Default between one- and two-handed use

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Kromm

Agreed. Only these people are trained users. Those with points in just one of the two skills, and no perk, are novices in a lot of meaningful ways, however good their aim is. That's a major point of Martial Arts – i.e., that actually learning a comprehensive style that accounts for more than just "hitting stuff" has been the mark of all professional warriors, ever. It is frustrating at times that people think that since skills are available piecemeal, cherry-picking the ones you want is all it takes to be a warrior . . . and then grow frustrated when they realize that Rapier doesn't cover off-hand knives or parries with the mailed hand, or grappling with a sword, or punching with a hilt, etc. Meanwhile, there are perfectly good rapier styles that encompass Main-Gauche, Rapier, Wrestling, etc.

I completely agree that warriors know more than one skill and should actually have a complete style.

I just disagree that it should be equally hard to learn using a longsword or katana in one hand and two as it would be to master two completely unrelated weapons. For users with DX+2 and less (i.e. the vast majority of users, barring exceptionally dedicated students), this is the current situation with Two-Handed Sword and Broadsword.

I'm not arguing that these should be the same skill. But I do feel that it is extremely illogical to assess a -2 to skill for someone using a weapon with a grip insufficiently wide with two hands, but give an effective -4 to skill when someone uses a weapon designed for the purpose the same way.

I think the penalty ought to be the same, with training in the two-handed form and technique (Two-Handed [foo] skill) being available to raise it.

What is the reason for the huge default* between Broadsword and Two-Handed Sword?

*I actually think that most weapon defaults in GURPS are unecessarily harsh, but this one is particularly annoying because of the rules for Defensive Grip and how they are make weapons that are not designed for a two-handed grip a better option for most fighters who wish to use two hands.