Lore? Mastery? Just dumb luck or misfortune?

[Apakai]

Combat Lore

It is said that learning never ceases, and this is true even for warriors. Combat Lore provides insights, from stories to tales, reports and manuals, that enable warriors to more effectively and efficiently use skills and techniques that they already know. Usually, Combat Lore is acquired from someone who has uncovered a forgotten technique or secret ability, and together, the warriors can share and collaborate in a time honored practice of joint training. In other cases, some warriors jealously guard these secrets, believing that they give them an edge. When learned, Combat Lore is considered much like any other lore or acquired knowledge. Common Combat Lore includes things like Dual Wielding and Shieldwork.

OK... this is my problem. I've earned 2 xp, thats it. Nuthin else. Now, this is what GD Kalinda posted as that 2 xp:

Basic Dual Wielding Approved!

+2 XP in Dual Wielding!

What can I do? This thread was about Apakai learning how to dual-wield longswords. Can I assume that he has basic proficiency in longsword and has learned Dual Wield as a Lore, or has he learned only dual wield longsword and must learn single handed longsword as a Lore, or does he have no skill in any weapon at all, but can, once learned, dual wield anything he gets his hands on?

Now, I completely understand that things have been changing here recently when it comes to Lores/feats/masteries and such, but I am at a place where I don't have any idea what my character is legally capable of

[Duvel]

You can assume that you can now wield two swords at a basic level I don't see the problem with going dual wielding or sword and board from the start myself.

[Gossamer]

Seems she just left out the L1 or Basic, but thats how I read it too... you have the basic Dual Wielding Skill now.

[Apakai]

So in my case, it isn't a Lore, it's just a L1 skill? And to learn how to wield only one sword, would I have to start from the beginning?

The reason I ask is because it was just a normal skill, just like any other, when Kalinda awarded me these points. Now it is a lore, which doesn't seem to do any good anymore unless you have training in a certain skill that the Lore is supposed to coincide with.

[Dr Genesis]

I would have to say No, though that is just me.

If a person can use both hands...what is to say they can't use only one. The same basics are there, the same skill. However, I only say this for the lower L1 Skills. In higher proficiency I believe it should be a matter of training for both. As peaple who fight with different styles find it harder to do so when they are faced with a oddity. Such would be the case for a person trained with two swords suddenly forced to use one. The defenses, counters and doges would have to be changed in order to yield a safe result. Such a change would require practice and training.

[Dimnersti]

since the rulesets are in a bit of a transitionary point in regards to combat skills. I would agree with others, simply play it as a skill and when using a single blade follow the standard rules for utalizing a skill that falls into the same category. the use is a single level lower.

[Duvel]

I'd just play as if using a single blade is harder to do. Like writing with your other hand. You know how to write, but it'll end up clumsy without some practice

[Lyssoryl]

Going by common sense rather than gaming rules, I would think you could chop someone just as well whether you had a sword in your other hand or not, but your defense might be thrown off if you're used to being able to parry with either hand.

As to the distinction between "Lore" and "Skill," I am not an expert by my tendency is to think that it's best to just assume everything you get XP for is a skill. Maybe if you learned to use a single weapon and got to a high enough rank of skill that you could learn feats, you could learn the lore of dual wield and be able to use that style off your basic longsword skill. Or something.

[Carly Jr'ana]

Fighting with one sword as opposed to two is very differant, your balance, stance etc is all off. That said, its easier to go to one from two, then one to two.

But, the old arms primer said to take similar arms skills as one level below. So if you were level 2 in dual wield, you might be level 1 in one sword?