Running hard to keep my place

[Mulciber]

So, if I understand this right, since you move as a natural part of combat, the question is what movement rate you are going (and where are you going).  

What if you want to stand your ground (in a chokepoint, or something?  Defensive CP penalty, defensive TN gets higher, or kind of Terrain roll (TN=opponent's St + X, maybe?)?


Also, if you're one-handed trying to use a doppelhander, how much of a CP load is that to all maneuvers?

[Salamander]

So, if I understand this right, since you move as a natural part of combat, the question is what movement rate you are going (and where are you going).  

The movement rate is often rated as "Hurried" or "Sprinting" if I recal correctly, book is not handy right now. Where you are going is towards, away from and around the opponent. Fighting with a sword actually requires a great deal of movement as you step and cut, counter and step, void, thrust, lunge etc. etc. There are some videos for your perusal at http://www.swordacademy.com/Videos where my instructor and the most senior scholars duke it out with padded weapons.  

What if you want to stand your ground (in a chokepoint, or something?  Defensive CP penalty, defensive TN gets higher, or kind of Terrain roll (TN=opponent's St + X, maybe?)?

Even if you are standing your ground you are moving, weaving stepping to gain position, keep or seize initiatve and advantage. To just be static is a dangerous thing to do when there are yard long bits of sharp steel whizzing about.

Also, if you're one-handed trying to use a doppelhander, how much of a CP load is that to all maneuvers?

One handed use of a doppelhander? Well, they can't really be used that way in real life as far as I know. I have a German longsword from these guys http://www.lutel.cz it is in Hand and Half Swords, number 15010. It weighs about 3.5 pounds and it is a chore to swing that thing one handed for even a half a minute. It is just swinging, not using because if one were to use it one handed, they would most likely get pasted by the MUCH faster opponent using a better represented weapon. I am thinking that the doppelhander could be picked up and swung, but the guy doing so is gonna die and VERY fast to boot. Soooo. I would say divide his CP by 3... at least... and his reflex with respect to speed of response would be reduced to below that of his enemy. Sorry.

[Anthony I]

Also, if you're one-handed trying to use a doppelhander, how much of a CP load is that to all maneuvers?

I'd say you won't be using a true two-hand sword one handed- well, at least not like a sword.  You would probably be able to use is as a rather ungainly spear by gripping it at the ricasso.  It would be fairly well balanced by the gaurd itself, so this might not be that bad 1 handed.  

Rule wise, can't use it like a sword. Period. You wanna do that, start praying.  You want to use it like a spear, just use the pole-arm default -2, and restrict manuvers to those usable by pole-arms.  If your down to one arm, you already have plenty of problems anyway.

The best advice is to carry a dagger, for use when your longer weapon is no longer usable, for whatever reason.

[Caz]

Heh, I have a 5 lb. greatsword replica about 59" long.  It's suprisingly quick in one hand, but like he said, you'd be far outclassed by ANYTHING else really, and at a big CP disadvantage.  I'd say using it for thrusting alone, like he said, would be less of a disadvantage, but you're probably still better off picking up something else.
    For holding your ground defending a choke point, I'd say definitely use the battle skill, if just fighting it out isn't all you need.

[Mulciber]

Hey, thanks for your kind responses.

As re: holding ground I'll probably go with either go with a Terrain ruling using Battle as the TN, or double (or triple) Reach penalties.  Or both.

To give some context with respect to one-handed use of a (by definition) Two-Hander, let's just say that after a "disarming" maneuver (Zone III, roll 2 [shoulder and arm], level 5=total loss of limb) I had a guy want to keep on going till blood loss put him down, and everyone else was too busy to finish him off.  In retrospect, a simple, "Your sword fell shortly after your arm did, draw a dagger," was probably the way to go.  Anyway, thanks.


Regards,
Will

[Lance D. Allen]

One question about your PC who wanted to keep going: Did he have SAs firing? If so, I say, have a nut. Let him do what he wants, with perhaps the suggested modifications from Salamander applied before the SAs. He'd still be at a sizable disadvantage, but it would truly demonstrate exactly how awesome SAs are, and that's never a bad thing.

If, on the other hand, he did not.. The "you dropped your sword. Draw a dagger" suggestion would probably be in line.

[Mulciber]

If so, I say, have a nut. Let him do what he wants, with perhaps the suggested modifications from Salamander applied before the SAs. He'd still be at a sizable disadvantage, but it would truly demonstrate exactly how awesome SAs are, and that's never a bad thing.

If, on the other hand, he did not.. The "you dropped your sword. Draw a dagger" suggestion would probably be in line.

The latter I fear.  Actually this came out of our playing with combat just to see what's what.  So no SAs for anyone.  I agree though, anything to highlight: SAs = good, I'd go along with, to ease my players into using them.