Anyone have "Torn Asunder" from Bastion Press yet?

King_Stannis · Aug 13, 2003

Just wondering if anyone has been able to get ahold of "Torn Asunder" yet, from Bastion. It is a set of optional rules you can use for critical hits and fumbles.

Anyone?

Cthulhu's Librarian · Aug 13, 2003

Yes, I ran demos of it at GenCon for Bastion, and got my copy there. I think its out in stores by now, but may be wrong on that. Anyway, its a great book. I really like the critical hit system it uses, as well as the new rules for healing critical damage, new monsters, feats, and best of all, a workable system for called shots. Oh, and I almost forgot, the dung golem.

TalonComics · Aug 13, 2003

Please tell me this isn't Chart... er Rolemaster all over again.

~D

Crothian · Aug 13, 2003

I also demoed it at Gen Con. While it does use tables, it is not nearly as bad as role master. But for me the best section of the book is the new rules for healing. It makes the heal skill mu7ch more useful, and limits the types of injuries the cure spells can heal. I like the more gritty style of healing and felt it was very well done.

Cthulhu's Librarian · Aug 13, 2003

TalonComics said:
Please tell me this isn't Chart... er Rolemaster all over again.

No, its not ChartMaster.

Its actually a pretty simple system. I don't have the book at work w/ me, but here's what I remember from running the demos.

If you confirm a critical hit, you take the creature hit, find its body type (humanoid, serpentine, 4 legged beast, etc), and roll to see what location it hits (arm, head, chest, etc). Then, based on the amount you rolled to hit over the creatures AC, you have a minor, moderate, or major effect, all of which are clearly spelled out for you. No multiple charts to consult, just the one for body type that you roll against. (my description may be making it more confusing than it actually is. Its really easy to use)

As far a called shots go, they are easy to use as well. Called shot to tthe eye? It gives you thr penalty to hit, as well as the effects if you succeed.

I like the system, and I'm not saying that just because I demoed it. I really think its an easy system to use.

King_Stannis · Aug 13, 2003

Cool, thanks for the info, guys. I'll have to check it out.

der_kluge · Aug 13, 2003

Add me to the list of guys that demo'd this at GenCon (side effect of doing that, is we continue to plug this thing long after GenCon is over. I'd call the program a success!)

The others have stated correctly, the critical hit system is fairly simple. I would like to see it boiled down to like 1 or 2 pages for use in game, but I can probably do that myself (unless someone from Bastion wants to do that for me, hint, hint; and make it available on their website, hint, hint).

The called shot rules are uber-cool, and take the guesswork out of the game the next time your rogue wants to hamstring someone, or your barbarian wants to ram his club in someone's groin.

And yes, the dung golem is worth the price of the book alone.

Crothian · Aug 13, 2003

I e-mailoes Ghostwind, one of the authors. So, hopefully he can stop and answer some of the more in depth questions.

Datt · Aug 13, 2003

So it kind of uses the same system for crits from 2nd Ed? Are there different tables for the weapon type like in 2nd or is it just 1 table no matter what kind of weapon?

My group has been wanting to bring Critical Hits back into our campaign and it is sounding like this is the book that will do it.

Cthulhu's Librarian · Aug 13, 2003

Datt said:
So it kind of uses the same system for crits from 2nd Ed? Are there different tables for the weapon type like in 2nd or is it just 1 table no matter what kind of weapon?

I'm not sure about the critical hit system in 2e, I stopped playing AD&D shortly after 2e came out, and when I started playing again we never used crits, so I can't compare the two systems.

There are not different tables for weapons, its all in the descriptions of the damage. Piercing weapons do x, slashing weapons do y, and bludgeoning weapons do z. Each of these are represented for the minor, moderate, and major critical damage. Also, the damage done is both descriptive (ie. the hamstring has been severed) and has corresponding game effects (ie. -4 dexterity, creature falls prone, and -4 penalty to skill checks for jump, balance, climb, etc until healed). Please note that these are just example out of my head, and are not an actual effect from the book.