So . . . Snowball fights!

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

I do find it strange that people refuse to give out a single point in Driving or Math for using a car to get to work or finishing school*, saying that characters earn their defaults, while Throwing Sport suddenly gains 1-2 points for playing a much more limited time.

* == 90 minutes of math per week as the very minimum, roughly 35 weeks per year (not counting homework), for 11 years = 577 hours of training in a class.

Going to math class is not the same thing as learning math. (Just as for me going to gym class wasn't at all the same thing as learning any athletic skills.) Studying math or playing ball games is something that can justify a point in those things, but it doesn't automatically mean you will. The odds, however, are better if its something the kid thinks is fun.

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

Not sure if football qualifies (it seems to be more about Lob than Throw rolls), but Baseball definitely looks impressive in this respect.

Most American Football training (as opposed to just playing with the ball) doesn't involve throwing the ball. Instead, it's mostly strength and conditioning drills (designed to boost ST, DX, Running skill and impart traits like Fit and High Pain Threshold) along with practicing formations and plays.

Specialist players might have points in Throwing or Sumo (the closest thing to blocking and tackling GURPS has) or obscure Sport skills like Football Kicking (defaults to American Football and Association Football/Soccer).

By contrast, Baseball requires just about every player to learn to throw and catch accurately. And it does apply to other situations, making it much more like straight Throwing skill. For example, it's absolutely no surprise that modern U.S. hand grenades are approximately the same size and shape as a baseball.*

As for a snowball fight, consider that most kids are making All-Out Attacks - either for range or accuracy. If you allow it, they might also be taking a second to Aim. After all, unless your opponents are putting rocks inside the snowballs, or are making hard-packed ice balls, there's nothing more than a bit of discomfort if you get hit, especially if you're wearing padded winter clothing.

On the negative side, they've got low ST scores perhaps ST 6-9, so their range with thrown attacks is going to be quite short, meaning that they'll be throwing at beyond 1/2D range, which means that there should be further penalties to hit or bonuses to dodge.

Even so, most people can't throw worth a damn. Snowball fights I've seen, and remember from my past, involve lots of snowballs being thrown, but few actually hitting. Effective rolls to hit of 7 or less seem about right.

*To counter this cultural advantage, back in the days of the Soviet Union, there was actually a sport called "Grenade Throwing" (or something like it) which taught boys to throw round and stick grenades for distance and accuracy.

As another example, for much of the Israeli-Palestinian War, Palestinian kids were throwing rocks at Israeli troops underhanded - as opposed to the more effective overhand throw - precisely because the local sport of choice was Soccer rather than than Baseball. At some point, however, they caught on and changed their techniques. Anyone from that sort of culture definitely qualifies for a point or so in actual Throwing skill!
There's also the local variation of children's dodgeball, but I think the different balance between a volley ball and a snowball is rather drastic. Still not sure if it's enough for 1-2 points.[/QUOTE]