GURPS Martial Arts - Home

Feint
Hard
Default: prerequisite skill.
Prerequisite: Any unarmed combat or Melee Weapon
skill†; cannot exceed prerequisite skill+4.
Feints aren’t always phony attacks. They include breaks
in rhythm, false steps, head fakes, and other ploys to misdirect
the foe. This technique represents training in all such
methods. If you know it above
default, use it instead of the
underlying skill whenever you
feint (p. B365) or someone
tries to feint you. For
instance, with Broadsword at
14 and Feint (Broadsword) at
16, you would make and
resist feints at 16.
Feint includes knowledge
of Beats (pp. 100-101) and
Ruses (p. 101). Make a STbased
roll to attempt a Beat or
to use ST to resist one, an IQ-
based roll to try a Ruse, or a
Per-based roll to use Per to
resist a Ruse. To find your
level, add the difference between the relevant score and DX
to Feint; e.g., DX 12, IQ 14, and Feint at 16 would allow a
Ruse at 18.
† Some styles include a Style Perk that permits a default
to Acrobatics, Dancing, or another non-combat skill; see
Feints Using Non-Combat Skills (p. 101).
Finger Lock
Hard
Default: Arm Lock-3.
Prerequisite: Arm Lock; cannot exceed Arm Lock
technique.
This technique lets you grab fingers and twist them
painfully. Use the rules under Arm or Wrist Lock (p. 65),
except that damage is to the hand – which is easier to cripple
than the arm.
Ground Fighting
Hook Swords
Hard
Default: prerequisite skill-4.
Prerequisite: Any combat skill; cannot exceed prerequisite
skill.
This technique lets you buy off the -4 to attack while
crawling, lying face-up, or lying prone. Roll against Ground
Fighting instead of the prerequisite skill when you use that
skill to attack from the ground. For instance, if you had
Wrestling at 14 and Ground Fighting (Wrestling) at 13, you
could grapple from the ground at skill 13.
For every two points invested in Ground Fighting, you
may also ignore -1 of the -3 to defend from the ground.
Ground Fighting at skill-3 or skill-2 means you’re at -2,
while at skill-1 or full skill, you have only -1. This replaces
the rule on p. B231.
Hammer Fist
Average
Defaults: Brawling-1 or Karate-1.
Prerequisite: Brawling or Karate; cannot exceed prerequisite
skill.
A “hammer fist” is a punch using the side of a clenched
fist. This technique includes both the true hammer fist and
similar attacks meant to prevent injury to the attacker at the
cost of less damage to the target: forearm smashes, punches
with the palm or heel of an open hand, etc. In all cases,
the striking surface is larger and less rigid than for a normal
fist, reducing damage – but it’s much harder to injure yourself,
making this strike ideal for hard targets.
Roll against Hammer Fist to hit. Damage is thrust-2 plus
skill bonuses. If Hurting Yourself (p. B379) would apply,
damage is 1/10 of what you roll, not 1/5. Furthermore, you
suffer a point less damage if your hand is parried aggressively
or with a weapon, or otherwise stopped painfully.
If your hand is crippled, you may use Hammer Fist to
deliver a forearm smash. Use the above rules, but any selfinflicted
injury affects the arm instead of the hand.
Handcuffing
Average
Defaults: Binding, DX-2, Judo-1, or Wrestling-2; cannot
exceed Binding, DX, Judo, or Wrestling.
This is a limited, realistic version of Binding (pp. 82-83)
for handcuffing a target quickly. It only works in close combat
– and only if you grappled your target on a previous turn
or parried his melee attack immediately prior to your turn.
On your turn, roll a Quick Contest: Handcuffing vs. the
higher of your victim’s DX or best grappling skill. This
counts as an attack. Victory means you’ve handcuffed a limb
of your choice. On later turns, you can repeat the process to
cuff another limb or make an uncontested Handcuffing roll
to attach the cuff to an inanimate object (pole, car door,
bomb . . .) within a yard.
You can handcuff a pinned opponent automatically in 2d
seconds. A successful, unopposed Handcuffing roll reduces
this to two seconds (one second on a critical success).
Escape attempts use the Escape skill (p. B192) or Slip
Handcuffs technique (p. B233). This takes a minute. Time
reductions give the usual penalties; see Time Spent
(p. B346). The GM may permit cinematic heroes one
attempt at -10 to escape in a turn – effectively instantly.
Hands-Free Riding
Hard
Default: Riding-3.
Prerequisite: Riding; cannot exceed Riding skill.
Using only one hand to control your mount gives -1 to all
Riding rolls, while using no hands at all gives -3; see
Mounted Combat (p. B396). This technique represents training
to buy off these penalties. Roll against Hands-Free
Riding instead of Riding to control your mount using no
hands. If you’ve improved this technique at all, you may
ignore the -1 for using only one hand.
TECHNIQUES 73