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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Water Bob" data-source="post: 6105049" data-attributes="member: 92305">Here's the combat tweak I mentioned above.GUSTUD!When a natural 1 appears on the attack die, the rules say that the attack is an automatic failure. In order to spice up combat, taking it from I-go-you-go to something quite spectacular, I suggest this tweak. Of course, this house rule only applies to melee, not range attacks.A natural 1 rolled on a melee attack die means that your character is GUSTUD.GUSTUD is a condition. It's not quite a fumble. It means that, during your next actions, you open yourself up to a particular type of attack by your enemy, and it's up to your foe as to if the attack is carried out--because most GUSTUD attacks have consequences for the attacker as well as the defender.When a GUSTUD result happens, consider the attack a failure, as per the rules, but also allow the character's foe (the foe that was attacked with the natural 1 result) a special attack type during the foe's next action. The foe is not forced to use the GUSTUD attack--the attack is provided at the foe's option (in other words, if the foe does not care to attempt the specific GUSTUD attack, the foe can just play out his round normally by not taking advantage of the GUSTUD opportunity).What type of special attack is allowed is determined by rolling on following chart.A foe that performs a GUSTUD attack is considered to be using an Attack of Opportunity and, thus, if another AoO becomes available during the foe's action, the foe will likely not be able to take advantage of it due to AoO limits. (But, if a character with two attacks per round rolls natural 1's on both of them, then the foe is allowed two separate GUSTUD attacks against the character during the foe's next action--and this counts as two AoOs if the foe has the Combat Reflexes Feat).[code]GUSTUD CHART 1d6-----  1  Grapple  2  Unarmed Attack:  Punch  3  Sunder  4  Trip  5  Unarmed Attack:  Kick  6  Disarm[/code]GUSTUD TABLE RESULTS.1. GRAPPLE. Foe is allowed to attempt a grapple on the GUSTUD character without the target benefiting from an Attack of Opportunity. In effect, the GUSTUD character has opened himself up to the grapple for a moment during the combat. Use grapple rules per the book. Note that a character attempting a grapple must use both hands and may need to drop his weapon.2. UNARMED ATTACK: PUNCH. Foe is allowed a punch attack during the next round without the target benefitting from an Attack of Opportunity. This attacks is in addition to the foe's other attacks but an an open hand must be available. It is allowable that a foe wielding a two-handed weapon can attack two-handed then get in a quick punch. But, a foe using a single-handed weapon and a shield cannot punch because no hand is available.A punch is an Unarmed Strike using the core rules and does non-lethal damage unless the -4 attack penalty is used to deliver lethal damage.Note that a Full Action is required if the foe makes more than one attack (for example, a 1st level foe can throw a punch at his GUSTUD opponent in addition to his normal attack if the character meets the requirements for a punch and takes a Full Action to perform both attacks.).3. SUNDER. Foe is allowed a free sunder attack against the GUSTUD character's weapon or armor without the target benefitting from an Attack of Opportunity. The sunder is allowed in addition to the foe's normal attacks.4. TRIP. Foe is allowed a free attempt to trip the GUSTUD character, in addition to the foe's normal attacks, without the target benefitting from an Attack of Opportunity. The trip can take man forms, from using the foe's leg or weapon as a pivot to a high kick or shoulder shove aimed at knocking the target down. Note that, under the trip rules, if the trip attempt is failed, then the GUSTUD character may attempt to counter with an trip attempt returned against the foe!5. UNARMED ATTACK: KICK. Foe is allowed a kick attack during the next round without the target benefitting from an Attack of Opportunity. Kick attacks do non-lethal damage unless the -4 attack penalty is used to deliver lethal damage.A kick is an Unarmed Strike using the core rules, except that a kick delivers 1d4 damage and leaves the foe with a -1 AC (because of the footing) until his next action.Note that the foe can attempt the kick in addition to his normal attacks, but a Full Action is required if the foe makes more than one attack (for example, a 1st level foe can kick at his GUSTUD opponent in addition to his normal attack if the foe takes a Full Action to perform both attacks.).6. DISARM. Foe is allowed a disarm maneuver against the GUSTUD character without the target benefitting from an Attack of Opportunity. Use the normal disarm rules. The disarm is performed in addition to the foe's normal attack....EXAMPLE...Carl the Cimmerian is fighting Paul the Pict. Carl has initiative, but at the bottom of round 2, Paul rolls a natural 1 on his attack, which is considered an automatic miss. Paul is now GUSTUD.At the top of round 3 (Carl's next attack), a d6 is thrown on the GUSTUD chart showing that Paul has opened himself up to a trip attempt by Carl. Carl does not have to attempt the trip (because, according to the trip rules, if he fails, then Paul can then attempt to trip Carl).But, being the Cimmerian that he is, Carl does decide to take advantage of the free trip attempt. Normally, Carl would only get one attack, but since Paul is GUSTUD, Carl can make the trip attempt, then attempt his normal attack (hopefully, with Paul on the ground!), or Carl can make his attack first, then try the trip.By the rules, Paul would get an Attack of Opportunity against Carl just before Carl makes the trip attempt, but because this is a GUSTUD attack, Paul does not get the Attack of Opportunity.Let's say, during this same round, that one of Paul's tribesmen comes close enough for Carl to make an Attack of Opportunity against him. Carl does not have the Combat Reflexes Feat, and thus, by the rules, is limited to one AoO per round. And, the GUSTUD trip attack is considered an AoO for these counting purposes, so Carl would not be able to take advantage of the second AoO provided by Paul's tribesman.</blockquote>

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