A question on the combat manouvers.

[Old timer]

So, a situation game up in a legend game a little while ago, which at the time i ruled and moved on, but it has been bugging me a bit, so i thought i would throw this situation out here on the forum to see what other legend players/GMs have to say on it.

In a combat, a PC was hit by a critical roll (an attack) and rolled his parry, managing to succeed the roll, but this of course generated a CM from the attack, which could be a critical only CM at that. Said CM chosen was Max damage, the location was random and ended up being the chest. The player then debated that as he had parried with a large shield to a large weapon that some CM simple would not apply to this situation, Max damage being one of them, his point being that as the weapon had not 'touched' his character, and a large shield would absorb the damage (as RAW) how could it actual 'hit' him and do damage (i could make a number of arguments on that point, like the parry causing the blade to slip off the shield and hit him in the chest ). Now at the time i did not want a debate on rule points, so just changed the CM to trip.
Re reading the RAW after the game, the rules simple state that if there is a difference in success levels a CM is generated, and no further condition are attached, so i appear to be correct and this feels like rather mean rules lawyering. Is this the case, or have a missed some point in the RAW, written or implied.

 

[Da Boss]

You were right as I understand it - its an outstanding hit so achieves an outstanding result - if potentially deadily!.

 

[Olaus Petrus]

There's a combat manoeuvre called bypass parry. Only time when attacker can actually take it against successful parry is when attacker rolls critical and defender rolls normal success. It reduces size of the parrying weapon by one degree.

But unfortunately for attacker critical success against normal parry doesn't give him enough CMs to take both bypass parry and max damage CMs.

 

[Deleriad]

The player was indeed correct. Max damage would have no meaningful effect in this case so the attacker would have been better off choosing something like trip or disarm. Even bypass parry might not have helped.

 

[Dan True]

The player was indeed correct. Max damage would have no meaningful effect in this case so the attacker would have been better off choosing something like trip or disarm. Even bypass parry might not have helped.

Exactly. Large vs. Large parries all damage = max damage would have no effect.

But that is the argument, not some idea that the weapon has not touched him.. Because that argument could have applied to a trip or whatever.

- Dan

 

[DamonJynx]

Unfortunately you were in error. As Olaus, Deleriad & Dan True mentioned a successful parry with an object of equal size to the attacking weapon parries all damage. Therefore Max Damage in this situation is useless.

On the other hand if the parrying object was 2 sizes smaller and the defender only parried to try and minimise the # of CM'sI granted it would be a viable option.

Against any successful parry (with an object that blocks damage), depending on the PC's armour I would use either; Bypass parry, Disarm or Trip and if the situation warranted it (the parrying object is 1 size smaller so damage gets through) perhaps Bypass Armour.

 

[Da Boss]

yeah what they said I got this very wrong

 

[Old timer]

Thank you all for your replies .