Re: [BNW] Martial Arts Rules Question

["iguana.1031" <iguana.1031@gateway.net>]

I think Martial Arts damage should be based on Strength.  Being a
faster/better fighter doesn't mean you can hit harder, just more
effectively, letting you use all of those Tricks.

----- Original Message -----
From: <MKirk2112@aol.com>
To: <bnw@gamerz.net>
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2000 2:42 PM
Subject: [BNW] Martial Arts Rules Question


> 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 li
ke
> 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
>
>
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