What are the rules for?

[mmadsen]

Why did you put inferior weapons in the game?

Because they exist in real life and the fictional world, and there are times when you’re stuck with an inferior option — like when you’re caught off guard, not expecting a fight.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Why did you put inferior weapons in the game?

Because they logically exist, even if no PC is ever likely to want to use it.

 

[soviet]

Because they logically exist, even if no PC is ever likely to want to use it.

Why does that matter?

 

[Thomas Shey]

That's a big IF though. Some posts in this thread have assumed it must be the case, and they are wrong.

That just slides around what the priorities are, however; even @mmadsen mentioned that representing a particular genre or setting is a substitute for that.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Why does that matter?

Because it can still come up in game. At no point have I suggested giving a lot of attention to such weapons, you'll note.

 

[A_Carrington]

Actually, yes, it's perfectly easy to be just as good at fighting no matter what weapon you use.

Strike (Weapons). Buy ranks to the trait cap. You can now attack at the maximum possible effectiveness with any weapon you pick up. Simple.

 

[soviet]

That just slides around what the priorities are, however; even @mmadsen mentioned that representing a particular genre or setting is a substitute for that.

Why can't a game make up its own genre and tropes?

 

[Thomas Shey]

Actually, yes, it's perfectly easy to be just as good at fighting no matter what weapon you use.

Strike (Weapons). Buy ranks to the trait cap. You can now attack at the maximum possible effectiveness with any weapon you pick up. Simple.

Yes. That's the default tact Savage Worlds takes.

But, note, that still does not make *all fighting options equally useful" there. It just means there's no extra overhead if you're forced to useful a less useful option.

 

[soviet]

Because it can still come up in game.

"Games should have bespoke mechanical coverage for everything that can possibly come up" is, again, a very narrow and reductive take on what RPGs can be.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Why can't a game make up its own genre and tropes?

Well, first of all, because I doubt the designer really can in any way they're going to both keep track of and convey to its players. Secondly, because that still doesn't say all things will be equally useful. There are genres that approach that, because they're all about look and color (I've mentioned superhero settings several times), but they've still got their own things.