Blunt weapons and edged weapons using the same skills?

[Varyon]

Originally Posted by The Colonel

Isn't the question more about balance? That's why axe and mace use the same skill - because they are balanced the same way and designed to deliver a similar strike. Granted the axe user has to worry about blade alignment, but the fighting technique is more or less the same as I understand it.

Yeah, the skills are largely about balance and handedness, with some oddities thrown in (like shorter swords using a different skill than longer ones, or some weapons with weapon-catching prongs using a different skill than weapons that are otherwise used identically). There are some weapons that blur the line between sword and axe, by being particularly top-heavy swords; I believe GURPS actually has such weapons usable with both skills (I think the khopesh is given this treatment).

As I noted, if you want edge alignment to be a concern, the best way to do that is to impose a (small) penalty to hit with proper alignment, and allow those who favor swords or axes over batons or maces to buy it off with a Technique.