Parrying

[Shirt Guy John]

While it is my interpretation of the rules that parrying is already existent in the current system (somewhere inside the Dex bonus to AC), I want to add something for my sword-fighting types. I understand there was something of the like in a Dragon magazine a while back, but unfortunately I never got a subscription.

Parry: Any character can attempt to parry an attack made by an opponent by readying an attack for the condition of an opponent making an attack against him. When the opponent makes an attack, the character makes an attack roll opposed by the opponent's attack roll. If the character's total roll is greater, the attack is deflected. If not, the opponent's attack uses the same attack roll against the character's AC.
A character with the Two-Weapon Fighting feat who is wielding two weapons gains a +2 bonus on his opposed attack roll.

Canny Parry [General Feat]
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Requirements: BAB +3, Combat Reflexes
Benefits: You can use an attack of opportunity to make a parry attempt. You do not need to ready an attack to make the opposed attack roll.
Normal: You must ready an attack in order to attempt to parry an opponent's attack.


So, um... anyone think of some way to work this?

 

[Geoff Watson]

Your Parry option is fairly weak, since it requires a ready action.

Your Canny Parry feat is far too strong, especially with Combat Reflexes. Try 'Expertise', if you want a balanced parrying feat.

Geoff.

 

[hong]

Your Canny Parry feat is far too strong, especially with Combat Reflexes. Try 'Expertise', if you want a balanced parrying feat.

Although there's nothing to state that someone armed with a sword isn't automatically parrying anyway, and this is figured into AC and/or hit points. Sometimes I wonder if making AC = d20 + bonuses (as per the DMG option), as opposed to AC = 10 + bonuses, would dry up the flow of "parrying" tweaks.

 

[AGGEMAM]

Sometimes I wonder if making AC = d20 + bonuses (as per the DMG option), as opposed to AC = 10 + bonuses, would dry up the flow of "parrying" tweaks.

Hear, hear!

 

[Shirt Guy John]

Okay, so that idea ain't gonna be workin' any time soon.

It's not really what I intended anyways. I was originally thinking more along the lines of Deflect Arrows for a melee attack.

Deflect Blows [General]
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You can stop melee attacks with your hands.

Requirements: Dex 13+, Improved unarmed Strike

Benefit: You must have at least one hand free (holding nothing) to use this feat. Once per round when you would normally be hit with a melee weapon, you may make a reflex save against a DC of 20 (if the weapon has a magical enhancement bonus, the DC increases by that amount). If you succeed, you deflect the attack. You must be aware of the attack and not flat-footed. Attempting to deflect a weapon attack doesn't count as an action. Exceptional melee attacks, such as touch spells, can't be deflected or they discharge even if blocked/deflected, wasting the attempt. You can only deflect an attack from a weapon up to two sizes greater than your own (a human can deflect a huge weapon; a halfling can deflect a large weapon).


Blade Grasp [General]
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You can attempt to grab a weapon away when blocking a melee attack.

Requirements: Dex 13+, Int 13+, Deflect Blows, Expertise, Improved Disarm, Improved Unarmed Fighting

Benefit: When you successfully deflect a melee attack, you make make a free disarm attempt. You may either force the weapon to be dropped or take hold of it youself (based on the assumption that you are unarmed, as you must be to utilize the Deflect Blows feat).

Canny Parry [General]
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You can deflect a melee attack with a melee weapon.

Requirements: Str 13+, Dex 13+, Power Attack, Sunder

Benefit: You must have at least one weapon in hand to use this feat. Once per round when you would normally be hit with a melee attack, you may make a reflex save against a DC of 20 (if the weapon has a magical bonus to attack, the DC increases by that amount). If you succeed, you deflect the attack. You must be aware of the attack and not flat-footed. Attempting to deflect a weapon attack does not count as an action. Exceptional melee attacks, such as touch spells, can't be deflected or they discharge even if blocked/deflected, wasting the attempt. You can only deflect an attack from a weapon up to two sizes greater than your own (a human can deflect a huge weapon; a halfling can deflect a large weapon).

 

[Plane Sailing]

You could check out my houserules for this on my website (in the sig) if you would like another take on the idea.

I believe that it shouldn't be a feat, it should be a general option - then you could have a range of feats to improve it if desired.

Cheers

 

[Sixchan]

I've personally had parrying as a bonus for single weapon fighters. How's this?

Single Weapon Style [General]
You are adept at fighting with a single weapon and no shield.
Benefit: When fighting with a single weapon, you gain a +2 to your AC due to your ability to make parries more easily. If your attacker fails his attack by 10 or more, you may attempt to disarm your opponent without provoking an AoO.

There would be an Improved Single Weapon Style, but I can't be bothered making it right now.