A few combat-related questions

[K Peterson]

I've got a couple combat-related questions that I can't find answers to in the core book. Maybe I've overlooked something...

If a character wants to use an improvised weapon (beer stein, wooden chair, torch, for example) what base value would you use? Would a penalty be assigned? Would this fall into the category of Unarmed Combat?

Is it possible to gain additional weapon styles during chargen when spending Free Skill Points? Would a weapon style be considered an Advanced Skill? Or is it only possible to gain extra weapon styles through training after chargen?

If a character picks up and uses a weapon that he is not skilled in would you calculate a base value and then impose a hefty penalty (-20%).

Thanks for the help.

 

[Denalor]

use an improvised weapon

I take the base value, i.e. STR + DEX in case of melee or DEx + DEX if throwing something.

gain additional weapon styles ... spending Free Skill Points

I do allow this and no, I don't make it an Advanced skill (as that would cost 10 FPs and you would only be allowed to spend another 20 FPs). Combat Styles are supposed to be common skills, so it's really only a matter of not gaining background or professional bonuses to those. But then, I'm not really using all that much about Combat Styles, I stick to the basic skills as in MRQI.

uses a weapon that he is not skilled... and then impose a hefty penalty (-20%)

I think using the base values is already bad enough, if you do included another 20% penalty, the character would be very stupid inedeed to use the weapon at all. Suppose you have really rolled great, say a 15 in both STR and DEX. That would be 30% skill... if you deduct 20%, you'd only have 10%... who would so that willingly ?