[MA] Low fighting skill & Slings

[hal]

Just out of curiosity, can one purchase the skill LOW FIGHTING: Slings?

From what it appears, it initially seems to be reserved for "melee" skills when using it with GURPS CHARACTER ASSISTANT, yet, when you look at page 77 of GURPS MARTIAL ARTS, it states it can be used with any combat skill. Its primary purpose is to buy off the penalties for fighting in the kneeling position - as well as removing the penalties for defending while in a kneeling position.

Now, sling as a skill does not permit a parry - so the low fighting skill/technique would not be 100% effective "pointwise" as would be the ability to use Low Fighting Brawling for example. With the Brawling skill, it would buy off a -1 to defense/attack if 2 points were spent on the technique, and -2 to defense/attack if 3 points were spent. With a sling however, it would only buy off the -1 to attack skill if 2 points are spent, and only -2 to attack if 3 points were spent.

Am I correct in using it this way, or are slings deliberately not intended to be used with Low Fighting?

[Kromm]

Missile weapons don't have posture penalties, so there isn't much call for it. See the notes next to the Posture Table (p. B551).

[hal]

Originally Posted by Kromm

Missile weapons don't have posture penalties, so there isn't much call for it. See the notes next to the Posture Table (p. B551).

Ahhhhh. There ya go. :) Thanks Kromm.

Right now, I'm working on building a 100 point "Witch Hunter" character/npc for use in both a challenge situation plus as a potential NPC later on in my Atlantean Campaign. For the moment, I'm writing him up as a hunter in the Yrth environment for relevancy on GURPS FORUMS, but the points spent on cultural things will probably be easily ported to another game setting without too much difficulty.

[Not another shrubbery]

Originally Posted by Kromm

Missile weapons don't have posture penalties, so there isn't much call for it.

Do you think there should be some for muscle-powered ranged attacks? I've ruled in the past that the posture penalties applied for those weapons that required a large range of bodily movement.

[Kromm]

I dunno . . . I keep being surprised at things I read. You have low-tech tribesmen using spearthrowers while crouched behind cover, archers who shoot from a supine position, armbrusters who prefer to kneel, etc. It seems as if learning to use ranged weapons from a low posture that lets you stay behind cover is almost standard training. Given that missile weapon skills don't include freebies like "parry" and "attack from behind friends," I don't really mind letting them have a different edge of their own.

[Not another shrubbery]

Fair enough. A rationale for why things are is as good as a win ;) TAL!