Balancing tail with no obvious gurps advantage

[Flyndaran]

I'm thinking of a biped with a balancing tail that isn't a striker or modifier for perfect balance, etc.

Should having an extra "limb" be anything other than a feature? I can see arguments for both yes and no.

What says the audience?

[Gold & Appel Inc]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

I'm thinking of a biped with a balancing tail that isn't a striker or modifier for perfect balance, etc.

Should having an extra "limb" be anything other than a feature?

I don't see why not, assuming that it also can't manipulate objects. There may be some trivial game effects (eg: Can't swap unaltered clothing with Humans), but they probably balance out.

If having the "balancing tail" intact and unrestricted is necessary for the creature to have a normal sense of balance, I'd call it a DX penalty with a -80% Mitigator and let people who understand the creature's physiology attempt attacks to Cripple it with 1/3 HP to inflict the penalties (including the Stunning effect, rolling for recovery as normal, etc).

[Flyndaran]

But DX covers things other than full body movement.
I like the idea though. I might even put a penalty to move as they would have to run in a very awkward human-like upright position.

-2 DX Full Body Movement Only Mitigator: Balancing tail (-8)

But yeah, it means nerve punching them at the base of the tail would be an interesting way to nearly incapacitate them with minimal injury.

[Gold & Appel Inc]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

But DX covers things other than full body movement.
I like the idea though. I might even put a penalty to move as they would have to run in a very awkward human-like upright position.

-2 DX Full Body Movement Only Mitigator: Balancing tail (-8)

True... you could bundle a -DX that excludes Manual DX with a -1 to Move for the same net -4/level if you want to wave the GM wand to call it a toggling metatrait instead of a -25% Limitation on the DX penalty and do an end-run around the -80% Limitation cap...

[Flyndaran]

Nice: There you have it.

Tail Balancing Mitigator for Dx-2 Full Body Only -2 Movement (-8)

Martial Artists may claim striking tails but be as useful in a real fight as humans using brick smashing head buts.

Thanks for all the speedy help. :)

[ericbsmith]

Bio-Tech addressed this. If it can be used to manipulate it's an Extra Arm (with limitations if it's a poor manipulator). If it can be used to attack it's a striker (e.g. a Scorpion or Stegosaurus' tail). Otherwise it's a 0-point feature, which would be true of most animal tails.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by ericbsmith

Bio-Tech addressed this. If it can be used to manipulate it's an Extra Arm (with limitations if it's a poor manipulator). If it can be used to attack it's a striker (e.g. a Scorpion or Stegosaurus' tail). Otherwise it's a 0-point feature, which would be true of most animal tails.

Most tail that assist balance aren't absolutely necessary. I did do a bit of online research into cats.

But balancing tails for bipeds like dinosaurs are much more important as it's not just for sharp turns but also basic posture.