Martial Arts Campaign
 

Hello,

First i want to share that i m new to Gurps. I got some 3e books and 4e Basic Set, Campaigns and Martial Arts. I want to start a martial arts campaign with the Japanese culture around 1500/1700 as starting point.
Now i m looking for social/cultural source books, i already got 'the way of the samurai'.

Second, i tested one combat with two cowboys duelling, and must say it was kind a strange. We were at 10 yards and it took many 'rounds' to get one kill, and most of the time, we were both lying. How can one shot (with tl5/6 revolver) cripple a leg? Or was this just a weird combat? :p

Greetings

Dionysius

Re: Martial Arts Campaign
 

The Book of Five Rings is a another interesting samurai text book.

What skill level did your cowboys have? Realistic skill levels for a skilled gunfighter, say Guns (Pistol) 14, means you have to take at least a second to aim to offset the range penalty.

A .45 bullet will easily cripple a leg. If it hits bone it might well cripple the leg permanently.

have you seen The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford? There is a gun battle in that film at a range of less than two yards and the fighter's fire 13 bullets and only score one hit. It is realistic if not very heroic.

Re: Martial Arts Campaign
 

It's also important to remember when playing GURPS, that the rounds represent a very short period of time (1 Second). Looked at this way, GURPS combat is usually short and brutal from a real world perspective.

Were you calling shots to head and vitals? When people die from a single gunshot in a matter of seconds, it's always because you've damaged a major organ

Re: Martial Arts Campaign
 

We were using 'random hit locations' and shooting with .36 (low tl)...So it was practically more lying than standing (shot in one leg = lying?) ;)...One question, if i stand NEXt to a lying character, are those penalties of lying the same? (it wouldn't be realistic, i guess)

Re: Martial Arts Campaign
 

Well, there's your first problem. Shooting somebody in the leg isn't very good for stopping them from shooting you back - aim for the center mass.

People didn't die from the actual gunshots at that TL as much as they died from the bleeding and/or infection that resulted.

Re: Martial Arts Campaign
 

Welcome!

1500-1700 points is quite a bit to start for a new GM! I recomend something a little closer to 150-250.

I dont recomend random hit locations except for explosions, wild swings and other situations where the attack could actually land randomly. INstead, assume that unless they tell you differently, they are aiming at the torso.

What was the skill level of the shooters? 10yds is -4 for range before other penalties.

As for crippling in one shot, you can easily explain this as saying it hit a major tendon, muscle group, bone or joint. If your really into the narrative, feel free to give these justifications and descriptions, if not, just say its crippled because the dice say so :)

Optionally, for a more cinematic feel, leave OUT the crippling rules.

Enjoy,
Nymdok

Re: Martial Arts Campaign
 

From the context, I took this to mean the years 1500-1700.

Bill Stoddard

Re: Martial Arts Campaign
 

DOH! I read that as '1500-1700 starting points'

Nymdok

p.s. Depending on the era Hakagure(sp?) might be a book worth flipping through. If your not a big reader, sit down and watch 'Ghost Dog'.

Re: Martial Arts Campaign
 

On the sources for a Samurai game; at the risk of seeming silly, I suggest the comic book 'Usagi Yojimbo' by Stan Sakai.

Yes, he's a rabbit; but the details, clothes, mythology, background, names, places, stories, ideas and visuals are all inspirational.

I recommend it for games that contain magic, intrigue, and interesting characters.

There was even a rpg book for it.

Re: Martial Arts Campaign
 

lol!!! Af friend of mine gave me that book for a couple of weeks for the same reason...We wanted to start Oriental Adventures (2nd ed. D&D)....but i am trying to convince him to use Gurps ;)