[Speculation] GURPS 4.5e

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by Figleaf23

Yes, but a single example of a trait's manifestation is an odd basis to build a rule irregularity around.

And yet, here we are. *shrug* stuff happens funny some times.

It's a darn famous example, for what its worth. The One Ring is always on, but it's equipment.

[dataweaver]

Still, Figleaf23 has a point: for a GURPS 4.5e (or perhaps a GURPS 5e?), it might be worth considering altering Invisibility to work just like every other Advantage:switchable by default, and taking modifiers such as Always On or Usually On if it can't (easily) be turned off.

[demonsbane]

I'll add again the GURPS 3ed box with the suggestions for creating new skills.

[Phantasm]

Originally Posted by demonsbane

I'll add again the GURPS 3ed box with the suggestions for creating new skills.

Isn't that the box that ultimately gave us skills such as Abacus, Katana, and Cyphering (basic counting)?

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by tbrock1031

Isn't that the box that ultimately gave us skills such as Abacus, Katana, and Cyphering (basic counting)?

We still have Katana. It's just called Guns (SMG) now.

[demonsbane]

Originally Posted by tbrock1031

Isn't that the box that ultimately gave us skills such as Abacus, Katana, and Cyphering (basic counting)?

I'm not sure of understanding what you mean.

[Phantasm]

Originally Posted by demonsbane

I'm not sure of understanding what you mean.

I'm talking about skill bloat, with authors creating dozens if not hundreds of new skills for stuff that either didn't need a roll in the first place or was already covered by other skills.

For instance, Abacus was the skill needed to use the abacus, a tool for basic math. Katana duplicated both the Broadsword and Two-Handed Sword skills, but for that one weapon only. And Cyphering.... was the skill of counting on your fingers.

Those skills - and several more besides - were completely unnecessary, yet managed to make it into Compendium I, becoming "core" skills. Other skills had totally asinine names ("Uttering of Base Coin" instead of "Counterfeiting").

4e cleaned up a lot of the skill bloat. They didn't catch everything (as Vicky pointed out, a lot of folks don't like Guns (Sub-Machinegun) and Guns (Musket) alongside Guns (Rifle) and Guns (Shotgun), calling for a Guns (Longarm) and/or Guns (Autofire) instead), but the general idea when they made 4e is that the system could do with fewer "general" skills, not more. (I'm not counting Imbuement and Wildcard skills as "general" skills, being more specialized.)

[dataweaver]

Yeah; well, it would have been hard to have fewer Imbuement and Wildcard skills than 3e had. :)

[Langy]

Originally Posted by tbrock1031

For instance, Abacus was the skill needed to use the abacus, a tool for basic math. Katana duplicated both the Broadsword and Two-Handed Sword skills, but for that one weapon only. And Cyphering.... was the skill of counting on your fingers.

To be fair, that 'Katana' (or 'Bastard Sword', as I prefer to call it) skill sounds just fine to me. Much nicer to have one skill for one weapon than two different skills for the same weapon in my book, and the near-impossibility of being decent at both sword-grip styles without massive over-spending in GURPS 4e is annoying.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by Langy

To be fair, that 'Katana' (or 'Bastard Sword', as I prefer to call it) skill sounds just fine to me. Much nicer to have one skill for one weapon than two different skills for the same weapon in my book, and the near-impossibility of being decent at both sword-grip styles without massive over-spending in GURPS 4e is annoying.

So staff, spear, polearm, and 2hd axe skills should become one just because they can be used with the same weapon?