Re: Re: Digest Number 162

From: philip.hibbs_at_...
Date: Fri, 7 Jul 2000 13:43:00 +0100

>Well, while a pillow isn't the most efficient weapon around,
>I did mean to imply the difference comes after you hit,

You don't need to hit someone to reduce their APs. Just threatening them and making it look like you are going to hit them might cause them to stumble and fall, or flee in terror. A sword might make you appear more intimmidating, and that's another justification for the weapon rank.

>but as any individual will have the same skill in both (Close
>Combat), he should have more effect when hitting with a sword.

The generic "Close Combat" skill is a game system abstraction. Are you saying that a martial artist (in the common non-weapon-using context) who has never wielded a poleaxe would suddenly become more effective when one is thrust into their hands? The game system may seem to imply this, but it is countered by improv modifiers. Most people will have "shield and spear combat" or some such specialisation. Vanilla "Close Combat" IIRC (and IMG) always gets an improv modifier.

Philip Hibbs http://www.snark.freeserve.co.uk/ Opinions expressed may not even be my own, let alone those of any organisations, nations, species, or schools of thought to which I may be affiliated.

Powered by hypermail