Pyramid #3/9: Space Opera "Battlesuit-Blade" no Knife Skill?

[Captain Joy]

The Battlesuit-Blade martial arts style on p. 28 of Pyramid #3/9 lists Battlesuit and Main-Gauche as its only two skills. Based on the description of what this style is represents: "Stylists typically fight with two knives, using the primary hand to attack and the off-hand to defend.", I'm thinking the Knife skill was overlooked. Or, am I missing something?

[Sindri]

Originally Posted by Captain Joy

The Battlesuit-Blade martial arts style on p. 28 of Pyramid #3/9 lists Battlesuit and Main-Gauche as its only two skills. Based on the description of what this style is represents: "Stylists typically fight with two knives, using the primary hand to attack and the off-hand to defend.", I'm thinking the Knife skill was overlooked. Or, am I missing something?

Presumably stylists only fight with Main Gauche.

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by Captain Joy

The Battlesuit-Blade martial arts style on p. 28 of Pyramid #3/9 lists Battlesuit and Main-Gauche as its only two skills. Based on the description of what this style is represents: "Stylists typically fight with two knives, using the primary hand to attack and the off-hand to defend.", I'm thinking the Knife skill was overlooked. Or, am I missing something?

There is considerable disagreement about the interaction between Knife and Main Gauche skills. Largely I think because it seems weird for a weapon skill to *never* allow you to attack at full skill - what with explicitly not neutralizing the off hand penalty for attacks for the hand you'd normally hold the Main Gauche in, and a -3 (for the default to Knife), if you switch hands. Probably the author subscribes to a different interpretation than you do.

I've felt since Martial Arts came out that the Main Gauche skill should have been thrown out and the ignore the off hand parry penalty offered as a skill adaptation perk added to Knife.

[Sindri]

Originally Posted by malloyd

There is considerable disagreement about the interaction between Knife and Main Gauche skills. Largely I think because it seems weird for a weapon skill to *never* allow you to attack at full skill what with explicitly not neutralizing the off hand penalty for attacks for the hand you'd normally hold the Main Gauche in, and a -3 (for the default to Knife), if you switch hands. Probably the author subscribes to a different interpretation than you do.

I've felt since Martial Arts came out that the Main Gauche skill should have been thrown out and the ignore the off hand parry penalty offered as a skill adaptation perk added to Knife.

Main Gauche can attack with no penalty. It just means using your main hand. Main Gauche also covers fencing with knives in your main hand.

[Captain Joy]

Originally Posted by Sindri

Main Gauche can attack with no penalty. It just means using your main hand. Main Gauche also covers fencing with knives in your main hand.

From the Main-Gauche skill description, B208: "To wield a knife as a primary weapon, use Knife skill." To me at least, the RAW is clear that the Main-Gauche skill does not cover main hand use of anything ever.

[Sindri]

Originally Posted by Captain Joy

From the Main-Gauche skill description, B208: "To wield a knife as a primary weapon, use Knife skill." To me at least, the RAW is clear that the Main-Gauche skill does not cover main hand use of anything ever.

Martial Arts 58: "It's permissible to use Main-Gauche with your master hand to receive the benefits of a fencing parry while wielding a knife. Armed this way, you can also attack at your full Main-Gauche level. If you just want to attack with a knife, you can save a few points by learning Knife (DX/Easy) instead of Main-Gauche (DX/Average)."

[Captain Joy]

Originally Posted by Sindri

Martial Arts 58: "It's permissible to use Main-Gauche with your master hand to receive the benefits of a fencing parry while wielding a knife. Armed this way, you can also attack at your full Main-Gauche level. If you just want to attack with a knife, you can save a few points by learning Knife (DX/Easy) instead of Main-Gauche (DX/Average)."

Boom! I'd say that settles the matter. Thank you, Sindri.

[Nereidalbel]

Originally Posted by malloyd

There is considerable disagreement about the interaction between Knife and Main Gauche skills. Largely I think because it seems weird for a weapon skill to *never* allow you to attack at full skill - what with explicitly not neutralizing the off hand penalty for attacks for the hand you'd normally hold the Main Gauche in, and a -3 (for the default to Knife), if you switch hands. Probably the author subscribes to a different interpretation than you do.

I've felt since Martial Arts came out that the Main Gauche skill should have been thrown out and the ignore the off hand parry penalty offered as a skill adaptation perk added to Knife.

A skill learned specifically for your off-hand does not suffer the off-hand penalty. Otherwise, shields would suck!

[Sindri]

Originally Posted by Nereidalbel

A skill learned specifically for your off-hand does not suffer the off-hand penalty. Otherwise, shields would suck!

Main Gauche explicitly does not exempt you from the off-hand attack penalty because it isn't the skill for off-hand knives. It's the skill for "fencing with knives (oh and also it removes the off hand parry penalty)"