Great White Games/Pinnacle Entertainment Group

[PeteAtoms]

EDIT: Apologies if this post seems to ramble a bit, I'm fairly sleepy at the moment and kind of burnt out :p Also completely new to Savage Worlds, but quite impressed.

Regarding the section on the optional skill specialization system outlined on page 95:

"a character uses his normal skill for one device of choice. When using any other variation he suffers a -2 penalty."

Using this system, let's say a character has the Fighting (Axe) skill at d8. If I'm reading this right, any attacks made with an axe uses the d8 value and and an attack with a sword would use d8-2.

When calculating the character's Parry, he would have 6 when using an axe (2 + d8/2).

Would the character's Parry stat be lower if the character is not wielding an axe? It isn't mentioned in the skill specialization section of the rules.

In the Parry description on page 17:

"For stats such as d12+1, add half the fixed modifier, rounded down."

So half of d8-2 is 4-1? Giving us a Parry of 5?

Similarly, if a character is untrained in fighting (d4-2), should the character's Parry be 3? Half of d4-2 is 2-1 if we go by the same idea above.

For the sake of simplifying it, could a houserule replace the specialization system's penalty of -2, with a simple die reduction? The d8 axe specialist above would be d6 with non-axe weapons instead of d8-2?

EDIT 2:

Another question popped into my head. How would one handle edges that require a certain fighting skill?

And if a character has Fighting (Axe) d8 and Fighting (Sword) d6, what would that character roll for an attack with a spear? d8-2 or d6-2?

[Clint]