Deliberate shield bash or knockback attacks

[Antalon]

Please excuse my ignorance - but are there rules for dealing with deliberate knockback attempts? If so, how are these handled and where would I find them?

Cheers.

 

[Rasta]

Not really, but you can make them if you want. Grappling rules are probably the closest thing to it.

Though I've always liked the RQ3 system for knockback where the STR and SIZ of the attacker was pitted against the SIZ and DEX of the defender on a successful (appropriate skill) roll.

Though you may need to make some easier rules if you don't have access to the RQ3 opposed rolls table.

You could simplify it by making it a moderate skill test (or difficult for that matter) -20 to 40 % to the appropriate skill, and if successful the defender would have to simularly do an acrobatics test, which may also be modified based on your prefrence.

Hope that helps.

 

[Loz]

Or you could use an opposed roll between the shield skill (assuming you use a shield for knockback, or another, appropriate weapon) and the Athletics (Brute Force) of the defender. STR+SIZ can be added to the knockback roll for the attacker, and SIZ+DEX added to the Athletics roll for the defender.

If successful, the defender is knocked back 1 metre, plus an additional metre for every dice step you have as a damage bonus (so +1d2 = 1 metre, +1d4 = 2, +1d6 = 3, etc).

Completely unplaytested and off the top of my noggin, but hey! Give it a whirl.

 

[Rasta]

Or you could use an opposed roll between the shield skill (assuming you use a shield for knockback, or another, appropriate weapon) and the Athletics (Brute Force) of the defender. STR+SIZ can be added to the knockback roll for the attacker, and SIZ+DEX added to the Athletics roll for the defender.

I like this. I might do athletics to resist assuming that the target is braced against the attack, and acrobatics if they are not.

 

[Deleriad]

How I would do it.
Knockback attack. If successful replace the normal weapon damage with your STR and roll your damage modifier as normal. This attack does not cause damage but, if the result is higher than the opponent's, SIZ then the opponent is knocked back as per the normal rules. A knockback attack can be parried or dodged as normal. (Parrying a knockback attack allows you to deflect some of the force of the blow.) A knockback attack can be made using an unarmed skill or a weapon skill. Long impaling weapons such as spears or flexible weapons such as whips and flails can't be used for knockback attacks - unarmed skill must be used instead.

Shield Bash. This is a knockback attack as above. Unlike normal shield attacks, this one does not suffer a -20% modifier. (Shields are good at bashing.)

There is a risk of this being overpowered because a shield user could use their bonus shield action to get an additional attack which the target may not be able to defend due to being out of reactions by this point.

 

[Rasta]

How I would do it.
Knockback attack. If successful replace the normal weapon damage with your STR and roll your damage modifier as normal. This attack does not cause damage but, if the result is higher than the opponent's, SIZ then the opponent is knocked back as per the normal rules. A knockback attack can be parried or dodged as normal. (Parrying a knockback attack allows you to deflect some of the force of the blow.) A knockback attack can be made using an unarmed skill or a weapon skill. Long impaling weapons such as spears or flexible weapons such as whips and flails can't be used for knockback attacks - unarmed skill must be used instead.

Shield Bash. This is a knockback attack as above. Unlike normal shield attacks, this one does not suffer a -20% modifier. (Shields are good at bashing.)

I like this even better. Thanks for posting.

There is a risk of this being overpowered because a shield user could use their bonus shield action to get an additional attack which the target may not be able to defend due to being out of reactions by this point.

 

[Antalon]

Thanks all.

I'll give these a try.

It seems odd that this has not been included in the GM guide or somewhere as core.