Sword lock and a punch to the face!

[Naaman]

I've been turning this one over in my head for a couple of years, and here's what I've come up with recently.

We see in many movies opponents sword fighting who manage to land a couple of good punches or kicks in the middle of the fight.

However, most RPGs don't really allow for this without somehow introducing overly complicated rules or the character having to purchase "special abilities." For example, in d20, the "attack of opportunity" prevents a character from making an unarmed attack against an armed defender (even though the attacker may also be armed). In D6, an armed opponent gets a bonus on his parry rolls if you are unarmed, however, in some cases (lightsabers come to mind), you'd just lose your arm if your opponent "blocked" with his weapon.

Yet, we see in many lightsaber fights, people get punched or kicked, despite their opponent's lightsaber.

So, here's what I've come up with:

If the attack roll and the parry roll are exactly equal, both players may immediately roll brawling. The character who rolls higher hits his opponent, and rolls damage as normal.

It's fast, simple and easy to incorporate.

There is no opportunity to roll brawling parry, since you're already busy parrying your opponent's weapon.

This may be a critical time to drop some character points (on either the attack roll, the damage roll, or both) in order to get that crucial edge that could turn the tables in your favor.

I'd like to work in an option where a character can opt to roll brawling parry instead of brawling, but I'm not sure how I want to work that yet... so it'll have to wait.

[cheshire]

That's very interesting. It's quick and cinematic, and though it is improbable it's probably just rare enough to merit having some trick up your sleeve.

P.S.
For what it's worth, it drives me batty in historical swordsmanship when someone tries to do a "sword lock" sort of thing with pushing blade against blade. Well... I don't know if "batty" is quite the right word, because it's all too easy to change the angle of the attack and get a swift cut to the head when they do it.

But of course games and cinematics are a whole different thing altogether.
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Before we take any of this too seriously, just remember that in the middle episode a little rubber puppet moves a spaceship with his mind.

[Barrataria]

I like it, especially the "quick and easy" part. Let us know how it goes when you try it!
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"A special effect without a story is a pretty boring thing"- George Lucas

[garhkal]

[Naaman]

Yes... I am no sword fighter, but I have read similar remarks from actual swordsmen bemoaning the whole sword lock thing (that we see so much of in Star Wars). However, you'll notice that Darth Maul (played by a real martial artist), never let that sword lock crap happen. There was always a boot in your face or telekinetic shove (save for once or twice when it was cinematically appropriate).

That scene in particular is what really inspired this house rule.

I have also contemplated allowing it when the parry roll succeeds by a margin of 1... but "officially" I'm going with 0 since it's a little more cinematic. I'm actually surprised how often the "sword lock" effect happens in our games. Usually once or twice per session.

Also, it can be a good tool to use for the GM who may wish to give a PC a chance to avoid an otherwise deadly result (fudge the attack roll to make it a sword lock instead; may even want to fudge the brawling roll, too, if the dramatic experience would benefit).

[cheshire]

[Esoomian]

I've always gone with a much simpler explanation and in any melee based combat when the damage roll turned out to be fairly low I just describe one combatant finding an opportunity and punching/kicking/head-butting their opponent rather than being able to bring their weapon into a position to strike effectively.

Still the mechanic seems interesting.
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[Naaman]

^^That makes sense.

I do think smacking the opponent in the face (especially when it turns the tables) is so gratifying, though!

[DougRed4]

I like it, especially how simple and easy to incorporate it is! 8)
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Currently Running: Villains & Vigilantes (a 32-year-old campaign with multiple groups) and D6 Star Wars; mostly on hiatus are Adventures in Middle-earth and Delta Green

[garhkal]

[jmanski]

That's the way I do it as well.
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Blasted rules. Why can't they just be perfect?

[Dromdarr_Alark]

I really like this rule!
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"I still wouldn't have a roll for it - but that's just how I roll."

[Barrataria]

[cheshire]

[Naaman]

Adding an option to this rule: The defender may choose to reducce his parry result to match the attack roll (thus initiating sword lock). If he does, he may make his brawling roll but with a -5 penalty.

(The reason for the penalty is that the characte would only do this if he reasonably believed his brawling skill was significantly higher than his opponent's; if it were, then he could easily win a battle simply by punching his opponent without them getting a chance to parry; in effect, the penalty is somewhat like a MAP in that the defender is trying/planning to do two things on his turn).