Capping Skill Default Levels

[Gollum]

Originally Posted by Terwin

Admittedly if the broadsword user had never seen or used a short sword before, the training discrepancy would need to be larger(see familiarity penalties), but it would still be expected for the much more experienced warrior to win, even with an unfamiliar weapon.

I fully do agree with that.

The main goal of okinawaian kobudo training is to learn how to use enough weapons to be able to use any weapon, including improvised ones.

Weapons may vary a lot but their use still has a lot of common principles: right angle to strike, letting your body follow your weapon, keeping your weapon as close as possible from your body to avoid opening your guard, etc. And here, I don't even speak about principles that remain true for every kind of combat, including bare handed one (good stance to have good footing and move quickly, good vertical height to improve your balance, being used to fight and then to read your foe's intents, being used to make very fast move forward or backward, to strike very quickly and with all your strength, without the least hesitation, and so on).

So, a true master of shortsword is certainly more than good with a broadsword, a saber or any other kind of balanced blade.