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Message no. 1
From: Midn Daniel O Fredrikson <m992148@****.NAVY.MIL>
Subject: nunchucks
Date: Sun, 8 Dec 1996 19:54:21 -0500
Has anyone ever had someone use nunchucks. I was trying to come up with
some other weapons that fill the catagory whips/flails since right now
there is only monowhips. I was thinking of reach 1, damage: quickness+1,
since I have been told nunchucks depend more of the speed of the user,
than his strength. ANy ideas...
Message no. 2
From: Kevin White <kevw@*****.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 15:58:09 -0600
Midn Daniel O Fredrikson wrote:
> I was thinking of reach 1, damage: quickness+1,
> since I have been told nunchucks depend more of the speed of the user,
> than his strength. ANy ideas...

The last time I used nunchuckas I managed to hit myself in the head more
than once (missed all vital organs ;) and other parts (more vital) parts
of my anatomy once (I learnt that lesson quick!) so you might want to
include some for of hit-yourself-on-a-failure type thing.


Diamond
Message no. 3
From: "Steven A. Tinner" <bluewizard@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 12:34:51 -0800
> The last time I used nunchuckas I managed to hit myself in the head more
> than once (missed all vital organs ;) and other parts (more vital) parts
> of my anatomy once (I learnt that lesson quick!) so you might want to
> include some for of hit-yourself-on-a-failure type thing.

I'd also make them require a minimum quickness to even be able to use at
all.
'chucks are HARD to operate! Even knowing the proper use (having the
skill) is no guarantee that you CAN use them at all.

As for damage, I think just quickness alone for the weapon power is a
little low.
Maybe the average of Q+Str? With a dmg code of M?

I've been hit with them before, they hurt quite a bit. :-(
Also they can be used for VERY effective entangling attacks. Give a
bonus to disarming or some such.

Steven "The Fat Ninja" Tinner
Message no. 4
From: "Robert Pendergrast (Tom)" <3011_3@***.EDU>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 13:57:37 -0700
> Midn Daniel O Fredrikson wrote:
> > I was thinking of reach 1, damage: quickness+1,
> > since I have been told nunchucks depend more of the speed of the user,
> > than his strength. ANy ideas...
>
> The last time I used nunchuckas I managed to hit myself in the head more
> than once (missed all vital organs ;) and other parts (more vital) parts
> of my anatomy once (I learnt that lesson quick!) so you might want to
> include some for of hit-yourself-on-a-failure type thing.

For the hit-yourself-error, try using a the rules for a mono-whip.


-Tom-
Message no. 5
From: "Robert Pendergrast (Tom)" <3011_3@***.EDU>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 14:03:39 -0700
> Has anyone ever had someone use nunchucks. I was trying to come up with
> some other weapons that fill the catagory whips/flails since right now
> there is only monowhips. I was thinking of reach 1, damage: quickness+1,
> since I have been told nunchucks depend more of the speed of the user,
> than his strength. ANy ideas...

I have used them on occaision. They *do* depend on speed. The faster
they are moving, the harder they hit; Force = Mass * Velocity (or
something like that, its been a while since physics). But anyway, the
faster they go, the harder they hit. As for damage, I dunno. Perhaps
have it Strength and/or quickness based. Say, STR(M) or QUI+1(M). That
would put the advantage to the faster guys, but still let slower guys hit
hard. Oh yeah, as for hitting yourself, only if you aren't very good,
(which I'm not), and when you're learning new stuff... try using the rule
for a mono-whip striking the user. I know, that it isn't very likely,
for someone who's good (6+) but hey, 6+ is a master.

Hope that helps.

-Tom-
Message no. 6
From: John E Pederson <lobo1@****.COM>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 17:43:12 EST
On Mon, 9 Dec 1996 15:58:09 -0600 Kevin White <kevw@*****.CO.UK> writes:
>Midn Daniel O Fredrikson wrote:
>> I was thinking of reach 1, damage: quickness+1,
>> since I have been told nunchucks depend more of the speed of the
>user,
>> than his strength. ANy ideas...
>
>The last time I used nunchuckas I managed to hit myself in the head
>more
>than once (missed all vital organs ;) and other parts (more vital)
>parts
>of my anatomy once (I learnt that lesson quick!) so you might want to
>include some for of hit-yourself-on-a-failure type thing.
>
>
>Diamond
>
My only thought on this matter comes from the fact that the only
nunchakus I've ever seen (except for one time, in a video game, so I
doubt that it counts:) had no sharp edges, points, or the like. So,
shouldn't the damage be Stun (I'd be thinking about what Tinner
suggested, or something like it...to be consistent with normal damage
codes though. I'd like to suggest a damage code of something like
(STR+[QCK/2])M Stun.

John Pederson "God is dead"
lobo1@****.com -Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 to
1900)
I don't know where my home page is! "Nietzsche is dead"
Only dead fish swim with the stream -God (everlasting to everlasting)
Message no. 7
From: Sanction <david.s.thompson@****.EDU>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 19:15:23 -0500
At 02:03 PM 12/9/96 -0700, you wrote:
>> Has anyone ever had someone use nunchucks. I was trying to come up with
>> some other weapons that fill the catagory whips/flails since right now
>> there is only monowhips. I was thinking of reach 1, damage: quickness+1,
>> since I have been told nunchucks depend more of the speed of the user,
>> than his strength. ANy ideas...
>
>I have used them on occaision. They *do* depend on speed. The faster
>they are moving, the harder they hit; Force = Mass * Velocity (or
>something like that, its been a while since physics). But anyway, the
>faster they go, the harder they hit. As for damage, I dunno. Perhaps
>have it Strength and/or quickness based. Say, STR(M) or QUI+1(M). That
>would put the advantage to the faster guys, but still let slower guys hit
>hard. Oh yeah, as for hitting yourself, only if you aren't very good,
>(which I'm not), and when you're learning new stuff... try using the rule
>for a mono-whip striking the user. I know, that it isn't very likely,
>for someone who's good (6+) but hey, 6+ is a master.
>
Force = mass * acceleration. When it's going faster, stopping it on
someone's head (hitting them) requires more acceleration (provided by their
head), and thus more force imparted on their head (equal and opposite
forces)-- hurting lots more.

The energy involved, which is where all the damage comes from, is
proportional to the mass times the square of the velocity. -- This is why
baseball players cork there bats, what they give up in mass they more than
make up for in speed.

Then, however, the catch is -- how does one make the nunchuka move faster?
-- quickness or strength. I think I agree that quickness is much more a
factor with nunchuka than in something like using ballbat because using
nunchuka ain't like swinging a stick, much more finesse is involved (which I
too can attest to with a few bruises).

--Sanction
Message no. 8
From: "Robert Pendergrast (Tom)" <3011_3@***.EDU>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 18:07:44 -0700
> >> I was thinking of reach 1, damage: quickness+1,
> >> since I have been told nunchucks depend more of the speed of the

<snip

> My only thought on this matter comes from the fact that the only
> nunchakus I've ever seen (except for one time, in a video game, so I
> doubt that it counts:) had no sharp edges, points, or the like. So,
> shouldn't the damage be Stun (I'd be thinking about what Tinner
> suggested, or something like it...to be consistent with normal damage
> codes though. I'd like to suggest a damage code of something like
> (STR+[QCK/2])M Stun.

STUN DAMAGE??? Are you kidding? I would hardly call it stun when they
shatter skulls and break arms! (Trust me, I have a friend who is a black
belt x?-degree in Tae Kwon Do, and is certified in numerous weapons,
nunchucks included. He's used them in fights more than once. They can
*kill*.)

-Tom-
Message no. 9
From: "Robert Pendergrast (Tom)" <3011_3@***.EDU>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 18:15:30 -0700
<snip, nunchucks>

> >I have used them on occaision. They *do* depend on speed. The faster
> >they are moving, the harder they hit; Force = Mass * Velocity (or
> >something like that, its been a while since physics). But anyway, the
> >faster they go, the harder they hit. As for damage, I dunno. Perhaps
> >have it Strength and/or quickness based. Say, STR(M) or QUI+1(M). That
> >would put the advantage to the faster guys, but still let slower guys hit

<snip>

> Force = mass * acceleration. When it's going faster, stopping it on
> someone's head (hitting them) requires more acceleration (provided by their
> head), and thus more force imparted on their head (equal and opposite
> forces)-- hurting lots more.

I knew that. :)

> Then, however, the catch is -- how does one make the nunchuka move faster?
> -- quickness or strength. I think I agree that quickness is much more a
> factor with nunchuka than in something like using ballbat because using
> nunchuka ain't like swinging a stick, much more finesse is involved (which I
> too can attest to with a few bruises).

Make the damage something like this: STR(M) OR QUI+2(M). That puts the
emphasis on speed not strength.

-Tom-
Message no. 10
From: MENARD Steve <menars@***.UMONTREAL.CA>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 22:33:09 -0500
On Mon, 9 Dec 1996, Robert Pendergrast (Tom) wrote:

> STUN DAMAGE??? Are you kidding? I would hardly call it stun when they
> shatter skulls and break arms! (Trust me, I have a friend who is a black
> belt x?-degree in Tae Kwon Do, and is certified in numerous weapons,
> nunchucks included. He's used them in fights more than once. They can
> *kill*.)
>
The same can be said for many waepons in SR, inclusing the club ans
staff. Either the nunchaku has Stun damage or you have to change the
damage codes for the other weapons too.

> -Tom-
>
>

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--- |\_/| Still The One and Only Wolfbane! ---
--- |o o| " Hey! Why ya lookin' at me so weird? Ain't ya 'ver seen a ---
--- \ / decker witha horn ?" --- Scy, Troll decker with a CC ---
--- 0 Steve Menard menars@***.UMontreal.Ca ---
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message no. 11
From: NightLife <habenir@******.SAN.UC.EDU>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Sun, 8 Dec 1996 21:48:06 -0500
At 06:07 PM 12/9/96 -0700, Robert Pendergrast (Tom) wrote:
>> >> I was thinking of reach 1, damage: quickness+1,
>> >> since I have been told nunchucks depend more of the speed of the
>
><snip
>
>> My only thought on this matter comes from the fact that the only
>> nunchakus I've ever seen (except for one time, in a video game, so I
>> doubt that it counts:) had no sharp edges, points, or the like. So,
>> shouldn't the damage be Stun (I'd be thinking about what Tinner
>> suggested, or something like it...to be consistent with normal damage
>> codes though. I'd like to suggest a damage code of something like
>> (STR+[QCK/2])M Stun.
>
>STUN DAMAGE??? Are you kidding? I would hardly call it stun when they
>shatter skulls and break arms! (Trust me, I have a friend who is a black
>belt x?-degree in Tae Kwon Do, and is certified in numerous weapons,
>nunchucks included. He's used them in fights more than once. They can
>*kill*.)
>
> -Tom-
>

So can base ball bats, clubs, 2x4's, maces, flails, etc..... Which are all
stun based. The same thing could be said for the bone breaker MA's its all
for game balance and playability.


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Nightlife Inc.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

If you have to ask then it's probably classified.
Which means that I have to follow protocol.
But if you ask nicely I might forget that you asked.
Then again maybe not.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Document Classified
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Message no. 12
From: Midn Daniel O Fredrikson <m992148@****.NAVY.MIL>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 23:54:16 -0500
> > >> I was thinking of reach 1, damage: quickness+1,
> > >> since I have been told nunchucks depend more of the speed of the
>
> <snip
>
> > My only thought on this matter comes from the fact that the only
> > nunchakus I've ever seen (except for one time, in a video game, so I
> > doubt that it counts:) had no sharp edges, points, or the like. So,
> > shouldn't the damage be Stun (I'd be thinking about what Tinner
> > suggested, or something like it...to be consistent with normal damage
> > codes though. I'd like to suggest a damage code of something like
> > (STR+[QCK/2])M Stun.
>
> STUN DAMAGE??? Are you kidding? I would hardly call it stun when they
> shatter skulls and break arms! (Trust me, I have a friend who is a black
> belt x?-degree in Tae Kwon Do, and is certified in numerous weapons,
> nunchucks included. He's used them in fights more than once. They can
> *kill*.)

Well, for that matter, so can sticks, if you know what you are
doing...which I don't...
Message no. 13
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 12:40:52 +0100
NightLife said on 21:48/ 8 Dec 96...

> >STUN DAMAGE??? Are you kidding? I would hardly call it stun when they
> >shatter skulls and break arms! (Trust me, I have a friend who is a black
> >belt x?-degree in Tae Kwon Do, and is certified in numerous weapons,
> >nunchucks included. He's used them in fights more than once. They can
> >*kill*.)
>
> So can base ball bats, clubs, 2x4's, maces, flails, etc..... Which are all
> stun based. The same thing could be said for the bone breaker MA's its all
> for game balance and playability.

All the more a reason to use one of the various over-damage rules: a
weapon doing Stun damage can go all the way up to Physical that way.
Another way is to use the optional rule from page 83 of Fields of Fire:
add +4 to your TN to allow a Stun weapon to do Physical damage.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Oh wow! Oh wow! This is really, really heavy, man!
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version 3.1:
GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+ PE
Y PGP- t(+) 5+ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
Message no. 14
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 12:40:52 +0100
Robert Pendergrast (Tom) said on 14:03/ 9 Dec 96...

> I have used them on occaision. They *do* depend on speed. The faster
> they are moving, the harder they hit; Force = Mass * Velocity

Force = mass * acceleration. There's no force acting on something that
moves at a constant velocity in a straight line (actually, the sum of all
forces acting on it is 0, or the vectors add up to 0, or whatever -- all
you physics geeks know what I mean :)

> But anyway, the faster they go, the harder they hit. As for damage, I
> dunno. Perhaps have it Strength and/or quickness based. Say, STR(M) or
> QUI+1(M). That would put the advantage to the faster guys, but still
> let slower guys hit hard. Oh yeah, as for hitting yourself, only if you
> aren't very good, (which I'm not), and when you're learning new stuff...
> try using the rule for a mono-whip striking the user. I know, that it
> isn't very likely, for someone who's good (6+) but hey, 6+ is a master.

The way these things were explained to me once (several years ago) is
that you can do a lot more with them than just hit someone with. One
example the guy showed me was catching the opponent's arm. For these
kinds of "fancy" maneuvers, I think I'd make a character roll an Armed
Combat test (maybe only if the char has a nunchucks specialization) and
make the attack do very little or no damage, but do allow it to hold the
target in some way.

For the simple "I swing thenunchucks at him" type of attack, just assign a
normal damage code: (Str+1)M Stun sounds good enough to me.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Oh wow! Oh wow! This is really, really heavy, man!
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version 3.1:
GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+ PE
Y PGP- t(+) 5+ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
Message no. 15
From: Guido Hölker <guido@******.COM>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 12:52:33 +0100
>Has anyone ever had someone use nunchucks. I was trying to come up with
>some other weapons that fill the catagory whips/flails since right now
>there is only monowhips. I was thinking of reach 1, damage: quickness+1,
>since I have been told nunchucks depend more of the speed of the user,
>than his strength. ANy ideas...

I would not take Quickness: Dameg is based on Momentum which is based on the
speed of the weapon (as the mass doesn't change) which depends on the
acdeleration you can give the weapon which depens on the strenght.
Mostly: I would not take it under the "whip"-category: It seems to be a
complete diferrent style (I never handled a whip, to be honest.... I would
make it a speratre category
Message no. 16
From: Guido Hölker <guido@******.COM>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 12:52:36 +0100
>
>STUN DAMAGE??? Are you kidding?
No, he isn't, at least not on SR-Terms.
Ask your black-blet-x-degre--friend what a fist can do, and unarmed combat
does stun damage (as are doing Bo-sticks in SR)..
Message no. 17
From: Calvin Hsieh <u2172778@*******.ACSU.UNSW.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 23:09:19 +1100
There's an interesting point about nunchuckas. Classified under SR rules,
all bludgeoning weapons do stun damage unless chosen otherwise (read FOF
I think).

Whips/Chains are lacerating weapons - they can cut the flesh (and do),
but are mainly destructive because they destroy the tissue below the
skin. This means that blood vessels, muscle etc get damaged. They also
give a mighty sting!

Flails on the other hand are full on bludgeoning weapons. They use a
chain to: - increase reach
- due to inertia, increases the acceleration and hence the
force of the blow
- intimidate and confuse the opponent
The damage from such a weapon is basically from crushing parts of the
anatomy.

This is similar to what a nunchuck would do. They do not act as whips as
such.

Just my two bits worth

Shaman
Message no. 18
From: Justin Pinnow <jpinnow@*****.EDU>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 07:57:02 -0500
MENARD Steve wrote:
>
> On Mon, 9 Dec 1996, Robert Pendergrast (Tom) wrote:
>
> > STUN DAMAGE??? Are you kidding? I would hardly call it stun when they
> > shatter skulls and break arms! (Trust me, I have a friend who is a black
> > belt x?-degree in Tae Kwon Do, and is certified in numerous weapons,
> > nunchucks included. He's used them in fights more than once. They can
> > *kill*.)
> >
> The same can be said for many waepons in SR, inclusing the club ans
> staff. Either the nunchaku has Stun damage or you have to change the
> damage codes for the other weapons too.

<Snip>

I am not sure about whether any blunt weapons in SR do physical damage
(as compared to stun), but keep in mind that overflow stun damage is
physical damage. Thus, you *can* kill someone with a stun weapon.

--
_____________________________________________________________________________
Justin Pinnow
jpinnow@*****.edu
Message no. 19
From: Mark Steedman <M.J.Steedman@***.RGU.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 13:10:59 GMT
> I am not sure about whether any blunt weapons in SR do physical damage
> (as compared to stun),
don't think so.

> but keep in mind that overflow stun damage is
> physical damage. Thus, you *can* kill someone with a stun weapon.
>

Far too easily, i have seen more than one NPC perm killed through
stun damage when the target was still concious before the last
complex action of attacks (no pain editors used), tasers on two shots
are the easiest way, if the targets not as resistant as you thought
its very easy to do 20 boxes of damage with them in a complex action.

Mark
Message no. 20
From: Czar Eggbert <czregbrt@*********.EDU>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 10:11:13 -0600
> <Snip>
>
> I am not sure about whether any blunt weapons in SR do physical damage
> (as compared to stun), but keep in mind that overflow stun damage is
> physical damage. Thus, you *can* kill someone with a stun weapon.

EXACTLY.... Think of that same Master with a sword... which is he gonna
kill you with faster the sword or the 'chucks? Many people can take a
direct hit with the chucks and still stand and fight...but how many can
take a DIRECT hit from a sword and say the same?

The man who would rather be hit by 'Chuck,
Czar Eggbert
Message no. 21
From: Marc A Renouf <jormung@*****.UMICH.EDU>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 11:35:31 -0500
On Mon, 9 Dec 1996, Robert Pendergrast (Tom) wrote:

> STUN DAMAGE??? Are you kidding? I would hardly call it stun when they
> shatter skulls and break arms! (Trust me, I have a friend who is a black
> belt x?-degree in Tae Kwon Do, and is certified in numerous weapons,
> nunchucks included. He's used them in fights more than once. They can
> *kill*.)

*Any* weapon can kill if correctly applied. That's why Stun
damage wraps around into physical. If you give someone enough damage,
yes, you can kill them. But it's a hell of a lot easier to kill someone
with a sword than it is with a club.

Marc
Message no. 22
From: Midn Daniel O Fredrikson <m992148@****.NAVY.MIL>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 12:58:06 -0500
> > <Snip>
> >
> > I am not sure about whether any blunt weapons in SR do physical damage
> > (as compared to stun), but keep in mind that overflow stun damage is
> > physical damage. Thus, you *can* kill someone with a stun weapon.
>
> EXACTLY.... Think of that same Master with a sword... which is he gonna
> kill you with faster the sword or the 'chucks? Many people can take a
> direct hit with the chucks and still stand and fight...but how many can
> take a DIRECT hit from a sword and say the same?

Yes, but a master of the staff can kill you just as quickly, and if you
have a sword, you are much more likely to fall to a staff than you are to
an other swordsman.. A good staffman can easily crush your ribcage with a
straight lunge.
Message no. 23
From: The Digital Mage <mn3rge@****.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 18:34:55 +0000
On Sun, 8 Dec 1996, Midn Daniel O Fredrikson wrote:

> Has anyone ever had someone use nunchucks. I was trying to come up with
> some other weapons that fill the catagory whips/flails since right now
> there is only monowhips. I was thinking of reach 1, damage: quickness+1,
> since I have been told nunchucks depend more of the speed of the user,
> than his strength. ANy ideas...
Well under my Martial Arts rules I also rule you can't 'Get Inside the
Reach' of nunchucks. You might also want to reduce the penalty for
attacking multiple opponents on it, say to +1 first target, +3 second etc
rather than the normla +2, +4, +6.


The Digital Mage : mn3rge@****.ac.uk
"So that which I imagine, is that which I believe" -Rush
Shadowrun Web Site http://www.bath.ac.uk/~mn3rge/Shadowrun.html
Message no. 24
From: Justin Pinnow <jpinnow@*****.EDU>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 14:55:15 -0500
Midn Daniel O Fredrikson wrote:
>
> > > <Snip>
> > >
> > > I am not sure about whether any blunt weapons in SR do physical damage
> > > (as compared to stun), but keep in mind that overflow stun damage is
> > > physical damage. Thus, you *can* kill someone with a stun weapon.
> >
> > EXACTLY.... Think of that same Master with a sword... which is he gonna
> > kill you with faster the sword or the 'chucks? Many people can take a
> > direct hit with the chucks and still stand and fight...but how many can
> > take a DIRECT hit from a sword and say the same?
>
> Yes, but a master of the staff can kill you just as quickly, and if you
> have a sword, you are much more likely to fall to a staff than you are to
> an other swordsman.. A good staffman can easily crush your ribcage with a
> straight lunge.

Yes, that's what the game mechanics are designed to incorporate. You
can kill someone with a "stun" weapon, but you have to be more skilled
with that weapon than you would have to be with a sword to do an equal
amount of damage.

All things equal (your skill with the weapons and my openness to the
attack, etc.), you could kill me more easily with a sword than a quarter
staff.

Justin
--
_____________________________________________________________________________
Justin Pinnow
jpinnow@*****.edu
Message no. 25
From: Midn Daniel O Fredrikson <m992148@****.NAVY.MIL>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 13:03:22 -0500
> > I am not sure about whether any blunt weapons in SR do physical damage
> > (as compared to stun),
> don't think so.
>
> > but keep in mind that overflow stun damage is
> > physical damage. Thus, you *can* kill someone with a stun weapon.
> >
>
> Far too easily, i have seen more than one NPC perm killed through
> stun damage when the target was still concious before the last
> complex action of attacks (no pain editors used), tasers on two shots
> are the easiest way, if the targets not as resistant as you thought
> its very easy to do 20 boxes of damage with them in a complex action.

I was wondering about this, can all weapons cause physical damage.
Thinking about it, the only way it would seem that a taser could kill
someone is if they had a weak heart and it just gave out.
Message no. 26
From: John E Pederson <lobo1@****.COM>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 17:46:29 EST
On Mon, 9 Dec 1996 18:07:44 -0700 "Robert Pendergrast (Tom)"
<3011_3@***.EDU> writes:
>> >> I was thinking of reach 1, damage: quickness+1,
>> >> since I have been told nunchucks depend more of the speed of the
>
><snip
>
>> My only thought on this matter comes from the fact that the only
>> nunchakus I've ever seen (except for one time, in a video game, so I
>> doubt that it counts:) had no sharp edges, points, or the like. So,
>> shouldn't the damage be Stun (I'd be thinking about what Tinner
>> suggested, or something like it...to be consistent with normal
>damage
>> codes though. I'd like to suggest a damage code of something like
>> (STR+[QCK/2])M Stun.
>
>STUN DAMAGE??? Are you kidding? I would hardly call it stun when
>they
>shatter skulls and break arms! (Trust me, I have a friend who is a
>black
>belt x?-degree in Tae Kwon Do, and is certified in numerous weapons,
>nunchucks included. He's used them in fights more than once. They
>can
>*kill*.)
>
> -Tom-
>
If a man knows what he's doing, he can kill with his bare hands. What's
unarmed damage? (STR)M Stun. You can kill a man or break his bones with a
quarter staff. What's staff damage? (STR+2)M Stun. Personally, I thik
that it's justified to classify and blunt object (nunchakus included) as
doing basically stun damage, which can be staged up into physical.
Second, broken bones aren't even taken into account in SR's damage system
and I think it's more than possible to break bones (even one's skull)
with a weapon that only does Stun damage.

John Pederson "God is dead"
lobo1@****.com -Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 to
1900)
I don't know where my home page is! "Nietzsche is dead"
Only dead fish swim with the stream -God (everlasting to everlasting)
Message no. 27
From: "Paul J. Adam" <shadowrn@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 23:26:38 +0000
In message <Pine.GSO.3.95.961210125629.11485A-100000@*****>, Midn Daniel
O Fredrikson <m992148@****.NAVY.MIL> writes
>Yes, but a master of the staff can kill you just as quickly,

A _master_, sure. And a master of the sword would kill you even faster
simply because it's easier to kill with sharp than blunt trauma.

>and if you
>have a sword, you are much more likely to fall to a staff than you are to
>an other swordsman.

Unless you've trained against a staff-fighter... unfamiliarity has
advantages.

>. A good staffman can easily crush your ribcage with a
>straight lunge.

Whereas a good swordsman hitting you in the thigh will cut your femoral
artery, in the arm will take out the brachial, in the neck has plenty of
major blood vessels to choose from, in the belly can nail the renal, in
the chest can get the hepatic, pulmonary...

Again, you _can_ kill with blunt trauma. It's a lot easier to do it with
edged weapons, though.


--
There are four kinds of homicide: felonious, excusable, justifiable and
praiseworthy...

Paul J. Adam paul@********.demon.co.uk
Message no. 28
From: Tim Cooper <tpcooper@***.CSUPOMONA.EDU>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 00:17:08 -0800
On Mon, 9 Dec 1996, Sanction wrote:
[snip other stuff about mass and acceleration]

> Force = mass * acceleration. When it's going faster, stopping it on
> someone's head (hitting them) requires more acceleration (provided by their
> head), and thus more force imparted on their head (equal and opposite
> forces)-- hurting lots more.
>
> The energy involved, which is where all the damage comes from, is
> proportional to the mass times the square of the velocity. -- This is why
> baseball players cork there bats, what they give up in mass they more than
> make up for in speed.

They cork their bats because cork has more elasticity than regular wood
and that creates a greater net force on the ball due to the increased
impulse. It has nothing to do with increasing the speed of thier swing.
1st quarter physics...if I could find the book, and didn't think it'd be a
waste of your time, I could go quote some formulae..it's kinda interesting
but not *that* interesting.

>
> --Sanction
>

~Tim (_Not_ a physicist, but remembers that one experiment the Prof. did.)
Message no. 29
From: Mark Steedman <M.J.Steedman@***.RGU.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 08:46:52 GMT
Midn Daniel O Fredrikson writes

> I was wondering about this, can all weapons cause physical damage.
> Thinking about it, the only way it would seem that a taser could kill
> someone is if they had a weak heart and it just gave out.
>
by SR rules any weapon will just keep wrapping and wrapping till the
targets dead, neurostun grenades being the worst case. Common sense
however says that a few things (particularly those neuostun grenades)
will only knock a target out at worst. Any weapon that causes shocks
to a targets system (be they electrical, hydrostatic etc) could
probably kill, people are very complicated things and some vital
parts are quite vulnerable, though evolution has done its best to
armour them.

Mark
Message no. 30
From: Tim Cooper <tpcooper@***.CSUPOMONA.EDU>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 01:06:59 -0800
On Tue, 10 Dec 1996, Midn Daniel O Fredrikson wrote:

[snip other stuff]
>
> Yes, but a master of the staff can kill you just as quickly, and if you
> have a sword, you are much more likely to fall to a staff than you are to
> an other swordsman.. A good staffman can easily crush your ribcage with a
> straight lunge.
>

Can't a good swordsman just as easily impale you with 3 feet of steel in a
straight lunge as well?

~Tim
Message no. 31
From: Tim Cooper <tpcooper@***.CSUPOMONA.EDU>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 01:16:05 -0800
Just one more note on the "Deadly-ness of Stun Weapons". It's real easy
to get targets to OD on Narcoject. First shot KO's them, second one does
Deadly, except on the physical side.

~Tim
Message no. 32
From: Spike <u5a77@*****.CS.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 11:40:20 +0000
|There are four kinds of homicide: felonious, excusable, justifiable and
|praiseworthy...

And Nobel Prize-worthy......
--
______________________________________________________________________________
|u5a77@*****.cs.keele.ac.uk| |
|Andrew Halliwell | "ARSE! GERLS!! DRINK! DRINK! DRINK!!!" |
|Principal subjects in:- | "THAT WOULD BE AN ECUMENICAL MATTER!...FECK!!!! |
|Comp Sci & Electronics | - Father Jack in "Father Ted"
|
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|GCv3.1 GCS/EL>$ d---(dpu) s+/- a- C++ U N++ K- w-- M+/++ PS+++ PE- Y t+ 5++ |
|X+/++ R+ tv+ b+ D G e>PhD h/h+ !r! !y-|I can't say F**K either now! >*SULK*<|
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message no. 33
From: Mark Steedman <M.J.Steedman@***.RGU.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 13:25:12 GMT
Tim Cooper writes

> Just one more note on the "Deadly-ness of Stun Weapons". It's real easy
> to get targets to OD on Narcoject. First shot KO's them, second one does
> Deadly, except on the physical side.
>
And if you use the DMSO'ed bullets, 3 round burst, with corp sec tou
can do a nice friendly 10D, 10D, 10D, oh next simple action! Note the
gun in question is dodged as a 4L i had 'oh look you'e splatter' from
this one till i spotted that after a cunning player found it. 30boxes
in a simple action, potentially lots more in a comple, oh my.

Mark
Message no. 34
From: The Digital Mage <mn3rge@****.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 15:49:41 +0000
On Wed, 11 Dec 1996, Mark Steedman wrote:

> by SR rules any weapon will just keep wrapping and wrapping till the
> targets dead, neurostun grenades being the worst case. Common sense
> however says that a few things (particularly those neuostun grenades)
> will only knock a target out at worst. Any weapon that causes shocks
Well I have had players wake up wretching their stomach up :) Not pleasant
to wake up spitting blood, still I do only limit it to Light physical
damage :)
The Digital Mage : mn3rge@****.ac.uk
"So that which I imagine, is that which I believe" -Rush
Shadowrun Web Site http://www.bath.ac.uk/~mn3rge/Shadowrun.html
Message no. 35
From: "Robert Pendergrast (Tom)" <3011_3@***.EDU>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 09:54:45 -0700
> > Just one more note on the "Deadly-ness of Stun Weapons". It's real
easy
> > to get targets to OD on Narcoject. First shot KO's them, second one does
> > Deadly, except on the physical side.

> And if you use the DMSO'ed bullets, 3 round burst, with corp sec tou
> can do a nice friendly 10D, 10D, 10D, oh next simple action! Note the
> gun in question is dodged as a 4L i had 'oh look you'e splatter' from
> this one till i spotted that after a cunning player found it. 30boxes
> in a simple action, potentially lots more in a comple, oh my.

We have found that 3 10D wounds (I'm guessing you're using
gamma-scopolamine from the Corp-Sec book) in a simple action was too
lethal. So we ruled that you would handle it like a burst: 13D. I know
that it would be more realistic to handle it a 3 10Ds, but that is
nasty. With the other simple action you would get 6 10Ds! Possible 60
boxes? That's a little nuts. Just my 2 Yen.

-Tom-
Message no. 36
From: Sanction <david.s.thompson@****.EDU>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 15:26:55 -0500
>
>They cork their bats because cork has more elasticity than regular wood
>and that creates a greater net force on the ball due to the increased
>impulse. It has nothing to do with increasing the speed of thier swing.
>1st quarter physics...if I could find the book, and didn't think it'd be a
>waste of your time, I could go quote some formulae..it's kinda interesting
>but not *that* interesting.
>
Really, well, I'll have to go have a talk with my freshman year physics prof
then!

--Sanction
Message no. 37
From: John E Pederson <lobo1@****.COM>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 22:18:01 EST
On Wed, 11 Dec 1996 01:06:59 -0800 Tim Cooper
<tpcooper@***.CSUPOMONA.EDU> writes:
>On Tue, 10 Dec 1996, Midn Daniel O Fredrikson wrote:
>
>[snip other stuff]
>>
>> Yes, but a master of the staff can kill you just as quickly, and if
>you
>> have a sword, you are much more likely to fall to a staff than you
>are to
>> an other swordsman.. A good staffman can easily crush your ribcage
>with a
>> straight lunge.
>>
>
>Can't a good swordsman just as easily impale you with 3 feet of steel
>in a
>straight lunge as well?
>
>~Tim
>
Yes, but that's going to be harder to do with a six-foot staff in his
way...harder, but not close to impossible...

John Pederson "God is dead"
lobo1@****.com -Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 to
1900)
I don't know where my home page is! "Nietzsche is dead"
Only dead fish swim with the stream -God (everlasting to everlasting)
Message no. 38
From: Loki <loki@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 01:25:30 -0000
> STUN DAMAGE??? Are you kidding? I would hardly call it stun when they
> shatter skulls and break arms! (Trust me, I have a friend who is a black
> belt x?-degree in Tae Kwon Do, and is certified in numerous weapons,
> nunchucks included. He's used them in fights more than once. They can
> *kill*.)
>
> -Tom-

Getting hit with a baseball bat (espeically in the hands of a troll) is
probably going to crack ribs and shatter a limb or so, but clubs in
Shadowrun do stun damage. I'd say these nunchucks would keep to the same
category.

@>--'--,--- Loki

/>
/<
[\\\\\\(O):::<======================================-
\< Poisoned Elves http://www.netzone.com/~loki
\>


"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
Message no. 39
From: Loki <loki@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 01:28:54 -0000
> > >STUN DAMAGE??? Are you kidding? I would hardly call it stun when
they
> > >shatter skulls and break arms! (Trust me, I have a friend who is a
black
> > >belt x?-degree in Tae Kwon Do, and is certified in numerous weapons,
> > >nunchucks included. He's used them in fights more than once. They
can
> > >*kill*.)
> >
> > So can base ball bats, clubs, 2x4's, maces, flails, etc..... Which are
all
> > stun based. The same thing could be said for the bone breaker MA's its
all
> > for game balance and playability.
>
> All the more a reason to use one of the various over-damage rules: a
> weapon doing Stun damage can go all the way up to Physical that way.
> Another way is to use the optional rule from page 83 of Fields of Fire:
> add +4 to your TN to allow a Stun weapon to do Physical damage.

I agree with Gurth on this, what your the black-belt friend is doing with
the nunchucks is probably what the +4 modifier from FOF is taking into
account, rather than just bludgeoning attacks, he's going to primer targets
and called shots which in turn create physical damage. Base I'd still rule
nunchucks as a club/staff/flail style weapon doing stun damage.

@>--'--,--- Loki

/>
/<
[\\\\\\(O):::<======================================-
\< Poisoned Elves http://www.netzone.com/~loki
\>


"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
Message no. 40
From: Mark Steedman <M.J.Steedman@***.RGU.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 11:26:49 GMT
Robert Pendergrast (Tom) writes
>
> We have found that 3 10D wounds (I'm guessing you're using
> gamma-scopolamine from the Corp-Sec book)
Thats the beast, couldn't remember the name.

> in a simple action was too
> lethal. So we ruled that you would handle it like a burst: 13D. I know
> that it would be more realistic to handle it a 3 10Ds, but that is
> nasty. With the other simple action you would get 6 10Ds! Possible 60
> boxes? That's a little nuts. Just my 2 Yen.
>
Thats what i thought. Fortunately the gun the fires it (probably
squirt, i haven't read the book for a month or two) counts as a 4L
for dodging, claim a full dodge and you're ok.

Mark
Message no. 41
From: BulletShower <nmatausc@****.CIP.FAK14.UNI-MUENCHEN.DE>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 1996 09:10:55 +1000
Said MENARD Steve <menars@***.UMONTREAL.CA> the other day:

> > STUN DAMAGE??? Are you kidding? I would hardly call it stun when they
> > shatter skulls and break arms!
> The same can be said for many waepons in SR, inclusing the club ans
> staff. Either the nunchaku has Stun damage or you have to change the
> damage codes for the other weapons too.

I'd strongly advise to do so. There are hardly any weapons that do
stun damage only. If I played using dice (which I don't, have I
already mentioned it ;) ), I'd rule that someone with a STR of 3 and
over who uses a stun-damage weapon, does *lethal* damage rather than
stun.

:)
BulletShower
______________________________________________________________________
"Gott wuerfelt nicht" (A. Einstein)
For More information on diceless roleplaying and own Shadowrun stuff,
jack into http://www.cip.fak14.uni-muenchen.de/~nmatausc
Message no. 42
From: BulletShower <nmatausc@****.CIP.FAK14.UNI-MUENCHEN.DE>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 1996 09:17:50 +1000
Wrote Marc A Renouf <jormung@*****.UMICH.EDU>:

> But it's a hell of a lot easier to kill someone
> with a sword than it is with a club.

I wouldn't generalize. Using a sword (and I mean *effectively using
it) means you perform cutting maneuvers rather than thrusts (that's
the reason why swords have mostly broad blades, otherwise they'd be
rapiers). Also, most of the wounds in sword fighting were (more or
less) deep cuts. A bat or staff is a different thing, you use its
speed (momentum) in order to shatter bones or paraylize muscles. I'd
say staff damage is around the same as sword damage.

:)
BulletShower
______________________________________________________________________
"Gott wuerfelt nicht" (A. Einstein)
For More information on diceless roleplaying and own Shadowrun stuff,
jack into http://www.cip.fak14.uni-muenchen.de/~nmatausc
Message no. 43
From: BulletShower <nmatausc@****.CIP.FAK14.UNI-MUENCHEN.DE>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 1996 09:21:55 +1000
John E Pederson <lobo1@****.COM> said:


> If a man knows what he's doing, he can kill with his bare hands. What's
> unarmed damage? (STR)M Stun. You can kill a man or break his bones with a
> quarter staff. What's staff damage? (STR+2)M Stun. Personally, I thik
> that it's justified to classify and blunt object (nunchakus included) as
> doing basically stun damage, which can be staged up into physical.
> Second, broken bones aren't even taken into account in SR's damage system
> and I think it's more than possible to break bones (even one's skull)
> with a weapon that only does Stun damage.

I wouldn't be too sure. Remember, when a SR character gets shot in the
arm, damage is applied normally. The chance of the arm being broken
after a S or D wound is *really* high. So, why go by the book? Make
stun weapons lethal weapons, that's it. Nobody ever said melee was
more survivable than ranged combat. After all, the big advantage of
ranged weapons is exactly that: range.

:)
BulletShower
______________________________________________________________________
"Gott wuerfelt nicht" (A. Einstein)
For More information on diceless roleplaying and own Shadowrun stuff,
jack into http://www.cip.fak14.uni-muenchen.de/~nmatausc
Message no. 44
From: Justin Pinnow <jpinnow@*****.EDU>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 1996 07:41:45 -0500
BulletShower wrote:

> Said MENARD Steve <menars@***.UMONTREAL.CA> the other day:

> > > STUN DAMAGE??? Are you kidding? I would hardly call it stun when they
> > > shatter skulls and break arms!

> > The same can be said for many waepons in SR, inclusing the club ans
> > staff. Either the nunchaku has Stun damage or you have to change the
> > damage codes for the other weapons too.

> I'd strongly advise to do so. There are hardly any weapons that do
> stun damage only. If I played using dice (which I don't, have I
> already mentioned it ;) ), I'd rule that someone with a STR of 3 and
> over who uses a stun-damage weapon, does *lethal* damage rather than
> stun.

I guess you missed some of the posts on this topic. NO ONE has claimed
that blunt weapons do stun damage ONLY. ALL stun weapons in SR have the
potential to do physical damage. This is what overflow damage is for.
(This is why several people have highly recommended using overflow
damage rules) Also, the stun damage applies just as many modifiers as
physical damage does, so combat is affected similarly, as it should be.
NO ONE is arguing that you can't kill someone with a blunt weapon,
rather that edged weapons do physical damage a bit more easily than
blunt ones.

<Snip>

Justin
--
_____________________________________________________________________________
Justin Pinnow
jpinnow@*****.edu
Message no. 45
From: Justin Pinnow <jpinnow@*****.EDU>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 1996 07:47:19 -0500
BulletShower wrote:

> John E Pederson <lobo1@****.COM> said:

> > If a man knows what he's doing, he can kill with his bare hands. What's
> > unarmed damage? (STR)M Stun. You can kill a man or break his bones with a
> > quarter staff. What's staff damage? (STR+2)M Stun. Personally, I thik
> > that it's justified to classify and blunt object (nunchakus included) as
> > doing basically stun damage, which can be staged up into physical.
> > Second, broken bones aren't even taken into account in SR's damage system
> > and I think it's more than possible to break bones (even one's skull)
> > with a weapon that only does Stun damage.

> I wouldn't be too sure. Remember, when a SR character gets shot in the
> arm, damage is applied normally. The chance of the arm being broken
> after a S or D wound is *really* high. So, why go by the book? Make
> stun weapons lethal weapons, that's it. Nobody ever said melee was
> more survivable than ranged combat. After all, the big advantage of
> ranged weapons is exactly that: range.

Duh. Broken bones are accounted for in SR, but just not specifically.
When you have a serious wound, you may very well have a broken bone and
some tissue damage, etc. However, in order to simplify things, it's all
thrown together into a wound category. The GM can be as descriptive as
he/she wants to describe the damage. In game terms, this makes no
difference...the TN is increased accordingly for everything until the
wounds are healed.

Besides, stun weapons ARE lethal...when used correctly. A person with a
high skill can kill with stun weapons in SR. Also, you're right - no
one ever said melee was more survivable than ranged combat. However,
you are making stun weapons more powerful than they really are or should
be if you don't keep them as stun damage weapons. The example with
fists being used above is quite appropriate.

<Snip>

Justin
--
_____________________________________________________________________________
Justin Pinnow
jpinnow@*****.edu
Message no. 46
From: Mark Steedman <M.J.Steedman@***.RGU.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 1996 13:11:21 GMT
Justin Pinnow writes

>
> Duh. Broken bones are accounted for in SR, but just not specifically.
> When you have a serious wound, you may very well have a broken bone and
> some tissue damage, etc. However, in order to simplify things, it's all
> thrown together into a wound category. The GM can be as descriptive as
> he/she wants to describe the damage. In game terms, this makes no
> difference...the TN is increased accordingly for everything until the
> wounds are healed.
>
This has a couple of advantages.
It keeps the book keeping under control
Once the PC's get to curing up you don't have to worry about how it
happened, a lousy roll and a long time in hospital probably means
mending bones, good roll, licky you mostly flesh the doctor patched
it up and you're ok.
SR is generally kind on PC's but if it wasn't you would spend a lot
of time generating new characters if you got in many fights.

> Besides, stun weapons ARE lethal...when used correctly. A person with a
> high skill can kill with stun weapons in SR. Also, you're right - no
> one ever said melee was more survivable than ranged combat. However,
> you are making stun weapons more powerful than they really are or should
> be if you don't keep them as stun damage weapons. The example with
> fists being used above is quite appropriate.
>
At least it is possible in SR to knock someone all around the alley
but give up when they collapse (D stun) and you probably won't kill
them (sure they might take a while to recover, and a docotr might not
be a bad idea but).

Other systems vary.
CP2020 run by the book is probably realistically deadly (assuming you
don't wear the incredibly good, oh thats a gun is it armour), but
knocking someone down without killing them is nearly impossible.
(unless you use sleep GAS / tasers).
I was under the impression most folks beaten up with 'stun' weapons
recover. [sure the attacker could kill them, and a trained attacker
could undoutably put them straight there but only assuming hes trying
most of the time]

Mark
Message no. 47
From: Marc A Renouf <jormung@*****.UMICH.EDU>
Subject: Re: nunchucks
Date: Wed, 18 Dec 1996 19:26:01 -0500
On Tue, 17 Dec 1996, BulletShower wrote:

> I wouldn't generalize. Using a sword (and I mean *effectively using
> it) means you perform cutting maneuvers rather than thrusts (that's
> the reason why swords have mostly broad blades, otherwise they'd be
> rapiers). Also, most of the wounds in sword fighting were (more or
> less) deep cuts. A bat or staff is a different thing, you use its
> speed (momentum) in order to shatter bones or paraylize muscles. I'd
> say staff damage is around the same as sword damage.

True only to a point. There are far more areas that a sword can
cause a crippling or mortal wound to that a club. It's a merit of being
able to not only cause greivous tissue damage (which *both* weapons are
easily capable of), but the added bonus of being able to spill lots of
the opponents' blood onto the ground as well. Before you bring up the
point of blunt trauma and internal hemorrhaging, realize that blood loss
due to a severed femoral artery is a hell of a lot faster than almost
*any* type of internal bleeding.
There are also economies of scale. I think you will agree that
given the same amount of force or speed, a sword will do more damage than
a club. You can break a bone with a club. You can remove an entire limb
with a sword.
But hey, in the hands of a skilled opponent, either will kill you
just as dead, so it doesn't really matter a whole lot.

Marc

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about nunchucks, you may also be interested in:

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