Young Kingdoms Weapons Skill Levels

[midway]

Here are some thoughts I had about the level of weapons skill one would generally find in the Young Kingdoms:

In any given group of fighting men you'd find a few with abnormally high weapon skills, but,

Regular soldiers or guardsmen would have a percentile skill in their primary weapon something like low 40s up to mid 50s.

Veterans would come in around the mid 50s to high 60s.

Then you've got this range of more elite types, from Knights of Dioperda, to White Jaguars, to Dyvim's experienced Imryrrian mercenaries, who'd have skill levels in the high 60s up to around 90.

Does this make sense? And how does it accord with the MRQ issue of armor penalties, given that some of these characters will be fully plated?

 

[tarkhan bey]

There was an article in S&P a few issues ago which was a Young Kingdoms Digest. It has proved very useful and gives ideas of the levels of weapon skills that soldiers and officers should have.The stats may be a little low for some tastes(not as high as you suggest, Midway) but given that combat is incredibly nasty for characters in MRQ they suit me just fine. Add the new combat rules for NPC's from the last issue of S&P and you can now plough your way through the mooks.
The Jharkorian White Leopards are actually statted in the Elric Companion. These guys are really rock hard with weapon skills around the 100% even after the 42% is deducted for their full plate armour.
In Hawkmoon RPG,Wolfmask warriors have a weapon stat of around 50% and elite Mantis guards roughly 40% after the application of Armour penalties. The only disagreement I might have with the Granbretan book is that the Boarmasks shock troops are less effective in combat than the Pigmask infantry. After applying the armour penalty for GB heavy armour, the Boars have a bit over a 20% weapon skill. :?

You could also use the rules for the Host as shown in the spell, Summon the Host from Magic of the YK. Who is to say that an alien sorceror from a distant plane might not summon an army of humans. The stats given are definately for a humanoid option and represent Regulars, Archers,Elites, Leaders and a General. This option would give stats closer to what you are suggesting.

 

[midway]

Thank you Tarkhan!

That rawks the haus.

I can't help but think that the White Leopard skill level you describe may be a little high, but they are supposed to be supreme badasses after all.

 

[tarkhan bey]

No problem Midway.

I agree totally that the White Leopard stats seem a little too high. To me, those type of weapon percentages should be the realms of a handful of great heroes(certainly not a whole regiment). Possibly 100% or so before armour penalties would seem more reasonable to me.
It would appear that Elric has weapon skills in this sort of range unless using Stormbringer when it appears that he exceeds 200%.
Interestingly though, Prince Gaynor the Damned appears to be on a fairly similar level with the White leopards as statted in the Companion. This really makes me think that they come over a little too high powered.

 

[Loz]

No problem Midway.

I agree totally that the White Leopard stats seem a little too high. To me, those type of weapon percentages should be the realms of a handful of great heroes(certainly not a whole regiment). Possibly 100% or so before armour penalties would seem more reasonable to me.
It would appear that Elric has weapon skills in this sort of range unless using Stormbringer when it appears that he exceeds 200%.
Interestingly though, Prince Gaynor the Damned appears to be on a fairly similar level with the White leopards as statted in the Companion. This really makes me think that they come over a little too high powered.

The White Leopards are described in Stormbringer as merciless killing machines, which suggests extremely good weapon skills. And they are an elite.

Gaynor, OTOH, is Damned, and irrevocably pacted with various gods. He enjoys other advantages that the White Leopards don't.

 

[midway]

I'm no expert, but I've read & heard it said by those in the know that elite fighting forces, historical or current, are not elite so much by virtue of super awesome high skill levels or hyperathleticism (high physical stats); as by consistently marginally better-than-average skill levels, discipline, and what you might call superior strength of will.

Like your SAS or our SEALS or green berets who endure extremely difficult training -- I've heard this has more to do with mental toughness than with mere physical toughness or skills.

Then of course you've got esprit de corps, good leadership, better tactics, reputation and the other factors that may come into play with elites that make them successful.

All of this is my roundabout way of saying that I think you'd find White Leopards have on average maybe a 30 pt skill edge max on the average warrior of the Young Kingdoms. And a few points more POW or something to represent the mental toughness. And what the hay, throw 'em some extra STR, CON & SIZ too.

 

[midway]

Also, I checked out the digest -- it's very useful and adds flavor to the setting.

I did find though that the 25%/50%/75% weapons skill benchmarking was not granular enough for me.

Why would a sailor, whose primary job is to make a ship work properly, have the same 50% weapons skill as a soldier whose primary job is poking baddies in the face with his spear?

The former is spending all day tying knots, swabbing decks, furling sails, manning oars, training parrots and then only once in a while slashing up some pirates with his cutlass.

Plus, the poor soldier is probably wearing armor and dealing with the dreaded MRQ penalties.