Two-Weapon Combat

Jason J Carter (Carter@UPS.EDU)
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Using two weapons in melee combat increases a characters ability to attack
and defend himself. When fighting with two weapons there are two styles. The
first is the parry/attack method while the second is the dual attack method.

When the character is using the parry/ attack method he gains the following
advantages. The reach the character uses to determine melee combat target
numbers is that of the longer weapon + 1. Defensive Melee Combat Test are
made using the highest Skill Rating for those two weapons. The character can
attack with either weapon, but must use his Skill Rating for that weapon.

Example:

Ginsu is fighting with a katana in one hand and a survival knife in the
other. His skill ratings are Armed Combat 4, Edged Weapons 6, Katana 8.
Ginsu's effective reach is +2 (+1 for Katana +1 for two parry/attack style).
When making defensive melee combat test he rolls 8 dice (the higher of the 6
for edged weapons and the 8 for Katana). If he attacks with the Katana he
rolls 8 dice, but if he attacks with the knife he rolls 6 dice.

Use normal rules for attacking multiple targets with the increased reach.

The dual attack style is used to attack one opponent with both weapons. To
attack with both weapons against one target apply +2 to the target number of
both attacks with an additional +2 for the off-hand weapon. For each attack
treat the weapon as if it had and additional +1 reach and use that weapons
Skill Rating. Combat Pool Dice are applied separately. The character gets to
use the increased reach of the longer weapon to defend, but he must use the
lower of the two skill ratings.

Example:

Ginsu is still fighting with his katana and survival knife. However this
action he decides to attack with both weapons. For the katana, which is in
his favored hand, Ginsu has a reach of +2, rolls 8 dice, and suffers a +2
penalty to his Skill Test. For the survival knife, in his off-hand, Ginsu
has a reach of +1, rolls 6 dice, and suffers a +4 penalty to his Skill Test.
To defend Ginsu uses a reach of +2, but only rolls 6 dice.

New Skill

Two Weapon Style (Parry/Attack (SWs), Dual Attack (SWs))

This skill is the practice of using two weapons in melee combat. It can be
used in enhance both the parry/attack style and the dual attack style of
fighting.

When used with the parry/attack style, the character can use the level of
this skill instead of that of his weapons to defend only.

When used with the dual attack style this skill allows the character to
reduce the negative effects of using the dual weapon attack style. To use it
the character uses a Free Action and makes a skill test verses a target
number equal to 4 + total length of weapons. For every two successes the
character reduces the penalty for attacking with two weapons by one.

Optional Rule:

Game masters who think that these rules make it too easy or too advantageous
to use two weapon combat styles can make the Two Weapon Style skill
mandatory and make all combat rolls equal to the average of the skill listed
in the rules and the characters Two Weapon Style, but never greater than the
base weapon skill rating.