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Old 01-29-2016, 12:48 AM   #74
vicky_molokh
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Default Re: (Unofficial) FAQ of the GURPS Fora

Q: The Staff skill, various weapons covered by it, Weapon Adaptation . . . uh, how they interact? Is the +2 Parry bonus a property of the skill or the weapon?
A: the answers are a bit scattered, but here's what I managed to gather so far:

Regarding the parry bonus:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Basic Set page 208
This skill makes good use of the staff’s extensive parrying surface when defending, giving +2 to your Parry score.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kromm View Post
Any balanced weapon used with Staff skill gets +2 Parry. However, there is no such thing as "+2U" Parry, which is why the naginata is "0U."
Quote:
Originally Posted by the Form Mastery perk
you could start your turn using a spear with the Staff skill, switch to the Spear skill to attack, and then return to Staff for parrying.
Quote:
Originally Posted by the Weapon Adaptation perk
This lets you wield the weapons covered by one weapon skill using a different skill and its techniques, with all of the benefits and drawbacks of that skill
Regarding the tetsubo:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kromm View Post
Note that contrary to gaming myth, a tetsubo isn't really an iron staff . . . it's closer to a honking huge maul. It just happens to be baseball bat-shaped instead of hammer-shaped. It would definitely use Two-Handed Axe/Mace skill, not Staff.
Regarding use of hooked custom heads on a staff:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kromm View Post
GURPS Martial Arts, p. 74: "You can learn [Hook] for any Melee Weapon skill, but you’ll need a suitable weapon to use it."

GURPS Martial Arts, p. 214 (or GURPS Low-Tech Companion 2, p. 14): "Any swung weapon [...] can have a small hook to permit use of the Hook technique."

A quarterstaff is a swung weapon, so it can have a hook for +$25 and negligible weight. If you want to go nuts and give it a full-on bill head for +$90 ($100 for dueling bill minus $10 for quarterstaff) and +2 lbs. (6 lbs. for dueling bill minus 4 lbs. for quarterstaff), then you've gone above and beyond the call of duty. Go ahead and learn Hook (Staff) to wield it.
Something to keep in mind for those who want to use a Default to wield a staff with the Staff skill:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Basic Set page 173
Regardless of your default skill level, you do not get the special benefits of a skill – especially combat
bonuses such as improved damage, special defenses, and unpenalized off-hand use – when you use a skill at
default. To enjoy these benefits, you must spend at least one point on the skill.
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