Called Shot Rules?

[pokedigimaniac]

I've looked and looked and haven't been able to find a collection of rules for called shots - for example, what sort of penalty does a arrow aimed at the eye incur? The kneecap? That sort of thing.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Plane Sailing]

I've moved this to the house rules forum, as you are more likely to find suggestions here (I'm not aware of any core rules for 'called shots', most designers seem to think it meshes poorly with the hit point mechanic)

Regards

 

[pokedigimaniac]

Whoopsy, thank you. I wasn't aware if there were any existing variant rules that people used, or if it fell into the realm of houseruling. Thanks!

 

[magic_gathering2001]

Check Here

 

[Staffan]

The lack of called shots (in order to do damage) is a feature, not a bug. Hit points should not be bypassable just because you aim for the eye or something. You're already assumed to be attempting to hurt your opponent as much as possible, whether you succeed in that depends on your attack rolls (especially if you get a crit).

Note that many of the other things you could do with a called shot in 2e now exist as distinct actions instead, e.g. disarming.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Torn Asunder: Critical Hits (by Bastion Press) might be what you're looking for.

It's a very good book, what's more!

It contains rules for detailed critical hits, realistic wounds, called shots, herbalism, new equipment, and a bunch of other things besides.

And it shouldn't set you back too much either, which is a bonus.

That'd be my suggestion anyhow, if you want quite detailed called shots (even for many specific forms, bipedal being just one) for D&D.

As for features and bugs, that general turn of phrase is so worn out (particularly in this, the House Rules forum, of all places) from people using it in defense of the absolute base RAW being used for every conceivable scenario in fantasy, that I'm surprised it isn't invisible when typed.

 

[Storyteller01]

Our current house rule:

The target gets an AC bonus based on the size of the target (arms and legs are small, forearms are tiny, etc). If they hit, the target gets a Fort save (DC = the damge caused by the attack). The DM applies effects as appropriate (loss of depth perception of an eye, blindness for both, reduction in speed for legs, etc).

 

[XeviatTranion]

While I'm not using them anymore, because I use a fatigue/exhaustion system along with a WP/VP system, I had designed a called shot system a while back.

Here's how it works. Called shot becomes a special attack, just like disarm, sunder, grapple, and the others. Called Shots can only be performed in melee, unless one takes the Ranged Called Shot feat (requiring point blank shot and precise shot). Without the Improved Called Shot feat, a character provokes an attack of opportunity for attempting a called shot (because you are letting your guard down by going for a specific area instead of a regular opening).

You can perform a called shot vs. Arms, Legs, or Head. Arms and Legs each have a +4 AC bonus above the character's normal AC, and head has a +8 AC bonus (due to smaller size and increased mobility). If your called shot attack roll is successful, you deal normal damage and the target must make a fortitude save (DC = damage dealt); a failed fortitude save means they take penalties for using that limb (the penalties are listed in the DMG under "Damage to Specific Areas"). This penalty goes away once the target recieves a DC 15 Heal check, or one point of magical healing, or all of the damage from the attack has healed naturally.

For the longest time, i was trying to get these rules to mesh well with Disarm and Sunder (it frustrates me that disarm and sunder both use different mechanics for attacking non-weapon held objects). This system doesn't offer one shot kills or any HP bypassing mechanic.

Try it, it might work out well for you.

 

[Eternalknight]

Torn Asunder: Critical Hits (by Bastion Press) might be what you're looking for.

It's a very good book, what's more!

It contains rules for detailed critical hits, realistic wounds, called shots, herbalism, new equipment, and a bunch of other things besides.

Including the stats for a dung golem!

 

[Thia Halmades]

Xeviant already said what I would have, just more eloquently and with better references. The system is sound; it wouldn't be a matter of 'head shot' as much as it would limit the use of a limb (reduce speed, lower attack rolls, etc.) Again, this is something D&D wasn't built for, so you're going to force-fit your sub-routine into the main program. A little ugly, but workable.

What Aus_Snow said is utterly true, btw. That whole feature/bug thing? You can ignore that. We tend to be a little more creative on the HR boards.