Melee Weapon Skills (Confusion In reguards to Ruling)

[johndallman]

There is no "Fencing Weapons" skill in GURPS rules-as-written. There is a category of weapons called "Fencing Weapons" and a category of melee weapon skills, also called "Fencing Weapons". These categories exist because the weapons and skills within them use similar rules.

Rapier is a skill, which is DX/A. If a character puts four points into it, they have it at DX+1. They also have the other three fencing weapons skills at Rapier-3, which comes out to DX-2.

If the same character also has four points in Broadsword skill, making DX+1, they have a Rapier default from that of Broadsword-4, which is DX-3. That's much worse than the skill level they bought in Rapier, and should be ignored.

[Dejavroom]

Originally Posted by johndallman

There is no "Fencing Weapons" skill in GURPS rules-as-written. There is a category of weapons called "Fencing Weapons" and a category of melee weapon skills, also called "Fencing Weapons". These categories exist because the weapons and skills within them use similar rules.

Rapier is a skill, which is DX/A. If a character puts four points into it, they have it at DX+1. They also have the other three fencing weapons skills at Rapier-3, which comes out to DX-2.

If the same character also has four points in Broadsword skill, making DX+1, they have a Rapier default from that of Broadsword-4, which is DX-3. That's much worse than the skill level they bought in Rapier, and should be ignored.

I'm sorry, I still don't really understand. Why does rapier have a broadsword -4 default? What context is that used in?

Is that to say if someone had Broadsword 15, They'd also be able to use rapiers at Skill level 11? Is that correct?

But if you just took Rapier as a skill, It'd have the fencing weapon default of -3?

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Dejavroom

Is that to say if someone had Broadsword 15, They'd also be able to use rapiers at Skill level 11? Is that correct?

Exactly so.

But if you just took Rapier as a skill, It'd have the fencing weapon default of -3?

Defaults are about trying to do things that you don't have the right skill for.

Bill has Broadsword skill at 15, so he rolls against 15 when using a broadsword. If he doesn't have a broadsword available, he can use a rapier, at skill 11, or a sabre, also at skill 11. Those skills default to Broadsword-4, which is why he can use them at 11. The other fencing weapons, main-gauche and smallsword, don't have defaults to Broadsword, so Bill has to use his DX-based default, which will almost certainly be worse.

Rachel has Rapier skill at 15. She rolls against 15 when using a rapier. If she tries to use any other kind of fencing weapon, those all default to Rapier-3, so she uses them at 12 - they have more in common with using a rapier that a broadsword does with a rapier. That's the only place where the "fencing weapon default of -3" applies. She can also use a broadsword at Rapier-4, which is 11.

Does that make more sense?

[Dejavroom]

Originally Posted by johndallman

Exactly so.

Defaults are about trying to do things that you don't have the right skill for.

Bill has Broadsword skill at 15, so he rolls against 15 when using a broadsword. If he doesn't have a broadsword available, he can use a rapier, at skill 11, or a sabre, also at skill 11. Those skills default to Broadsword-4, which is why he can use them at 11. The other fencing weapons, main-gauche and smallsword, don't have defaults to Broadsword, so Bill has to use his DX-based default, which will almost certainly be worse.

Rachel has Rapier skill at 15. She rolls against 15 when using a rapier. If she tries to use any other kind of fencing weapon, those all default to Rapier-3, so she uses them at 12 - they have more in common with using a rapier that a broadsword does with a rapier. That's the only place where the "fencing weapon default of -3" applies. She can also use a broadsword at Rapier-4, which is 11.

Does that make more sense?

That makes perfect sense, Thank you for your example

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by Dejavroom

I'm sorry, I still don't really understand. Why does rapier have a broadsword -4 default? What context is that used in?

Is that to say if someone had Broadsword 15, They'd also be able to use rapiers at Skill level 11? Is that correct?

But if you just took Rapier as a skill, It'd have the fencing weapon default of -3?

The best way to phrase the last one is "other Fencing weapons default from Rapier at -3."

I believe the other fencing sword skills are Smallsword and Saber.

[evileeyore]

Originally Posted by DouglasCole

I believe the other fencing sword skills are Smallsword and Saber.

*cough*main-gauche*cough*

[Dalillama]

Originally Posted by evileeyore

*cough*main-gauche*cough*

Is not a sword.

[Phantasm]

Originally Posted by evileeyore

*cough*main-gauche*cough*

Originally Posted by Dalillama

Is not a sword.

But is listed as a Fencing skill/weapon.

Besides, Knife is listed as a "Sword" skill . . . .

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by Phantasm

But is listed as a Fencing skill/weapon.

Besides, Knife is listed as a "Sword" skill . . . .

Yah, I just missed it.