Close Combat, Grappling, and Hordes

Your party is being attacked by hordes of creatures. Each individual is a pathetically weak combatant, hardly worthy of staining your blade. But as more and more of them come to fill the gaps left by their fallen comrades, you begin to appreciate Josef's quip: "Quantity has a quality all its own."

Close Combat p391, 392

• General
  • Any Ready maneuver requires a DX roll – failure means nothing happens
• Attack
  • Attack must use reach “C” weapons
  • After 1^st attack, Shield produces penalty of –DB.
  • Range weapons apply their “bulk” penalty to attack (ex: comp bow is -7)
  • Striking into close combat is at -2
    • If miss, target randomly; max to hit of 9; re-target if miss or dodged
• Defense
  • Dodge is as normal
  • Parry must use reach “C” weapons
  • Block is not permitted
  • Shields still provide DB

Grappling p370, 371

• Attack
  • Grapple using Wrestling (DX/A) or DX
  • Target can defend normally - but is grappled if defense fails
  • Attacker should specify if using one or two arms – but releasing an arm is a free action on your turn.
• If grappled:
  • -4 DX, which means:
    • -4 attack
    • -2 parry/block (presumeably to block non close-combat attacks)
    • -1 dodge
  • Readying still requires DX roll, but drop item if fail
  • Can’t move, unless > ´2 strength
  • Roll quick contest of ST to break free
    • foe gets +5 if using both arms
    • either at -4 if stunned
    • grappled by more than one foe: use best ST, +1/5 ST of others
• When grappling
  • apparently no penalties – other than having at least one arm occupied

Wrestling

• Increases chance to grapple at +1/4xp
• +1/4xp to ST (max +2) to make or resist “Actions after a grapple” or break free.

Analysis

It really sucks if you get grappled and you’re not ready for it. And you can get grappled when you least expect it: with an all-out attack you can move half (round up) – if your foe ends up in your hex they can then make a determined AoA at +4 – why not? If you successfully parry they can’t defend if hit anyway. If your foe spends 1FP they could make a Heroic Charge and grapple after a full move!

If you are grappled, you’d better have a ready “C” range weapon in your hand. If you must change your grip or draw a knife, the Ready maneuver requires a DX-4 roll (-4 because you’re grappled!), and if you fail you drop the item. (Tylden would be rolling vs. 9, Grundar vs. 7).

Range C Weapons

If you have to use a C weapon, either a large knife or a long knife seem to be the best options. The long knife is interesting in that you can use it based on either the knife for shortsword skill (see Martial Arts pp 228-229):

Long Knife - $120, 1.5 lbs, parry 0

• Knife skill (DX-4, Shortsword-3)
  • sw-1 cut C,1
  • thr imp C,1
• Shortsword skill (or Broadsword-2)
  • sw-1 cut 1
  • thr imp C,1

Consider also a fine large knife (B 272):

(fine) Large Knife - $160 , 1 lbs, but parry -1

• Knife skill (DX-4, Shortsword-3)
  • sw-1 cut C, 1
  • thr+1 imp C

What I like about the long knife is the possibility of using it to attack into a close-combat hex from a range of 1 using thrusting damage. It will certainly be impossible to damage Grundar, and Tylden (with DR4) should be mostly immune. Also, its parries normally, whereas a knife parries at -1.

Attack Options

Considering that we will probably be facing attack penalties at some point of:

• -4 (grappled) and
• -3 (bad light),

choosing All Out Attack (determined) for +4 would seem to be required. Any shield must be dropped to avoid additional penalties, so either carry a buckler or consider using a heavy cloak (5 lbs). The use of a telegraphic attack should also be considered.

Since Tylden doesn’t suffer from the bad light penalty, somebody else should be wearing the ring.

Back ranks will be key. They may be striking into occupied hexes. It would be useful if the front line had heavy armor. Say, Grundar in the front rank wielding his ax and not really caring if he gets grappled. He will strike in front of him while the back rank strikes at his close combat opponents. If they miss and hit Grundar, he (probably) won’t care. Telegraphic attacks are probably out – if they dodge then you start your random victimization process… Finally, the back – back ranks may want to be using spears, etc…

-- FrancisSmall - 14 Nov 2011