> few measly edge points which soon become inconsequential? Why
> learn dual sword wield? To look "cool" or intimidating?
Well personally, I don;t know. I would apply penalties to a duealsword weilder, Miyamoto Musashi notwhithstanding. But it remains beside the point.
> Doubtful. Realistically, there would be more to it than that.
There is, but that does not necessarily mean that a set of game mechanics need to model it.
>
> I like the idea of modifiers "on the fly." What I was asking for
> from the beginning was an example of how others might modify the
> edges/skill bonuses and how players might handle the skill
> differently from other types of combat. When several stated that
I would not, that would defeat the elegance of the system. The fact that it abstracts ALL combat varieties into a single resolution is its strongest virtue. This means that I, as the GM, am free to interpret the differences which specialised techniques introduce in a situational and relational manner; i.e. how it changes or determines the dynamic oif the fight. The actual knockdown, drag-out contesrt between the two participants is IMO correctly described by an abstracted mechanic which describes the contesting forces in general rather than specific terms.
> game play. However, it is evident that the game mechanics
> differentiate between the use of a shield and the lack of a shield
> in combat. It is logical, therefore, that use of two weapons in
> combat should also be differentiated in some way, even if it is
> done without hard and fast rules and even if this differentiation
> only grants a bonus of +1 edge.
Well, as I said above, I would apply a penalty, esp. if these are full length weapons. I concede there is a mechanical recognitiion of the shield, but IMO it should not be so codified and I doubt I would bother to calculate it. But equally, if you feel that you wish to apply a +1 or whatever, by all means do so, but recognise that many people like HW precisely becuase it does NOT calculate inputs to determine outcomes in a mechanical manner. What I would do is apply improv penalties and bonuses to the use of two weapons IF I thought the described action merited some sort of modifier - which I doubt many will.
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