Martial Arts Weapons and Weapon Master
 

The title was the best I could come up with, and I don't think this as been addressed before.

OK, Weapon Master gives bonus damage to melee weapons at DX+1 or +2, the martial arts skills give the same bonus and at the same skill levels (Except for brawling, it gives the +1 bonus at +2 and doesn't give the +2 bonus at all).

Now on page 65 of Low Tech there are several weapons that use the above martial arts skills to make attacks, that happens when I have Weapon Master, the skill at the appropriate level(s) and use those weapons, do I get both bonuses?

Re: Martial Arts Weapons and Weapon Master
 

My gut reaction was that the RAW probably says those don't stack somewhere, but I couldn't find it on a casual search, and I'd be inclined to allow it as a house rule regardless, given that Weapon Master is expensive and cinematic, and that the weapons that would benefit from this that I can think of are all doing more-or-less Thrust damage which isn't going to see a lot from the bonus compared to other things you could buy Weapon Master for anyway.

Re: Martial Arts Weapons and Weapon Master
 

I would take my cue from Throwing Art - if you use Weapon Master as the prereq, you get the damage bonus from the skill, but not the prereq advantage. Not the same thing, obviously, but "the bonuses do not stack" is a pretty consistent condition when dealing with Weapon Master.

Re: Martial Arts Weapons and Weapon Master
 

If the characters are using the weapons as fist loads, then I'd use the damage addition from the unarmed skill they are using.

If they have Weapons Master with that weapon, then I would give the player the option of using the Weapon Master bonus instead.

Re: Martial Arts Weapons and Weapon Master
 

Use the better of them. I don't have a page ref, but in general, GURPS doesn't give layered skill bonuses for damage.

Re: Martial Arts Weapons and Weapon Master
 

I know I've seen a Krommpost about this at some point, but my search-fu fails me. This is the closest I can find. Of course, the word of the (primary?) author of Martial Arts is probably sufficient.

EDIT: Still not definitive, but see here. Kromm speaks to precisely what that damage bonus from Brawling/Boxing/Karate means, and his definition at the very least precludes the first +1 from applying to weapons. It could also mean it wouldn't apply to many Strikers or even Natural Weapons (Pyramid 3.65), but that can probably be safely ignored (as both of those Advantages were designed assuming they would get the damage bonus from at least Brawling).

Re: Martial Arts Weapons and Weapon Master
 

My gut says to agree with Peter on this - use the better. I could see an exception perk or cinematic switch allowing these to stack, but that'd be for a game with bendy physics.

Love the kenning!