Re: Clarification request for skills Close combat vs specialized combat skills

From: Tim Ellis <tim_at_...>
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2001 19:51:05 -0000

>If a character has at the campaign start close combat 17 and then
>the specialized skill of for example spear and shield fighting at 17
>will they both improve always at the same time.

Yes. In fact they way that he gets the skills is as Close Combat (Spear & Shield fighting) 17 - You only write the number down once

>Or will he have to improve them separately. So that for example later
>on the close combat can be 18 and the spear and shield fighting 1w2
>or vice versa.

Not according to the rules as written, although almost anything is possible if you really want to make it so...

>
> If he takes for example rapier fighting later on as an additional
>skill by writing it on his character story with a hero point will it
>start at 12 or will it start at whatever the close combat is at the
>time.

Since it is a sub-skill of close combat it starts at the current close combat. Feats and affinities work the same way. Say you have a Humakti devotee who has improvised a new feat "Slice 'n' Dice" and he now wants to cement it with a HP. He would get it at the current level of his Combat affinity. (If you got either the feat or the Combat skill at 12 then even a starting character with a score of 17 is likely to be better off taking the Improv penalty rather than taking the skill...)

>If he uses close combat with a weapon that is not mentioned above he
>gets the improvisational modifier, of course.

Indeed. And if he wants to learn to throw a Javelin, or fire a bow then (assuming he doen't already have a ranged combat score) he will start that at 12.