[gurps] Claws (4th 3d, range)

[Eduardo Alvarez]

--- On Tue, 10/20/09, Syndaryl <smirle4498 at rogers.com> wrote:

> From: Syndaryl <smirle4498 at rogers.com>
> Subject: Re: [gurps] Claws (4th 3d, range)
> To: "The GURPSnet mailing list" <gurpsnet-l at sjgames.com>
> Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 7:52 AM
> ----- Original Message ----
> > From: "Max, Dunedin New Zealand" <gurpsnet-l at deltal.org>
> > 
> > Claws (B42, MA42).
> > 
> > Is there any way these can be used at range 1, seems 
> > odd that they can't considering there size, especially
> talons which can be used 
> > as either impaling or cutting.
> 
> The same way you can punch at range 1 - be SM +1, or buy
> Long arms (arm SM +1), possibly with a -60% "Clawing Only"
> limitation.
> 
> Claws in 4e are substantially cheaper, among other reasons
> because they DON'T grant swing damage. This suggests they
> don't give you ANY mechanical advantage over your bare hands
> - they're just pointy or sharp. Impaling damage doesn't
> require excessive length - you already have three or four
> inches of fingers, plus or minus half an inch for a claw
> like a bears finger-tip-covering claw, or like an arrow
> head, and voilla, impaling.
> 
> 
That being said, just by watching nature shows, and the shape of the typical claw (not talon) impaling is not what happens. Rather, the animal swings its arm, much like someone slapping (hey! "punching" with swinging damage!) and the claw cuts. So while the claws per se don't give you a mechanical advantage, the movement needed to use claws effectively (as opposed to punching) does.

Also, the question the OP posed has to do with reach, which is independent of the motion. I think he's right. I'd allow talons and above, at least to have longer reach.

Eduardo Alvarez