Not even an option: bodyweight as Enc

[jacobmuller]

If you allowed Decreased Dodge, what value would you place on it?
Has anyone done it?

The box on pg B19 sets out the way a player might choose to simulate the debilitating effects of morbid obesity as buying down Basic Move; only if the player chooses and not as a GM's required option. In effect, this would allow Overweight to become [-6], Fat [-13], Very Fat [-20].

If the player wants to treat the character's obesity as Encumbrance, the main effect would be decreased dodge. Would this be simulated by allowing them to buy Decreased Dodge?
eg Overweight [-21], Fat [-43], Very Fat [-65].

[Yami Fowl]

As far as I see, most dodges (but no any Acrobatic Dodge) is measured by speed of reflex, not bodily speed itself. As most dodges are based on little movement that gets you out of the blow's way.

Therefore, I don't belive obesity would impair dodge that much, but if you want to allow it, I'd rule something between -10 and -15 points. Where 15 would be the maximum for it's the same cost as enhanced dogde.

My opinion given...
Hope it helps!

[ericbsmith]

If you want to buy down Dodge in addition to Move, simply buy decreased Basic Speed. Basic Speed at [+/-20] per +/-1 is just the combined cost of +1 Enhanced Dodge [+15] and +/-1 Basic Move [+/-5]. Personally, though, I don't see being overweight as slowing down your dodge that much.

[seasong]

Originally Posted by Yami Fowl

As far as I see, most dodges (but no any Acrobatic Dodge) is measured by speed of reflex, not bodily speed itself.

If you are encumbered, Dodge goes down. If it was down to pure reflexes, Encumbrance shouldn't matter.

[PK]

Originally Posted by jacobmuller

If you allowed Decreased Dodge, what value would you place on it?

This is just reduced Basic Speed. Remember that any change to Speed affects Dodge. Let's say you have a DX 10, HT 10 character.

Normally he'd have Speed 5.00 [0] and Move 5 [0].

If he had strong legs but poor reaction time, you might give him Speed 4.00 [-20] and Move 5 [5].

If he had a slight handicap that slowed down his running but left him still relatively nimble, you might give him Speed 5.00 [0] and Move 4 [-5].

And if he was fat enough to slow him down for the purposes of both self-defense and speed, you might give him Speed 4.00 [-20] and Move 4 [0].

[Dunadin777]

I think Jacob is looking for something to represent the fringe case of someone who thinks fast on their feet but is simply lousy at getting out of the way of things. It's a neat idea, but not supported by GURPS' concept of Speed and Dodge, both of which are inherently linked to Dexterity. If he'd be physically lumbering, then he'd have a low DX score and a low Speed. GURPS doesn't mess around with the concept of purely mental reflexes.

Is that what you meant, Jacob?

[jacobmuller]

So it boils down to: if they think they're affected that much, tell them to buy down Speed.
As for mental agility over physical, wasn't there a perk posited, something like Speed of Thought: Basic Speed = (DX + IQ)/4 for combat sequence purposes only (not for Basic Move or Dodge)?

[Dunadin777]

Originally Posted by jacobmuller

As for mental agility over physical, wasn't there a perk posited, something like Speed of Thought: Basic Speed = (DX + IQ)/4 for combat sequence purposes only (not for Basic Move or Dodge)?

I'd go with Speed of Thought= (IQ+HT)/4, personally. If you have lousy fitness, that can very well affect your mental speed, but lousy DX affecting mental speed makes less sense, IMHO.

[jacobmuller]

Yes, IQ + HT makes more sense and when I was trying to remember it, that's what I thought it was. Just replace DX with IQ to get your speed of thought.
But then I found the above in a "design notes" notes on my PC. Either I noted it down wrong and it should be HT or there was some explanation for swapping IQ for HT. Can't find the thread I thought I got it from.

[the_seeker]

Without getting into a detailed or prolonged examination of alternate formulas for Basic Speed (or whatever you want to call it), I'm going to point out to you what Ze'manel Cunha once pointed out to me.

If you use any formula of the format ((IQ+x)/4), you will totally hose animals.
A better option would be a formula of the format ((Per+x)/4).

I'd elaborate, but I'm tired, and my arm is really bothering me at the moment.