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A warrior using a Defensive Grip has his weapon firmly
in front of him in two hands. He holds a two-handed
weapon, like a staff, across his body. For any weapon, this
grip gives +1 to parry attacks from the front but an extra -1
to parry attacks from the side (for a net -3; see Defending
Against Attacks from the Side, p. B390).
If using a one-handed weapon, Defensive Grip involves
placing a second hand on the weapon. This hand must be
empty. The extra hand makes it awkward to use normal onehanded
strikes but adds power: -2 to attack rolls, +1 to damage.
Treat the weapon as two-handed for all purposes. When
using this grip with a fencing weapon (a weapon with “F” in
its Parry statistic), it becomes possible to parry flails at the
usual penalties.
If using a two-handed weapon, Defensive Grip involves
moving one hand forward to “choke” the weapon or grip it
by the ricasso. This effectively reinforces the weapon, giving
-1 to odds of breakage. It also greatly narrows the possible
arc of a swing, giving -2 to hit with a Wild Swing (for a net
-7; see Wild Swings, p. B388) and less power with swinging
attacks: -2 damage or -1 damage per die, whichever is worse.
Treat a weapon that can be used one- or two-handed –
such as a bastard sword or a spear – as two-handed for this
purpose.
A warrior with a sword of any kind can instead opt
to place a hand just behind the tip, as part of his
Ready to a Defensive Grip or using a later Ready.
The rules above apply for everything except reach
and damage: regardless of the sword, reach drops
to C (“close combat only”) and damage becomes
thrust impaling – or thrust crushing, if blunt.
Swung attacks are impossible. This allows superior
point control, removing -2 from the penalty to target
chinks in armor, cumulative with any similar
benefit the weapon grants.
A fighter using a Defensive Grip can select any
maneuver – even All-Out Attack (but not the Long
option) or Committed Attack. Deceptive Attack
(p. B369), Rapid Strike (p. B370), Telegraphic
Attack (p. 113), and Tip Slash (p. 113) likewise
remain viable.
Pummeling
You can strike with the pommel or hilt of any
fencing weapon or sword, or with the butt of a
reach C or 1 melee weapon. Roll against DX-1,
Brawling-1, or Karate-1 to hit. You may substitute
Hammer Fist with a one-handed weapon or Two-
Handed Punch with a two-handed one, if better.
Use full DX, Boxing, Brawling, or Karate skill to
punch with a tonfa or with a sword that sports a
knuckle guard (backsword, cutlass, etc.). Reach is
always C. In all cases, damage is thrust crushing
(like brass knuckles) plus skill bonuses, +1 if using
two hands.
Reversed Grip
A fighter with a reach C, 1, or 2 thrusting
weapon (typically a knife, spear, or sword) can
invert his weapon and use an “ice-pick grip,” the
weapon extending along his arm rather than as an extension
from it. Switching into or out of this Reversed Grip
normally calls for a Ready maneuver; see Ready (pp. 101-
104). This has several combat effects.
Most weapons have less reach when reversed. A reach C
weapon remains reach C. A reach 1 weapon is still reach 1
when striking to the rear, but can only attack at reach C to
the front or sides (although this allows it to function as a
close-combat weapon). A reach 2 weapon functions as reach
1 for all purposes – half its length is in front of the wielder,
the other half is behind him. Longer weapons are too awkward
to reverse.
This grip favors stabbing, but its reduced reach and overall
awkwardness make swung attacks and parries less effective.
Thrusting attacks get +1 damage. Swinging attacks are
at -2 damage or -1 damage per die, whichever is worse.
Parries with the weapon are at -2.
Brawling and Karate parries are possible when wielding
a reach C or 1 weapon this way. The defender parries with
the weapon resting along his forearm. A failed parry lets the
attacker choose to hit his original target or the weapon (the
arm would be struck if it weren’t for the weapon; see
p. B377). This special parry is at only -1 – or at no penalty if
using a tonfa (p. 225), which is designed for it.
What Is . . . a Deceptive Attack?
As stated on p. B369, a Deceptive Attack can represent “any
number of advanced fighting techniques.” This doesn’t mean
“techniques” in the sense of Chapter 3, although some of those
techniques penalize the target’s defenses. In fact, one can deliver
almost any attack using any technique in a deceptive way.
Common deceptions include:
• Change-up. The attacker waits for his target to commit to a
defense and then abruptly alters his attack vector (or his attack!)
to avoid it; e.g., starting a rapier thrust to the throat so that the
defender will move to protect his upper body, and then dropping
the sword point to the gut at the last moment. Unlike using
Rapid Strike to feint and attack, this is one fluid motion – which
is why it uses one die roll. The logic behind the penalty is similar,
though: the attacker is performing a lot of action in relatively
little time.
•Radical angle of attack. The attacker angles his blow so that
it passes over, under, or around the defender’s guard; e.g., stabbing
upward with a dagger held low, swinging an axe wide so
that it comes in behind a shield, or moving in close and looping
a punch outside the victim’s field of vision. The awkwardness of
the angle explains the attacker’s penalty.
• Sheer speed. The attacker strikes so swiftly that the defender
has little time to respond. The penalty on the attack roll
reflects the difficulty of aiming a fast-moving attack. The “secret
techniques” of many masters are simply ordinary techniques
combined with this kind of Deceptive Attack. Bruce Lee (pp. 24-
25) was famous for this!
Which option you use is a “special effect” – it has no effect on
game play. In a combat-heavy game, though, describing your
Deceptive Attacks is an important part of roleplaying. The GM
may award character points accordingly.
COMBAT 111