multiple damage, weapon master and other weirdness

[oGRE3]

a couple of questions:

in gurps high tech i've found a lot of weapons with the "damage" stated as a multiplicator (as "5dx2); is it a simple method for easy calculating lot of dice of damage or a strange rule i missed?

do the rules of "weapon master" advantage allows to create, for example, a pugilist or a karateka with the "weapon master: boxe" or the "weapon master:karate" advantage or this advantage is strictly limited to armed fighting styles?

[sikker]

Weapon Master clearly says:
"You have a high degree of training or unnerving talent with a particular class of muscle-powered weapons". So yes only weapons and not karate or wrestling.
For those things you should take Trained By A Master.

[oGRE3]

Originally Posted by sikker

Weapon Master clearly says:
"You have a high degree of training or unnerving talent with a particular class of muscle-powered weapons". So yes only weapons and not karate or wrestling.
For those things you should take Trained By A Master.

mmm... ok
the only "concept" problem is "trained by a master" presumes you were trained BEFORE while "weapon master" means you became a master AFTER.
But it's also true that, if you need to inflict more damage with karate or similar skill, you have only to learn maneuvers as "power blow", "pressure secrets" and so on.
so, thanks a lot!

and for the question about weapons as anti-tank rifles and other weapons causing multiplying damage (5dx2, for example)?

[RedMattis]

Originally Posted by oGRE3

mmm... ok
the only "concept" problem is "trained by a master" presumes you were trained BEFORE while "weapon master" means you became a master AFTER.
But it's also true that, if you need to inflict more damage with karate or similar skill, you have only to learn maneuvers as "power blow", "pressure secrets" and so on.
so, thanks a lot!

"Trained by Master", "Weapon Master", both names are just 'fluff'. You can practice on your own on a desolate island and learn Trained by Master or Weapon Master.

Both advantages are really just 'you are a cinematic fighters of some sort', how that happened isn't important out of specific settings.

and for the question about weapons as anti-tank rifles and other weapons causing multiplying damage (5dx2, for example)?

Anti-tank rifles aren't muscle powered. ...well, unless you use them as improvised clubs.
For the Weapon Master-style advantage for firearms take a look at Gunslinger.

Originally Posted by sikker

Well, this is only RAW (as Weby says).
If you can convince your GM otherwise, then you can take weapons master (karate).

Karate is practically Weapon Master (Brawling) as a skill. I would not alow it. Just buy up Striking ST [5p/level]

[oGRE3]

Originally Posted by RedMattis

"Trained by Master", "Weapon Master", both names are just 'fluff'. You can practice on your own on a desolate island and learn Trained by Master or Weapon Master.

Both advantages are really just 'you are a cinematic fighters of some sort', how that happened isn't important out of specific settings.

ok, understood

Originally Posted by RedMattis

Anti-tank rifles aren't muscle powered. ...well, unless you use them as improvised clubs.
For the Weapon Master-style advantage for firearms take a look at Gunslinger.

ehm, the two questions wasn't linked!
:D

Originally Posted by RedMattis

Karate is practically Weapon Master (Brawling) as a skill. I would not alow it. Just buy up Striking ST [5p/level]

good explication

Originally Posted by sikker

Well, this is only RAW (as Weby says).
If you can convince your GM otherwise, then you can take weapons master (karate).

I am my GM!!!

[vicky_molokh]

Karate already enjoys damage bonuses for high skill. No need for WM for that. As GM you should leave it alone.

[vitruvian]

Originally Posted by sikker

Weapon Master clearly says:
"You have a high degree of training or unnerving talent with a particular class of muscle-powered weapons". So yes only weapons and not karate or wrestling.
For those things you should take Trained By A Master.

Are natural weapons powered by something other than muscles?

[aesir23]

Originally Posted by vitruvian

Are natural weapons powered by something other than muscles?

Natural weapons receive the damage bonus from karate.

[vitruvian]

Originally Posted by aesir23

Natural weapons receive the damage bonus from karate.

They're still muscle-powered, though, aren't they?

I'd have no problem saying that the damage bonuses from high Karate skill because of Weapon Master and from high Karate skill because it's, well, high Karate skill, don't stack. That only makes sense, although it does sort of imply that Weapon Master (Natural Weapons) or (All) improves the damage bonus possible for Brawling to the same as Karate. Or Sumo Wrestling, or what have you.

However, I see no reason why having Weapon Master (All) shouldn't allow you the same reductions in penalties for Rapid Strike and multiple parries on your natural weapons as with all other types of weapons.

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by vitruvian

Are natural weapons powered by something other than muscles?

That's what I thought.

Punches and kicks appear on the Muscle-Powered Weapons tables and they are clearly powered by muscles.

It causes me cognative dissonance that someone could have half penalty on Rapid Strikes and Parries if he wore a gauntlet or brass knuckles, but not if his knuckles were bare.