called shot

[shade_whisper]

Just curious has anyone found a way to bring called shots from 2nd edition d&d back to 3.0 or 3.5? Please let me know.

 

[Staffan]

Most of the valid effects of called shots in 2e are now specific maneuvers: sunder, disarm, etc. Called shots to do more damage is stupid - you're assumed to be trying to harm your opponent anyway.

 

[Kemrain]

What about attacking your opponent's fact to blind or deafen them? What about disabeling a specific limb? Those are valid uses of Called Shots. Why not have a mechanic for those?

- Kemrain the Unofficial Grim 'n Gritty Spokesbeing.

 

[Mouseferatu]

What about attacking your opponent's fact to blind or deafen them? What about disabeling a specific limb? Those are valid uses of Called Shots. Why not have a mechanic for those?

- Kemrain the Unofficial Grim 'n Gritty Spokesbeing.

Quite simply, there is no way to allow for such things under the current hit point system that's not terribly unbalancing. Higher level characters and CR creatures are balanced by their greater hit points (representing combat skill as well as toughness). Any system that makes it easy to cripple them or otherwise drastically reduce their effectiveness by bypassing hit points throws the entire thing out of whack. You could alter the entire hit point system to allow for it, but by then you're basically created a different combat system entirely, not adding a house rule.

Alternatively, you could make such called shots so difficult as to be all but impossible, but then what would be the point?

(And no, I don't believe in "game balance uber alles." But when it comes to the fundamental nature of the combat system, yeah, I think balance has to be one of the top priorities.)

 

[Kemrain]

I know what you mean, Mouseferatu... And, that's why I'm the Unofficial Grim 'n Gritty Spokesbeing.

- Kemrain the.. Redundant.

 

[Mouseferatu]

I know what you mean, Mouseferatu... And, that's why I'm the Unofficial Grim 'n Gritty Spokesbeing.

- Kemrain the.. Redundant.

I actually looked at the GnG rules a while back. I don't remember a lot about them now, but I remember thinking most of the concepts were fairly sound. Main reason I didn't seriously consider adopting them was because (IIRC) they were best suited for campaigns with primarily humanoid opponents, and I tend to use a hefty number of monsters, even though my main villains are usually humanoid.

 

[Kemrain]

That's absolutely the case. The GnG rules are made for humanocentric games, the kind I play. Monsters, things with four legs, or, hell, large humanouds, or undead, are DEADLY in GnG. A fight with a large reptile, let alone a Dragon, is a fight for your life against a monsterous opponent.

It's not for everyone, but it fits my idea of how the combat mechanics should go a lot better than the abstract system in place now. And, it allows for called shots.

- Kemrain the... You get the idea..

 

[Golem2176]

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