Similar weapon use

[Choinski, Burton]

|| say we have a Heavy Sword Skill. We start at EL0, with every
|| large sharp
|| blade we can use (in the category). Now you want to grant a
|| wonderbonus of
|| 1/2 the highest EL for similar weapons. I disagree. The
|| reason is quite
|| simple - they already have a 15-35% bonus by having an EL 0
|| in the similar
|| weapon. This is the modifier that would be subtracted if you
|| knew NONE of
|| the weapon type.

I'm probably not being clear.  The related weapon EL only applies to other
weapons in the same class.

When you learn the Scimitar skill, you get Scimitar at EL0 and Tulwar at EL
0.  By the current rules you can increase your Scimitar skill to maximum,
and be real good.  The second you start using a Tulwar, you are a rank
beginner with it, even though it is a similar weapon.  My change says that
you can pick up a Tulwar and use it at 1/2 your EL in Scimitar, and you will
not se any improvement in your use of the Tulwar until your actual EL in it
exceeds that provided by 1/2 your Scimitar EL.

I did not mean to imply that having Heavy Sword allows you to use Swords at
1/2 EL.

In case I did not state it, the related weapons use 1/2 EL, rounded down.

However, reading further I see your complaints are with weapons of the same
class.  I admit that this "similar weapons" bonus should only apply if the
weapons are used in a similar way...the use of a greatsword is very
different from that of a broadsword, though both are of the same skill
class.  However, a sword and short sword are pretty close.

We will probably have to disagree on the bow situation.  I feel their
operations are close enough, though you feel they are not. Granted, there
will be different flight paths, but that is why your skill is being reduced
(but not eliminated).
        -- Burton
_____________________________________________________________
Burton Choinski
Principle Software Engineer, Quality Engineering
email: burton.choinski at matrixone.com

phone: 978-322-2135
fax  : 978-452-5764

MatrixOne, Inc.
Two Executive Drive
Chelmsford, Ma 01824
www.matrixone.com

The First in Intelligent Collaborative Commerce
_____________________________________________________________
|| say we have a Heavy Sword Skill. We start at EL0, with every
|| large sharp
|| blade we can use (in the category). Now you want to grant a
|| wonderbonus of
|| 1/2 the highest EL for similar weapons. I disagree. The
|| reason is quite
|| simple - they already have a 15-35% bonus by having an EL 0
|| in the similar
|| weapon. This is the modifier that would be subtracted if you
|| knew NONE of
|| the weapon type.
||
|| Let's apply that to your Bow conversation. I entirely agree that
|| familiarity with one bow means familiarity with all of them.
|| You put an
|| arrow in, you draw, you aim, you release. This represents
|| the basics of the
|| bow class. HOWEVER, to BE GOOD at any of these weapons it
|| takes practice
|| with that weapon. To simply say, because I am an excellent
|| Longbowman, I am
|| a fair shortbowman is a misnomere. The angles of arc, aiming
|| points, and
|| about three dozen other things come into play. I realise
|| that with modern
|| bows this is a little more transparent (most having aiming beads for
|| certain distances, etc...). The fact is that, yes, you would
|| know how to
|| load similar type weapons, know how to release them, etc...
|| but until you
|| practiced you really wouldn't know where the aiming points
|| are or ANY of
|| the finer points which account for an INCREASE in EL above the base.
||
|| Applied to melee weapons it is similar. You have a bastard
|| sword EL4. You
|| have done a few fancy thrusts, parries, and what not with it
|| and know where
|| it is balanced and what it can and cannot do. Picking up a
|| Greatsword is a
|| WHOLE different beast. You know in the beginning that you
|| use two hands and
|| swing hard. You don't quite know that by holding it over
|| your head and
|| shouting (per Conan) you will be more intimidating than
|| actually waving it
|| in combat. These are the finer points of the EL use... the
|| finness of the
|| individual weapons comes out. The tricky stunts you pulled
|| with the bastard
|| sword just aren't going to work with the great sword...
|| until you get used
|| to it.
||
|| -Marcel
||
|| I see it as: base knowledge = familiarity; Higher EL =
|| actual use/weapon
|| finness.
||
|| ps. sorry for spelling errors
||