*stop me if this has been done before*
**I'm just spitballing at this point -- just wanted to get this out before I forgot about it**
Preface:
Parrying, as it stands, is merely an abstraction that is represented by a nominal boost in AC (fighting defensively/total defense, combat expertise, 'defending' weapon quality, etc.). This is dissatisfying for me.
Proposed Mechanic (inception/speculation stage):
While you are in a defensive stance (fighting defensively, total defense, combat expertise, etc.), you may attempt to parry 1 melee attack per round that targets you. To parry, you make an opposed attack roll vs. the attacker; if your parry roll is greater than your opponent's attack roll, you have successfully parried the attack.
On a failed parry, the incoming attack is resolved as normal, but you do not receive the AC bonus from your defensive stance for that attack.
You can only parry with a manufactured weapon.
You must decide whether or not to parry before the result of the attack roll is determined.
Weapons with the 'parrying' quality also give you a +1 on parry rolls.
You cannot parry while flat-footed.
- Bonuses/Penalties:
-- If you are smaller than your opponent, you receive a -4 penalty to your parry roll for each size category smaller you are than the attacker.
-- Light weapons receive a -4 penalty on parry rolls.
-- 2-handed wpns receive a +4 bonus on parry rolls.
-- Shields offer a parry bonus equal to the shield's bonus. Using your shield to parry causes you to lose its AC bonus until your next action. All other rules for using shields as weapons apply.
New Feats:
Improved Parry
prereqs: Combat Expertise, BAB +1, DEX 13+
benefit: While in your defensive stance (described above), you receive a bonus on parry rolls equal to the AC bonus you receive from fighting defensively/total defense, combat expertise, 'defending' wpns, 2-wpn defense, etc. **if you are receiving an AC bonus from multiple 'defending' wpns, you only receive a parry bonus from the specific wpn with which you are parrying.
special:
- Combat Expertise: Parry rolls do not receive the normal attack penalty incurred from utilizing Combat Expertise.
- Combat Reflexes: if you have the Combat Reflexes feat, you may also make a # of additional Parry rolls equal to your DEX mod; however, each additional parry that round takes a cumulative -5 penalty. You can still only make 1 parry roll per incoming attack.
- Dodge: if you have the Dodge feat, you also receive +1 bonus on parry rolls vs. the target of your Dodge feat. Improvements to your Dodge feat (such as from the Swashbuckler's Dodge class feature, etc.) also improve parry rolls. Other sources of dodge bonuses to your AC have no effect (except as noted above).
- 2-wpn Fighting: If you have the 2-wpn Fighting feat, are wielding 2 weapons (or a double-wpn), and both weapons have the 'defending' quality, parry bonuses stack (e.g., if you are receiving a +2 AC from one wpn and a +3 AC from another, you would receive a +5 to parry rolls).
- 2-wpn Defense: If you have the 2-wpn Defense feat, this bonus also applies to your parry rolls.
Greater Parry
prereqs: Improved Parry, Combat Expertise, BAB +6
benefit: Upon making a successful parry, you may immediately make a single melee attack against that opponent. Penalties for making multiple parry attempts apply to this attack (but this attack does not cause the accumulation of further penalties). In lieu of making this attack, you may instead take a free 5ft-step.
Battle Buddy
prereqs: Improved Parry, Combat Expertise, BAB +6
benefit: As an Immediate Action, you may parry an attack that targets an adjacent creature. This counts against your total available parries for the round.
Improved Battle Buddy
prereqs: Improved Parry, Battle Buddy, Combat Expertise, BAB +9
benefit: You may use your parry to target an incoming attack that targets any creature that is within your threatened area. Using parry in this way no longer consumes an Immediate Action.
So, what do y'all think?
