Garrote

Not a house rule, but a summary of complex book rules (p 404):

You can only attack an unaware or helpless target.

You must attack the neck (-5). AOA at +4 is fine.

Since this is a Surprise scenario (p 393) [forum thread]:

• If victim is asleep or non-adventurer (peasant, buffoon, etc), and lacks Combat Reflexes, then it is Total Surprise and the attack succeeds and the victim takes the Do Nothing maneuver for 1d seconds.
• Otherwise, if it's a guard or adventurer expecting trouble, it's Partial Surprise:
  • Attacker and Victim roll 1d for initiative.
  • Combat Reflexes gets +2
  • Higher IQ gets +1
  • Tactics skill of up to 19 gets +1, 20+ gets +2
  • GM can add other modifiers

If the Attacker has the higher initiative, the Victim is Partially Surprised:

• Victim is mentally stunned and most roll versus IQ (Combat Reflexes gives +6) every second to act normally, with +1 on second turn, +2 on third turn, etc.

So, with Surprise status settled, the Victim may have a chance to parry with his hand or close-combat (reach C) weapon.

If the Victim is totally surprised, no defense is possible.

If the Victim is Partially Surprised (mentally stunned), he parries at -4.

Victim may parry with hand or close-combat weapon, at -3, so potentially -7.

If the parry succeeds, the Victim manages to put his hand or weapon between his throat and the garrote, and choking and suffocation do not occur, but if the Attacker is using a wire garrote, it will damage the Victim's hand.

On the turn of the attack, and every subsequent turn the Attacker may choke the Victim (p370) and get a +3 to ST in the ensuing quick contest.

Choke:

• Quick Contest: Attacker's ST+3 versus the higher of Victim's ST or HT.
• If Attacker wins, Victim takes damage equal to margin of victory.

Damage is crushing (x 1.5 to neck) if using rope or cutting (x2 to neck) if using wire.

In addition, Victim begins to suffocate (p436).

Suffocation:

• Victim loses 1 FP/second
• At 0FP, Victim must make a Will check every second or fall unconscious.

After rolling out of stun if necessary, to Break Free, Victim must win a Quick Contest of ST-5, Judo-3, or Wrestling-3 against Attacker's Garrote skill.