07-26-2020, 05:43 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Dec 2013
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Ki Slash; or, ranged sword strikes
Let's say I want a skill that allows the character to do damage with a sword (broadswords, in this case) as if they were a ranged weapon. While it's not quite rules as intended, would adding Ranged to the Broadswords skill be balanced?
For example, comparing these skills sets for a DX 14 character: 1) Broadsword-22 [28]. 2) Broadsword-20 (Ranged (Selectivity)) [30]. 3a) Broadsword-19 [16]. 3b) Broadsword-17 (Ranged) [12]. Which set would you benchmark as the most reasonable? Assume a low-superheroic cinematic style of game where martial arts can fire energy blasts with sufficient training. |
07-26-2020, 05:48 PM | #2 | |
Doctor of GURPS Ballistics
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Lakeville, MN
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Re: Ki Slash; or, ranged sword strikes
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07-26-2020, 06:13 PM | #3 |
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Re: Ki Slash; or, ranged sword strikes
In general, your options for this are:
1) Build a ranged-sword-slash Innate Attack, and add a perk that lets you use Broadsword instead of a ranged attack skill with that attack. This is the easiest method to do with the core books. 2) Get the Imbue advantage from GURPS Power-Ups 1: Imbuements and use the Project Blow/Broadsword skill. Note that this is a separate skill that you roll to successfully project the blow: you still have to roll Broadsword to hit afterwards. 3) Use the Weapon Buff option in GURPS Thaumatology: Sorcery (based on the previously mentioned Imbuements, the rules in "From Skills to advantages" in Pyramid #3/34, and some enhancements to skip the FP cost or need for rolls) to give the character the ability to project blows with a broadsword as an advantage. |
07-26-2020, 06:19 PM | #4 | |
Join Date: Dec 2013
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Re: Ki Slash; or, ranged sword strikes
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Edit: I already noted "it's not quite rules as intended", but let me clarify: This is custom. I'm asking a balance question on a custom rules idea. |
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07-26-2020, 06:33 PM | #5 |
Join Date: Feb 2016
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Re: Ki Slash; or, ranged sword strikes
I would design it as an alternative attack, a jet attack, for a melee attack. For example, let us say that you have Cutting Attack 10d (Accessibility, Requires Broadsword Weapon, -20%; Melee, 1-2, Dual Attack, -10%; Variable, +5%) [53]. You could have Cutting Attack 4d (Alternative Attack; Broadsword; Accessibility, Requires Broadsword Weapon, -20%; Increased 1/2D Range, 2x, +5%; Increase Range, 10x, +90%; Jet, +0%; Variable, +5%) [11]. Since Jet is already treated as a melee attack, you do not need any extra perks.
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07-26-2020, 06:50 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: Jun 2013
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Re: Ki Slash; or, ranged sword strikes
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It looks like you want to apply an Enhancement on a skill, which I'd recommend against. In addition to just being an odd construct, you also run into the issue that things like increased DX, Talents, etc make the ability cheaper.
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07-26-2020, 06:54 PM | #7 |
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Dreamland
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Re: Ki Slash; or, ranged sword strikes
According to Kromm, you don't even need the perk, just GM permission as long as it stays DX-based (Based On is still required if, say, you want to use Intimidation without bringing Intimidation to DX). IA is balanced around use of an Easy skill, so moving it to another skill is fine, especially since this normally means moving it to a more difficult one (such as Broadsword being Average). The most common use I've seen is moving it to Guns which changes nothing.
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07-26-2020, 06:58 PM | #8 |
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Re: Ki Slash; or, ranged sword strikes
Skills alone really don't work with Enhancements, because a skill can very often just be 1 point, or even 0 points, with most of the actual skill coming from characteristics, talents, or even defaults. Someone else might have the skill at the same level, with 20 points in it but lower base characteristics.
They're both equally skilled, but one is paying twenty times as much as the other for the same benefit if you try to apply the enhancement to the skill points. |
07-26-2020, 07:08 PM | #9 |
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Dreamland
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Re: Ki Slash; or, ranged sword strikes
Power Ups 4 talks about modifying strength-based damage. While it normally isn't allowed to add Ranged, that just seems more like something the GM should be aware of. I'd be perfectly okay with someone buying Ranged this way and saying "Only for one weapon skill" or something. This is assuming you want to do it at will. And it might be too cheap (I didn't actually look into the math yet). Melee Capable might also make more sense (in fact that's likely what this is and is the same value).
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07-26-2020, 07:28 PM | #10 |
Join Date: Dec 2013
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Re: Ki Slash; or, ranged sword strikes
Thanks. So it looks like the answer is "It isn't recommended, because someone might buy a high DX, then put 1 point in it.", and "It's ok, as long as the GM pays attention to characters using it."
From there, as an additional rule, perhaps the point-cost of the enhancement could be based on the total skill, calculated as if its base DX was 10? That is, Broadsword-20 costs [+8] if given the Ranged enhancement, regardless of whether the base DX is 10 or 22. That does bring in the odd case of a DX 6 [-80], Broadsword-6 [1] character gaining back points by taking the Ranged enhancement... but I'd view that more as a munchkin player problem, not a rules problem. Edit: For a matter of cost, if it is too powerful/useful, the enhancement cost could instead be based on a DX of 0. This would give Broadsword-20 (Ranged) an extra [+29]; at this point, adding Selective for [+36] so you only need one Broadsword-20 skill becomes much more palatable. Last edited by Say, it isn't that bad!; 07-26-2020 at 07:35 PM. |
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