On the uselessness of a karate course in GURPS

[Gold & Appel Inc]

Originally Posted by Rasputin

So, a single point in Brawling is truly a Perk: Can try Elbow Strike and Knee Strike, and build up Brawling further. That seems fair for a point. And, for eight points, you can either punch at DX+1 for thrust+1, or at DX+3 for thrust, to compare between Brawling and Karate at their most basic.

You're forgetting the second unpenalized parry per round, which, again, is huge. Also, 4e Martial Arts gives Brawling oodles of fun techniques. I ran a whole one-shot session ("Throwdown at the Hoedown") just to fully explore Brawling after I got the book, and the group had a vicious, kind of gruesome blast.

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by OldSam

You mean like with every other melee weapon skill, right?

Every other Easy skill. It says specifically that the skill must get up to DX level.

Originally Posted by Gold & Appel Inc

You're forgetting the second unpenalized parry per round, which, again, is huge.

Ah, I did, but then, so did Kromm. :)

[Not]

That's a problematic notion, isn't it? If Kromm forgets a rule, in what sense does it exist?

[Zarathustra]

Originally Posted by Not

That's a problematic notion, isn't it? If Kromm forgets a rule, in what sense does it exist?

If a tree falls in the forest and Kromm isn't around to hear it, does it make a sound?

Answer: Yes. As long as PK is there. ;-)

[lachimba]

Originally Posted by DouglasCole

I think the key bit here is have someone toss a ball at you. You can catch it with your hand. You will probably not be able to stop it with the head of an axe, or the edge of a sword, without a lot more practice.

I think my concern would be more if with two identical unskilled unarmed fighters the one who picks up the baseball bat loses more than 50% of the time.

As it is the baseball bat guy now has less chance to hit and parry, but the armed parry, damage, reach, his attacks can't be parried etc

I haven't done the rolls but it's instantly skill 5 vs skill 10.
If you add harsh realism for the unarmed fighter then that probably fixes it.

There are probably all sorts of interesting skill, rule and weapon break points at different levels.
E.g. the skilled karate fighter should give his unarmed skill opponents weapons, but never pick one up.

The unskilled mugger with baseball bat loses to the victim with one point in karate.

In terms of realism adding harsh realism fixes most of these points.