[BNW] Martial Arts Rules Question

[MKirk2112@aol.com]

Hello All,

I'm posting this just to get an idea of what other folks out there are doing 
with the Martial Arts skill, specifically which trait people are using to 
compute damage.

First I'd like to say that I like the rule the way it is, that you use the 
hero's Strength for damage.  However, I have several players that think that 
Speed should be used instead of Strength.  Their argument goes something like 
this ... since Speed is what is used to determine whether an attack landed or 
not, then Speed should be used for damage too because martial arts has more 
to do with speed and dexterity than physical strength.  They point out other 
instances in the rules that seem equivalent to this.  The Telekinetic's 
"martial arts: telekinesis" is a good example, where Smarts is used to 
determine if an attack hits and how much damage it inflicts.

I like the rule the way it is.  It seems to me that saying martial arts 
doesn't rely on Strength as much as Speed is a bit "fantastical," although 
this is a game of superpowers so maybe that's not such a hot argument.  I 
also don't like the change because if Speed is allowed to be used for damage, 
it sets up a game mechanics situation where one trait is used to determine 
all close combat factors: "to hit," damage, and defense.  Those characters 
using Strength-based barehanded skills do not get this benefit, they only get 
the "to hit" and "damage" game mechanics for close combat.  And finally, I 
think using Smarts for both "to hit" and damage makes total sense for TK.  
The higher the Smarts, the more "brain tissue" powering the attack just like 
the higher the Strength the more "muscle tissue" powering the attack so I 
have no problem with damage in TK being determined by Smarts and I do not see 
this as equivalent to the martial arts issue.

However, I told my group I would put this out to the listserve.  Anyone use 
Speed for martial arts damage?  If you do, have you noticed any unbalancing 
effects?  Anyone think it's a good idea and why?  Anyone think it's a bad 
idea and why?  I vowed that I would not spend my time "rewriting" the rules 
for this game, which is my normal way of approaching games.  I have found 
that if I spent my time working on NPCs and developing plots for adventures, 
rather than spending my creative energies rewriting rules, the game would be 
better.  But, I want to be fair to my players and get other's opinions about 
using Speed for martial arts damage.

Thanks in advance.

Guide Matt