting stuck after an impaling attack?

I don't think it really happens very often (except with swung impaling weapons, which is already covered). I've never stabbed a living person with a sword, but I have stabbed a pig carcass, FWIW. For thrust impaling weapons, you might consider Critical Miss result 8 as "Your weapon was stuck" instead if it follows a successful impaling attack. Or you could just rule that the weapon is stuck on any Critical Miss following a successful impaling attack.

[johndallman]

That's generally confined to swing/impaling weapons, like picks. See B.405.

[Wraithe]

I generally rule that:

Any weapon that deals impaling damage that does more than half of its possible damage sticks in its target. For any melee weapon, this is a "effect". Projectiles stay in the target until removed. If a melee weapon that deals impaling damage rolls a double or triple damage effect on a critical hit, then the weapon is "stuck" per "Picks" B405.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Wraithe

Any weapon that deals impaling damage that does more than half of its possible damage sticks in its target.

I don't think thats really a problem with blades. I've never read a non-fictional account of this being a common problem and I've never seen it with carcasses. Blade-thrusts are generally not as deep as they are often shown in films.

[Wraithe]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

I don't think thats really a problem with blades. I've never read a non-fictional account of this being a common problem and I've never seen it with carcasses. Blade-thrusts are generally not as deep as they are often shown in films.

Yeah, I tried to make that phrasing clear - in the case of melee weapons it's just flavor. It only has an actual game effect with missiles, where you know have to deal with an arrow/spear sticking in you.

By my above ruling, if a melee weapon rolls over half damage it stuck into a target it also pulled out with no extra effort involved. It only "sticks" in a rules sense , if it rolls double or triple on a crit. success.

[Maz]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

I don't think thats really a problem with blades. I've never read a non-fictional account of this being a common problem and I've never seen it with carcasses. Blade-thrusts are generally not as deep as they are often shown in films.

But most games tend to be more fiction-real than reality-real. So it's no wonder people would want it. Besides in games you are far more likely to see super-strong people with super-sharp weapons, and so it's more likely that a sword would go deep into a person.


Anyway. I think that maybe it's also a question about the word "stuck". GURPS "stuck" rules seem to imply it's something that really stuck in there, requiring a good deal of effort to get out. Such as a harpoon with barbs.
While what you typically see in fiction, regarding swords is the sword going deep into the person and then sits there. It's not really stuck but it is held there, requiring time to pull out again.

I like Wraithe's idea. but I wouldn't use the full "stuck" rules. But merely say the weapon becomes unready. so it cant' be used to parry and you have to spend a Ready action (or Fast draw with a penalty) to get it out again.

[aesir23]

Originally Posted by Maz

I like Wraithe's idea. but I wouldn't use the full "stuck" rules. But merely say the weapon becomes unready. so it cant' be used to parry and you have to spend a Ready action (or Fast draw with a penalty) to get it out again.

I like this idea. Why not extend it further: the same thing could happen with cutting weapon that cut deep enough into it's target (but not all the way through.)

Happens all the time when I cut wood with an axe.

[AllenOwen]

I've never impaled anybody/anything either. It does seem to be a trope of movies and TV. Swords are generally made with a groove running along the center of the blade(the "fuller") that is supposed to be designed to minimize the vacuum from being stuck in a body. This might be just a myth. The only experience with sword play I have is from the kenjutsu katas I get along with the aikido/aikijujutsu I practice. We have a kata that is supposed to represent(among other things) getting a sword out of a body before the dead weight pulls the sword out of our hands. Anyway, thanks for the ideas;they are very helpful.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by AllenOwen

Swords are generally made with a groove running along the center of the blade(the "fuller") that is supposed to be designed to minimize the vacuum from being stuck in a body.

Fullers are real, but what they actually do is reduce the weight of the blade without impacting durability.