Question on Feints and penalties

[Kromm]

We strive to use the words we mean. If a rule says "DX penalty," then it lowers DX for all purposes, which in turn lowers DX-based skills for all purposes; someone with a DX penalty has the same penalty to make or resist feints. If a rule says "skill penalty," then it lowers the affected skill for all purposes; someone with a skill penalty has the same penalty to make or resist feints with that skill . . . but note that if the GM is using the optional rule on p. 100 of GURPS Martial Arts that allows combatants to resist (but not initiate) feints using their best Melee Weapon or unarmed combat skill, a fighter might be able to work around this penalty by resisting with a skill that hasn't been affected. And if a rule says "penalty to attack" or similar, then it lowers the affected skill for attacks – and since feints and attacks are interchangeable, this will also affect making feints but not resisting them.

For instance, a shield in close combat gives you a DX penalty, so it penalizes all efforts to make or resist feints in close; to avoid this, step out of close combat or get rid of the shield. A long weapon in close combat gives you a skill penalty, so it penalizes all efforts to make or resist feints with the skill for the long weapon; to avoid this, step out of close combat or use something other than the skill for the long weapon to make or resist your feint.