Re: Absurdly high skill levels
 

Reference, please? I don't think that's correct. Recoil only affects when you fire more than one shot per *attack*, not per turn: the number of bullets which hit is equal 1 + (margin of success / Recoil). If you're doing Ranged Rapid Strike with single-shots, Recoil is irrelevant.

It's possible that I'm overlooking a rule in High-Tech.

-Max

Re: Absurdly high skill levels
 

The points going into IQ (See the section on Children in GURPS) and earning our justification for defaults. thowing point in skill like Gaming, Bicycle, Swmming and Skating would be valid.

Re: Absurdly high skill levels
 

Learning to simply stay on a bicycle doesn't require a full point, except for those practicing all those cool and often injurious tricks.
Swimming, well, I know that I have a nice default, as in I can keep my head above water. But a full point for all those kids just getting from one of the pool to the other?

Re: Absurdly high skill levels
 

No, you're not. I did. However, I can't see any reference to being able to make more than one extra attack using a Ranged Rapid Strike, so that means no more than two targets.

Re: Absurdly high skill levels
 

I said it would be valid, not that all kids would have them.

for bikes you yourself gave a goo argument for some kids having points in, another would be those that are into BMX rasing.

as for swimming, a Was a Sea scout on and island nation with compulsary primary school swimming class. ratting where we did FAR more th keep my head above water. (yes I earnt my level 3 life-saving badge)

Re: Absurdly high skill levels
 

Does it cover knowing all the positions of the Kama Sutra, and how to get into them? Or, does it cover more esoteric material, such as how to use various mental and physical techniques to induce, withhold, or prolong orgasm? Or, does it just cover knowing how to give a really good *******?

IMO, all of these are actually different skills (though being good in bed may just be a perk, and in a fantasy world, orgasm control could simply be part of the justification or "flavor" for magic or chi powers). I suspect that whoever wrote up Erotic Art to begin with didn't care to devote too much time to thinking about the intricacies of sexual abilities for GURPS, perhaps knowing that he wasn't going to be writing about them in detail anyway.

I wouldn't expect that just having sex would ever require any kind of skill, ability, roll, or any other degree-of-success mechanic of any kind, except in a very strange game. All of our ancestors obviously managed to figure it out.

I suspect many educators - if they spoke GURPS - would say that a lot of that time goes to raising IQ to its adult level, granting native language ability, justifying skill defaults, and so forth. A lot of what happens in school is giving kids the fundamentals of communication, socialization, logical thinking, etc. Actual skill training comes on the job, in college or a trade school, or as a side effect of day-to-day living.

Re: Absurdly high skill levels
 

IIRC, it originally appeared in the Callahan's Crosstime Saloon book, along with the very intricate drinking/drunk rules. Lady Sally's girls (and boys) very likely had the "karate" version of Erotic Art (and probably the karate version of karate, too).

Re: Absurdly high skill levels
 

I'm a teacher and I speak GURPS and I agree 100% with you. Spot on.

Re: Absurdly high skill levels
 

Social Stigma (Undeducated) is worth -5 points. I guess going to school let's a person buy this off.

Re: Absurdly high skill levels
 

Couldn't this scenario just be a Hard technique, say defaulting from base skill at -7 (or whatever the penalty for targeting the trigger is)? Then, your skill 25 player with gunslinger could buy it up to skill level for 8 more points. Is that how this would work?

The reason that I ask is because I have a player who would be very interested in using such techniques due to my limit of 20 for his Guns (Pistol) skill... :P