From:	Paul Jonathan Adam <Paul@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject:	Re: 2 handed style question
Date:	Sun, 25 Jun 1995 14:07:00 GMT

> I think the ambidexterity rule is fine. It stand to reason that the
> more you are used to using your right hand, the harder it is to use the
> left one. remeber that although you have a penalty equal to your skill,
> you also have that number of die to throw, so I think it come out pretty
> well. BTW I use the same rule for people having to fight with their off
> hand, ie right handed warrior using sword in left hand.

Unfortunately it doesn't work... I'm right handed, but my shooting isn't
badly affected if I use my off hand. The big problem in competition
with "off hand course" shots is the draw :-) It's bad from a hip holster,
but watching someone trying to do an off-hand draw from a shoulder
rig was funny.

I've fenced left-handed too, with similar results. I think skill matters
more than which hand you're using: I just put a +2 on the use of the "off
hand", and even that may be too much: from experience I'd say it was more
like +1.

> Instead I use the following rule, devellopped by a bunch of people, I can
> post their names if need be, :
>
> When using two weapon, the character uses the reach of the better
> weapon and adds a special +1 reach(to reflect the better defense/attack
> combo). He rolls the number of dice equal to his skill with the better
> weapon, and may only assign a number of dice from the combat pool equal
> to his skill in two-weapon combat. This is a special skill that can be
> concentrated (ie Edged and Edged, Edged Cyberimplant) and
> specialized(Sword and Spur, Knife and Knife). I find this rule a lot
> simpler than ruling upward of 12 dice.

Although I disagree on the ambidexterity rule, I like this system: it's
a better-developed version of what I use and makes a lot of sense. It
also seems to reflect the way things work better, from my limited experience.

--
When you have shot and killed a man, you have defined your attitude towards
him. You have offered a definite answer to a definite problem. For better
or for worse, you have acted decisively.
In fact, the next move is up to him.

Paul J. Adam paul@********.demon.co.uk