[Skarg]

To appreciate the problem, play a very experienced melee fighter character who survived years of battle and can defeat most foes. even groups of foes, in melee combat, then put him up against two opponents: a starting character with fairly high DX and a whip and/or lasso, and a starting character with ST 15 DX 9 pikeaxe. Have your foes move so that the whip can attack you before you can engage them, watch it knock you down as easily as if you were an unarmed ST 8 DX 8 figure with no talents facing the wrong direction. Then watch as the pikeaxe charges you while prone. You might survive long enough to be tripped and charged again.