Martial Arts Campaign

[Nymdok]

Originally Posted by Dionysius

Hello,

First i want to share that i m new to Gurps. I got some 3e books and 4e Basic Set, Campaigns and Martial Arts. I want to start a martial arts campaign with the Japanese culture around 1500/1700 as starting point.
Now i m looking for social/cultural source books, i already got 'the way of the samurai'.

Second, i tested one combat with two cowboys duelling, and must say it was kind a strange. We were at 10 yards and it took many 'rounds' to get one kill, and most of the time, we were both lying. How can one shot (with tl5/6 revolver) cripple a leg? Or was this just a weird combat? :p

Greetings

Dionysius

Welcome!

1500-1700 points is quite a bit to start for a new GM! I recomend something a little closer to 150-250.

I dont recomend random hit locations except for explosions, wild swings and other situations where the attack could actually land randomly. INstead, assume that unless they tell you differently, they are aiming at the torso.

What was the skill level of the shooters? 10yds is -4 for range before other penalties.

As for crippling in one shot, you can easily explain this as saying it hit a major tendon, muscle group, bone or joint. If your really into the narrative, feel free to give these justifications and descriptions, if not, just say its crippled because the dice say so :)

Optionally, for a more cinematic feel, leave OUT the crippling rules.

Enjoy,
Nymdok

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by Nymdok

1500-1700 points is quite a bit to start for a new GM! I recomend something a little closer to 150-250.

From the context, I took this to mean the years 1500-1700.

Bill Stoddard

[Nymdok]

Originally Posted by whswhs

From the context, I took this to mean the years 1500-1700.

Bill Stoddard

DOH! I read that as '1500-1700 starting points'

Nymdok

p.s. Depending on the era Hakagure(sp?) might be a book worth flipping through. If your not a big reader, sit down and watch 'Ghost Dog'.

[sgtcallistan]

On the sources for a Samurai game; at the risk of seeming silly, I suggest the comic book 'Usagi Yojimbo' by Stan Sakai.

Yes, he's a rabbit; but the details, clothes, mythology, background, names, places, stories, ideas and visuals are all inspirational.

I recommend it for games that contain magic, intrigue, and interesting characters.

There was even a rpg book for it.

[Dionysius]

lol!!! Af friend of mine gave me that book for a couple of weeks for the same reason...We wanted to start Oriental Adventures (2nd ed. D&D)....but i am trying to convince him to use Gurps ;)

[Dionysius]

Okay...found a 2nd edition Gurps book about Japan!! :)

2 questions: Why is the Katana not MUCH more damaging than a regular longsword?

Why isn't the wakizashi statted in the martial arts book (at least i didn't found it)?

Gr.

[archypetro]

Originally Posted by Dionysius

Okay...found a 2nd edition Gurps book about Japan!! :)

2 questions: Why is the Katana not MUCH more damaging than a regular longsword?

Why isn't the wakizashi statted in the martial arts book (at least i didn't found it)?

Gr.

1) Katanas are not statted to be much more damaging than regular longswords, simply because they're not. If someone swung a long sword at you
and someone swung a katana at you.. you'd probably estimate that the overall damage is roughly along the lines of "oh no, i'm hurting very badly"

All this stuff about katanas being super sharp, well it may well be true.. but so were longswords.

2) When you consider the fact that a katana is essentially a thrusting bastard sword with slightly less thrusting reach, is it not easy to infere that a wakazashi would be a short sword, named differently.

[SuedodeuS]

I think the main difference between a katana and bastard sword (aside from the fact that the latter is far better for thrusting) is that the katana slices, whereas the bastard sword hacks. Slicing is better for causing damage, whereas hacking is better for transmission of trauma through armor (or so I've heard). I just started a thread discussing this (with a possible houserule for it) here. I had originally written it as a reply to this thread, but figured it probably warranted its own.