Combat Manuever: Cloak Fighting

[Hoihe]

Watch these before being dismissive. I'm providing historical manuals which describe cloak fighting.

1) We are obeying the rules present in the annals of fantasy, rather than a medieval fighting simulator.

What happens if you throw your cloak on a person with some sort of flaming ward around them, did you just destroy your cloak? In case of a magic cloak, whats the chances the item now explodes around your neck.

That's a valid question that you dismissed?

Hera's post ended with "I can go on with lists of what if's and thoughts. In my view Anime Science does not belong in Dungeons and Dragons, and where this has been depicted in other media the world lacks magics, super men, and never benefited the hero for but a brief second and rarely resulted in direct victory, more a get away."

This is nowhere anime science. It's an actual historical swordfighting technique. Was it the dominant? No. For self defence and one on one combat, it was Rapier and Dagger, preceeded by the longsword and rapier and buckler being sort of equivalent.

[DM Hera]

Even more important, to use the cloak as described you would have to take it off, which means you LOSE the befit of the cloak as its no longer equipped. It would be atleast a full round action in my opinion to remove the cloak.

Have a cloak wrapped around your arm is not considered equipped, by the rules of Dungeons and Dragons, even in my personal opinion it would no longer be equipped.


This wouldn't even work on a dragon. How about other strange monsters? Cloakers.

[Hoihe]

Even more important, to use the cloak as described you would have to take it off, which means you LOSE the befit of the cloak as its no longer equipped. It would be atleast a full round action in my opinion to remove the cloak.

Have a cloak wrapped around your arm is not considered equipped, by the rules of Dungeons and Dragons, even in my personal opinion it would no longer be equipped.


This wouldn't even work on a dragon. How about other strange monsters? Cloakers.

Equip the cloak in the shield/off-hand slot. Unless the magic specially requires it to be worn on the back, it still works. Yes, this means you can wear 2 cloaks. One is acting as a shield/off-hand weapon, one is an actual cape.

For dragons? Could use it as elemental shield. Or even wrap it around the snout.


Edit: Also, if you wanted to fight dragons "realistically", use long spears and projectile weapons.

Using a sword doesn't make sense in any situation other than when fighting another humanoid opponent with equal natural reach. Even then, if the opponent does not have their own weapon to threaten you with that you can parry, your best bet is a long ass cleaver style weapon (such as a machete, falchion) instead of a proper sword.

[Ambaryerno]

Even more important, to use the cloak as described you would have to take it off, which means you LOSE the befit of the cloak as its no longer equipped. It would be atleast a full round action in my opinion to remove the cloak.

Have a cloak wrapped around your arm is not considered equipped, by the rules of Dungeons and Dragons, even in my personal opinion it would no longer be equipped.


This wouldn't even work on a dragon. How about other strange monsters? Cloakers.

Equip the cloak in the shield/off-hand slot. Unless the magic specially requires it to be worn on the back, it still works. Yes, this means you can wear 2 cloaks. One is acting as a shield/off-hand weapon, one is an actual cape.

For dragons? Could use it as elemental shield. Or even wrap it around the snout.


Edit: Also, if you wanted to fight dragons "realistically", use long spears and projectile weapons.

That's the thing, there's already quite a few breaks from reality in the game as it is.

As for dragons and other creatures, maybe set it so you can only use it against creatures of your size or smaller.

[metaquad4]

As I mentioned before, yes. I believe this maneuver should tangle both parties until either:

a) Defending party makes the save.
or
b) The attacking party takes off their cloak.

As for the formula on how escape artist fits in:

4+Escape Artist vs DC, fails if your escape artist is lower than the DC. It seems Escape Artist already has this handled. The DC is, as mentioned in the opener, 10+1/2 Attacker's BAB. Maybe with some bonus for every point of deflection AC present on the cloak, if that is possible to code in.

(1] Your attached to the cloak to. Infact dangerously so, its like being tied together, but yours end is around your neck. By game rules this would be Grappling, you would need a str test vs the opponent or this goes bad for you.


(2] Why cant a guy with 30 str just tear your cloak from your body, and your head off for that matter? Or better yet, pull you in and pummel you to death? We all have seen the movies where a guy throws a chain around a bad dude, but the bad dude is so big he pulls the hero in and makes him into pizza.

(3] What happens if you throw your cloak on a person with some sort of flaming ward around them, did you just destroy your cloak? In case of a magic cloak, whats the chances the item now explodes around your neck.

(4] Blade Barrier, shouldn't that just shred the cloak?

I can go on with lists of what if's and thoughts. In my view Anime Science does not belong in Dungeons and Dragons, and where this has been depicted in other media the world lacks magics, super men, and never benefited the hero for but a brief second and rarely resulted in direct victory, more a get away.

1. By which game? PnP D&D 3.5 or NWN2 BGTSCC? We don't have those mechanics in our medium (NWN2), and the suggestion does not suggest them in it. It suggests a much more feasible system, rather. Strength could, however, play a role in the DC of the check.

2. Because, again. We don't have those mechanics in our chosen medium for BGTSCC, NWN2. That being said, our RP is not entierly mechanics dependant. We can do a few things with rolls, though they are not enforcable without a DM present (that said, most will play along. I've never had a situation where someone doesn't.). So, to address that. . .you can already do that, with a variety of rolls.

3. The same thing that happens when you cast fireball near yourself. Nothing to your cloak! (or any of your other items)

4. We can already test this in game, by getting hit with a blade barrier. It doesn't shred your cloak.