Attack Options and Unarmed Attacks

Several attack options from Chapter Two are also available to unarmed characters, as follows:

· Block: A character can allocate one pummeling attack to block an incoming attack. Blocks vs. other unarmed attacks are resolved normally. Unarmed blocks against weapons, including creatures with natural weapons, receive a –4 penalty.

· Called Shot: A called shot to an opponent’s head during unarmed combat is a sap attack and should be resolved according to the rules given in Chapter Two. Sapping requires a small, hard object. Bare-handed sapping attacks are treated as normal pummeling attacks. Most other called shots made during unarmed combat should be resolved as special attacks. Attempts to knock items out of opponents’ hands, for example, should be treated as an offensive disarms.

· Disarm: An unarmed character can attempt both offensive and defensive disarms at a –4 penalty to his attack roll if he is eligible to make pummeling attacks. If an unarmed character attempts to disarm a two-handed weapon the attack penalty is –8. An unarmed offensive disarm always provokes an attack of opportunity.

· Pull/Trip: Most unarmed pull/trip attacks should be resolved as wrestling attacks. An unarmed pull/trip can be resolved as a pummeling attack if directed at an opponent who is moving and unaware of the attack. Use the pull/trip rules from Chapter Two to resolve this maneuver.

· Unhorse: Treat unarmed unhorse attempts as overbearing attacks if the attacker could conceivably get her body onto the mount while attacking (as might be the case if the attacker were jumping down on the mounted character from a height); otherwise, resolve them as wrestling attacks.

· Duels: Two unarmed characters can conduct a duel if they are not involved in a wrestling sequence (the opposed rolls in a wrestling combat already reflect a contest of skill). If a successful grapple during any duel results in a hold, the duel is suspended until the resulting wrestling sequence ends. See Dueling in Chapter Two for procedures.

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