Rules Modifications
Gardásiyal: Parrying Rules
by Rick Kurgas
Under the present Gardásiyal rules, a character would be insane not to have a half-dozen shields on hand to catch some of the (massive) damage meant for him.
Shields also discourages ‘Florentine’ fighting, since a character can’t use either weapon to parry and set up a counter-riposte. Instead, characters just take the damage on their never-gets-damaged armor and lump the damage that penetrates.
Types of Parrying Tools |
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U |
Bows and Light, Improvised (a shinbone, for example) |
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V |
Heavy, Improvised (a wooden chair, for example) |
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W |
Small, One-Handed Weapons (a dagger, for example) |
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X |
Pike, Quarterstaff, Spear, Javelin or Polearm |
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V |
Pike, Quarterstaff, Spear, Javelin or Polearm |
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Z |
Two-Handed Weapons (a Flamberge, for example) |
Parry Chart |
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D10 score to avoid damage |
Weapon Hit Points |
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U |
1 only |
5 |
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V |
1-2 |
10 |
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W |
1-3 |
15 |
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X |
1-4 |
20 |
|
V |
1-4 |
25 |
|
Z |
1-5 |
30 |
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Add 1 for every 10 Levels in appropriate weapon skill Steel Weapons add 1 Enchanted Weapons add 2 |
If weapon is steel, add 10 If weapon is enchanted, add 20 |
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As these charts illustrate, there is some chance of parrying an opponent’s blows. Unless fighting Florentine style, however, a character forfeits his attack in order to parry. When fighting Florentine style, a character may attack with one weapon and parry with the other, or attack with both, OR parry with both.
The maximum number possible is 1-9, if the character is level 30 in a 2-handed weapon that’s enchanted. Rolling a 10 is always a failure, no matter skilled the character. As noted above, a weapon’s hit points can be increased, but the maximum comes out to be equal to an enchanted shield. In general, then, most warriors will still prefer a shield, but better skilled and better equipped warriors have options. Furthermore, non-warriors will have something with which to ward off damage, at least sometimes.
I’m still working on a hit-point system for the armor. If you’re going to represent damage to some of your equipment, you should represent it all!