And here's another potential Squire:

Big Axel, the "Berserker"
Axel is a Northlander 'barbarian' who was beaten in single combat by Sir Knight.  He's vowed to follow Sir Knight until either of them dies.  Sir Knight has been doing his best to refine Axel into something more chivalrous... it's a work in progress.

ST 15 [50]; DX 13 [60]; IQ 10 [0]; HT 12 [20]
HP 18 [6]; Will 10 [0]; Per 10 [0]; FP 12 [0]
Basic Speed 6.00 [-5]; Basic Move 6 [0].
Damage 1d+1/2d+1; BL 45 lbs.

Advantages:
Born War Leader 1 [5]
Weapon Bond (Two-handed Axe) [1]

Disadvantages:
Bad Temper (15) [-5]
Bloodlust (12) [-10]
Code of Honor (Northlander’s)* [-5]
Bully (12) [-10]
Intolerance (Southlanders) [-5]
Overconfidence (12) [-5]
Stubbornness [-5]

Skills:
Brawling (E) DX [1]-13
Fast Draw (Throwing Axe) (E) DX [1]-13
Wrestling (A) DX [1]-13

Two-Handed Axe/Mace (A) DX+4 [16]-17‡

Armoury (Melee Weapons) (A) IQ [2]-10
Connoisseur (Weapons) (A) IQ [2]-10
Leadership (A) IQ*1 [1]-9†
Strategy (H) IQ-2 [1]-8†
Tactics (H) IQ-2 [1]-8†
Thrown Weapon (Axe/Mace) (E) DX+1 [2]-14

Forced Entry (E) DX [1]-13
Climbing (A) DX-1 [1]-12
Riding (Horse) (A) DX-1 [1]-12
Stealth (A) DX-1 [1]-12
Gesture (E) IQ [1]-10
Seamanship (E) IQ [1]-10
Hidden Lore (Dragons)§ (A) IQ-1 [1]-9
Carousing (E) HT [1]-12
Intimidation (A) Will-1 [1]-9
Survival (Mountains) (A) Per-1 [1]-9


* See Pirate Code of Honor, refluffed for the Great Frozen North
‡ +1 when wielding his personal Two-Handed Axe
† +1 for Born War Leader, not accounted.
§ Not normally an allowed specialty for Squires, but so what.  It fits the flavor.



Big Axel has 20 points unspent, all disads points have been used.  I recommend either +2 to ST or Weapon Master (Two-Handed Axe).  The ST boost would bump up his swing damage to 3d-1 (so 3d+2 instead of 2d+4*) and his HP up to 20, which is a pretty big milestone for healing (as well as bump up when a limb is crippled on him).

Weapon Master would make Rapid Strikes easier (-3 instead of -6) and give him +2 per die for his axe damage (2d+8* instead of 2d+4).


* Possible Two-Handed Axe damages:
2d+4 is min 6, max 16, average 11.
2d+8 is min 10, max 20, average 15.
3d+2 is min 5, max 20, average 12.

Off hand weapon training is valid, if that is what you are asking.

As a general rule, traits than can be bought in martial arts (with the exception of innate attacks) are valid. The extra options in chapter 4 of martial arts are in play (except for "matter of inches", limiting dodges, Harsh realism for unarmed fighters, and all of Realistic Injury except for new hit locations)

The Squire from page 4 has been updated: disadvantages have been chosen, skills purchased, up, and he's been named Watchtower Walter: cautious, observant, prone to vowing and a bit harsh on others. Shield is his highest skill, at 18.

Big Axel looks interesting. Not exactly a typical squire, but he may be useful against particularly large and armored foes.



I was born in 1988, starting playing gurps in 2011ish and most of my games are combat lite. So I think you've got more experience there!

I actually don't like people piling on the disadvantages, except for perhaps attribute penalties or "Racial disads" that define the physical limitations of the character's form. So a lot of the standard templates bug me, but templates are indispensable for playing this kind of game, so I'm getting used to them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:51, Wed 03 Oct 2018.

Thanks!

'E's a 'squire' in progress.  He'll either be good as the Knight's back-up, get in, lay down a few heavy hits, get out, or indispensable protecting the Hirelings (despite the fact that he'll be making fun of them for "being weak Southies that need protecting").


Wow, okay, yeah.  I've definitely been GURPSing longer (and rping longer, I started in '82 with AD&D).


For something like this I can almost agree with you.  i think those non-combat related disads can be drawn back into being applicable, but only if there is something else going on.  Like I said, pre-conflict info gathering, have disads affect resources for gear, etc.

Granted some social and mental disads will still affect combat, but those are more oblique and easier to 'game'.

Did anybody have a look to double-check my sheet?  Because if I'm good, and you're good, maybe we can start a match?

Sent my character to the GM, not sure if we're doing it public or private.  If we're doing it public then I might be able to.

Take a look, let me know if you see any errors.  He's listed as 205, but I have not added quirks yet.

-----

Name: Whisper
Race: Human

Attributes [89]
ST 12 [20]
DX 12 [40]
IQ 10
HT 12 [20]

HP 12
Will 10
Per 10
FP 15 [9]

Basic Lift 29
Damage 1d/2d-1

Basic Speed 6
Basic Move 6

Ground Move 6
Water Move 1

Social Background
TL: 3 [0]
Cultural Familiarities:
Languages:

Advantages [110]
Enhanced Dodge (4) [60]
Striking ST (1) [5]
Trained By A Master [30]
Very Fit [15]

Perks [7]
Clinch (Karate) [1]
Iron Legs [1]
Neck Control (Karate) [1]
Rapid Retraction (Kicks) [1]
Special Exercises (Striker, Crushing with Limb, Shin) [1]
Style Familiarity (Muay Thai) [1]
Technique Mastery (Knee Strike) [1]
Offhand Weapon Training (Kick) [1]

Disadvantages [-40]
Bad Temper (12 or less) [-10]
Code of Honor (Fight Fair) [-10]
Overconfidence (12 or less) [-5]
Pacifism (Reluctant Killer) [-5]
Stubbornness [-5]
Workaholic [-5]

Packages [0]
Muay Thai (Martial Arts) [0]

Skills [39]
Autohypnosis Will/H - Will-2 8 [1]
Breath Control HT/H - HT-2 10 [1]
Counterattack (Karate) Tech/H -  15 [5]
Elbow Strike (Karate) Tech/A -  14 [0]
First Aid/TL3 (Human) IQ/E - IQ+0 10 [1]
Intimidation Will/A - Will-1 9 [1]
Jam (Karate) Tech/H -  10 [0]
Karate DX/H - DX+4 16 [20]
Kicking (Karate) Tech/H -  15 [2]
Knee Strike (Karate) Tech/A -  15 [0]
Leg Grapple (DX) Tech/H -  12 [0]
Power Blow Will/H - Will-2 8 [1]
Push Kick (Karate) Tech/H -  13 [0]
Roll with Blow (Karate) Tech/H -  14 [0]
Running HT/A - HT-1 11 [1]
Savoir-Faire (Dojo) IQ/E - IQ+0 10 [1]
Spinning Kick (Karate) Tech/H -  13 [0]
Spinning Punch (Karate) Tech/H -  14 [0]
Streetwise IQ/A - IQ-1 9 [1]
Sweep (Karate) Tech/H -  13 [0]
Targeted Attack (Karate Kick/Leg) Tech/H -  15 [3]
Uppercut (Karate) Tech/A -  15 [0]

Stats [89] Ads [110] Disads [-40] Quirks [0] Skills [39] = Total [205]

Hand Weapons

Ranged Weapons

Armor & Possessions

Yep.  Me and Lane are ready to fight.

In reply to Vulco1 (msg # 56):

You wanna go up against my Smasha build?

I'm curious to see how Smasha flies to be honest.  Taken it a couple times and never used.

Sounds good.

Lane backs down to no one and feels Karate (kyuokushin specifically) is the best there is at putting the hurt on someone.  Lets do it.

I think I'm all set with my Tai Chi Chuan build too. Curious to see if I can do much with it, or I'll just get demolished XD

I've seen Smasha v Smashs a few times... those were brutal fights.

I wanted to see if I could figure out how to post the image and save the drive link step...

Too small,

The link is probably the way to go.

https://drive.google.com/open?...Xy114fxvWZvwTmVNHcmM

I left off the Hard to Kill +3 when I rebuilt this gut.  It's added to this updated sheet though.  That's the only change.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:37, Thu 04 Oct 2018.

Those PDFs are from Gurps Character Sheet. Its free, and its not too hard to use.

Whisper, you should have 101 points in advantages, perks, and attribute raises (possibly 106, given quirk points) and 59 in skills and techniques. you're missing the secondary skills, and be careful to count your advantage categories properly.

Vulco, I just noticed your cinematic skills have 5 or 6 points in them. You only get a bonus to skill at 1,2,4, and multiples of 4. So one cinematic skill could be 1 higher. Your fighter is legal but inefficient.

Good point.  I just noticed that too.  I'll probably tweak him a bit and see what happens.  Thanks

I've got an unorthodox martial artist to throw into the mix:

Shi Ze Pingbi, the Shaolin Monk

ST 11 [10] DX 11 [20] IQ 12 [40] HT 12 [20]
HP 11 [0] Will 12 [0] Per 12 [0] FP 11 [0]

Speed 5.5 [0]  Move 5 [0] Parry (Judo)-16

Advantages:
Trained by a master [30]
enhanced Parry (Judo) 4 [20]
resistant to chi abilities +8 [15]
Shaolin Kung Fu style [1]

Disadvantages:
Disciplines of Faith (Monasticism)[-10]
Wealth (Vegetarianism) [-5]
Pacifism (Cannot Kill) [-15]
Loner [-5]
Sense of Duty (Fellow Monks) [-5]

Judo (DX) H -18 [24]
Kiai (HT) H -16 [20]
Staff (DX) A -11 [1]
Karate (DX) H -10 [1]
Meditation (will) H -12 [4]
Philosophy (Buddhist) (IQ) H -12 [4]
Breath Control (HT) H -10 [2]
Savoir-Faire (Dojo) (IQ) E] -13 [2]
First Aid (IQ) E [1] -12
cooking (IQ) A [1] -11

Techniques:
Arm lock (Judo) A -20 [2]

He's probably a little overly focused on defense, but he does that extremely well. He is a proponent of using an opponent's energy against them, and of winning via throwing them out of the ring.

If I remember correctly I followed the template but GCA lumped everything together.  When I get time, I'll compare the build to the template to make sure the accounting is correct.  Pretty sure I got all the secondary skills right and all that as well.

Pingbi looks pretty good. May be tough to beat.

Pingbi looks good, a little surprised you went with Shaolin style when a 'soft'/'internal' style like T'ai Chi Chuan, Xingyi or Bagua would have seemed to fit better but overall a good design. I honestly probably should've focused more on Judo for Baogang given his tactics. Would you be interested in matching them against each other, ala the classic Wudang/Shaolin rivalry?
This message was last edited by the player at 04:18, Wed 10 Oct 2018.

I don't know martial arts styles well. I had a list of things I wanted Pingbi to be able to do, and I went looking for a style that let him do that. At the top of the list was Kiai, but I believe mental strength was also on the list. Of the styles you list, only Xingyi has both of those, and reading the description, its not a particularly close fit, though it is much more point efficient than what I've done.

The point of Pingbi was to win with chi rather than with fists.

I was thinking I might have to make a few changes to Pingbi, but in some ways, his dismal karate skill makes him interesting.

Sure, we can run a Wudang vs Shaolin fight. Could you stick Baogang in the final character thread?

Muay Thai template

Skills: Games (Muay Thai); Karate.

Techniques: Counterattack (Karate); Elbow Strike; Jam;
Kicking; Knee Strike; Leg Grapple (DX); Push Kick;
Spinning Kick; Spinning Punch; Sweep (Karate); Targeted
Attack (Karate Kick/Leg); Uppercut.

Cinematic Skills: Power Blow.

Cinematic Techniques: Roll with Blow.

Perks: Clinch (Karate); Iron Legs; Neck Control (Karate);
Special Exercises (Striker, Crushing with Limb, Shin);

Technique Mastery (Knee Strike).

Optional Traits

Advantages: Fit or Very Fit; Hard to Subdue; High Pain
Threshold.

Disadvantages: Social Stigma (Minor); low Wealth; crippling
injuries galore.

Skills: Boxing; Boxing Sport; Dancing (Ram Muay);
Savoir-Faire (Gym); Wrestling.

=====

Contender Template

Attributes: ST 12 [20]; DX 12 [40]; IQ 10 [0]; HT 12 [20].

Secondary Characteristics: Damage 1d-1/1d+2; BL 29 lbs.;
HP 12 [0]; Will 10 [0]; Per 10 [0]; FP 12 [0]; Basic Speed
6.00 [0]; Basic Move 6 [0].
-----> Removed the extra fatigue

Advantages: 20 points chosen from among ST +1 or +2 [10
or 20], DX +1 [20], HT +1 or +2 [10 or 20], HP +1 to +3
[2/HP], Will +1 to +4 [5/level], FP +1 to +3 [3/FP],
Ambidexterity [5], Enhanced Dodge 1 [15], Enhanced
Parry 1 [5 or 10], Fearlessness 1-5 [2/level] or Unfazeable
[15], Fit [5] or Very Fit [15], Hard to Subdue 1-5 [2/level],
High Pain Threshold [10], Reputation (Titlist) [Varies],
Striker (Crushing; Limb, Shin, -20%) [4], Style
Familiarity (any) [1/style], Style Perks [1/perk], or Wealth
(Comfortable) [10] or (Wealthy) [20].
-----> Swapped very fit for fit

Perks: Style Familiarity (own style) [1].

Disadvantages: -20 points chosen from among Code of
Honor (“Fight fair”) [-5] or Secret (Cheater, fall-taker,
steroid-user, etc.) [-5], Greed [-15*], Obsession (Win a
title) [-5*] or (Become the best in the world) [-10*],
Overconfidence [-5*], or Workaholic [-5].

• An additional -20 points chosen from among any of the above or
Appearance (Unattractive) [-4] or (Ugly) [-8], Bad
Temper [-10*], Enemy (Contender of equal skill; Rival; 6
or less) [-2] or (9 or less) [-5], Jealousy [-10], Pacifism
(Reluctant Killer) [-5] or (Cannot Kill) [-15], Reputation
(see p. 54) [Varies], or Stubbornness [-5].
-----> Went with cannot kill here, removed bad temper

Primary Skills: 30 points in the skills and techniques of a
sport or combat style (see Chapter 5).

Secondary Skills: Pick two of Bicycling (E) DX+1 [2]-13,
Breath Control (H) HT-1 [2]-11, Lifting (A) HT [2]-12,
Running (A) HT [2]-12, Sports (any) (A) DX [2]-12, or
Swimming (E) HT+1 [2]-13.
-----> Forgot that both of these get 2 points, and swapped to Sports since it is part of the template

Background Skills: Savoir-Faire (Dojo) (E) IQ [1]-10.

• Also spend 4 points on Current Affairs (Sports), First Aid, or
Games (any), all IQ/E; Acting, Gambling, or Streetwise,
all IQ/A; Intimidation, Will/A; or Autohypnosis, Will/H.
* Multiplied for self-control number; see p. B120.

Lenses Cinematic (+100 points): Add 80 points chosen from among
Arm ST +1 or +2 [5 or 10], Damage Resistance 1-2
(Partial, Hands, -40%; Tough Skin, -40%) [1-2],
Enhanced Dodge 1-3 [15/level], Enhanced Parry 1-3 [5 or
10/level], Enhanced Time Sense [45], Extra Attack 1 or 2
(Multi-Strike, +20%) [30 or 60], Forceful Chi 1-4
[15/level], Innate Attack [Varies], Resistant to Chi
Abilities (+3) [10], Recovery [10], Striking ST +1 or +2 [5
or 10], Trained by a Master [30], or Weapon Master [20-
45]. You must take either Trained by a Master or Weapon
Master!

• Add 20 points in your style’s cinematic skills
(and prerequisites); Power Blow is excellent for “finishing
moves.”  -----> I put all these into Power Blow and 4 Perks
This message was last edited by the player at 22:02, Thu 11 Oct 2018.

I found one error in the disadvantages for Whisper, which I fixed.  Otherwise,  followed the template exactly.

When it got to the cinematic skills, I judged that the character wouldn't use them.  Instead, I took extra fatigue, skill points, and a couple perks that GCA sais was part of the template.  If cinematic skills are a requirement, then I will go back and do the minor re-work on the character.

Ok, the secondary skills now have 2 points each, like they are supposed to.

cinematic skills and techniques I'd have said have to be the categories given. However, Muay Thai has an exceptionally short list of cinematic skills and abilities.

There is a case to be made for spending those cinematic style points on primary skills and techniques, and also for spending them on the Optional Traits listed below. Spending it on FP is very unusual and unexplained. I also don't see very fit bolded, so I assume some of the cinematic points went there as well (those are still advantages rather than skills and techniques)

If we're going to all points to be spent slightly off-topic of a template, your opponents should agree to it, and you should ask before you take the option.

I'm being a stickler on this, because lots of folks have already built and are playing with characters, and without those restrictions some of the characters could have some tweaks that make significantly better (pingyi with extra attack comes to mind, and you do not want him using Kiai in the same round he can attack. I was just short on points)

What options do people want to offer here? expanded cinematic abilities? moving points between "buckets" at a 2 for 1 ratio? allowing points to be spent on main skill and technique?