[MA] Best dirty-fighting style for a callous weakling?

[Kyle Aaron]

Trachmyr made some good points, I think. However, I would note that many of his points, when expressed in GURPS terms, don't talk about skill as such, but Dis/Advantages and Attributes.

For example, people who "forget" their martial arts training during a violent confrontation. In GURPS terms, what has probably happened is that the GM said, "first real fight ever? Make a Fright Check."

Also, in reality many people have a Phobia of suffering or inflicting physical harm on another. GURPS expresses this as Pacificism: Cannot Kill, or Cowardice, but doesn't get it precisely right, because it's not aiming at realism as such, more a sort of "gamer's cinematic realism", where things are basically realistic, but warped a bit to take in all the crazy movies we gamers watch, and the funny ideas we tend to have.

As for the original poster and their character, a lot depends on whether the GM is offering a realistic-themed world, or a cinematic one. In a realistic-themed world things like Intimidation and a common Phobia of harm will matter, which allows small weaklings to do well if they're vicious. Ever see Joe Pesci in Goodfellahs? I can't quote him here because of his extraordinary amount of profanity, but in essence he's a little guy who does well simply by being nastier and more determined than everyone else.

In a cinematic world, the little guy will always get stomped because the big guy is indifferent to harming or being harmed, and is never frightened except by a bigger guy.