[Runequest] Shield skill penalty query

[Styopa]

>
> So a truly heroic swordsman, someone with several hundred % sword skill,
>> has
>> exactly the same chance of hitting as someone with 100%? Sure, they could
>> split their attacks to increase their chance of landing a blow, but if
>> their
>> opponent is heavily armoured then they might not want to do so if they are
>> going for a crit or special.
>>
>
>
As people have already commented, in such a circumstance it would be trivial
for the superior swordsman to use a called-shot to strike where he wanted.

Further, many swords have the ability to either slash or thrust; IMG
thrusting weapons use the missile chart for hit locations.  This would
likewise reduce the chance of hitting a "right side" location from 35% to
25% which sounds about right to me.  Of course, this wouldn't require a
superior swordsman, just someone thinking a little bit.

More to the point, I recall that the explanation I was given for the
'widdershins' twist of ascending spirals had less to do with protecting one
side of the defender and more to do with significantly hindering the
attacker's swing/leverage.  I'd probably say that the defender gets no
strength bonus for a swinging weapon in his right hand.  Plus remember that
the defender would always have height advantage, both as a bonus to hit and
(if you use the rule) a bonus on the hit location table.  I've found height
advantage - with its bias toward head hits on the lower target - significant
for my players.
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