Called shots

[Sadrik]

We are going to be starting a new campaign pretty soon. One of the things that too me is very important in modern games are called shots. Monsters and robots and characters that are bags of HP are not very sci-fi to me. I want to hit the guy in the face with my laser- should have worn your helmet huh Shepard...

So how would you do it in Traveller? Has to be simple, perhaps simply a DM? And then what? Hits target and then vitals might do a little bonus damage?

 

[Morrus]

We are going to be starting a new campaign pretty soon. One of the things that too me is very important in modern games are called shots. Monsters and robots and characters that are bags of HP are not very sci-fi to me. I want to hit the guy in the face with my laser- should have worn your helmet huh Shepard...

So how would you do it in Traveller? Has to be simple, perhaps simply a DM? And then what? Hits target and then vitals might do a little bonus damage?

If you're OK with HP being more than meat, it works out. I like the idea of exchanging accuracy for damage. That way a really, really accurate character can exchange a bunch of attack potential for damage and still have a good chance of hitting, and if they do they'll likely one-shot even a big critter - all that damage represents a perfect headshot or what-have-you. A less accurate character is less likely to be able to do that,

 

[Sadrik]

If you're OK with HP being more than meat, it works out. I like the idea of exchanging accuracy for damage. That way a really, really accurate character can exchange a bunch of attack potential for damage and still have a good chance of hitting, and if they do they'll likely one-shot even a big critter - all that damage represents a perfect headshot or what-have-you. A less accurate character is less likely to be able to do that,

In traveller HP are pretty much meat. You take stat damage based on the damage rolled. So that is why it always felt a little wierd that you could not target the gun in there hand and what-not it is simply I hit your general HP bag and you deduct from your physical stats after armor.

So perhaps a -2 DM to hit a specific target and maybe -4 DM to hit a vital and get +1d6 damage. My experience fairly limited though and I may not be seeing everything so was hoping to get some insight into the rules.

 

[le grand fromage]

I quite liked the Traveller hit location system in White Dwarf 28, no one walks away after rolling "shot in the groin" on those charts...

 

[Sadrik]

I quite liked the Traveller hit location system in White Dwarf 28, no one walks away after rolling "shot in the groin" on those charts...

I am unfamiliar with this system. Is it a random hit location system? Or is it a I try to shoot him in the groin and then roll to see if you do kind of system?

 

[le grand fromage]

Originally written by Steve Cook, you rolled randomly for location or opted for a -3DM for an aimed shot - which allowed a general but not specific area to be targeted, damage multipliers were then applied based on location and weapon type - made for some short but memorable combats!!

 

[Sadrik]

Originally written by Steve Cook, you rolled randomly for location or opted for a -3DM for an aimed shot - which allowed a general but not specific area to be targeted, damage multipliers were then applied based on location and weapon type - made for some short but memorable combats!!

That sounds like fun. As a general I think called shot rules have to be good enough where it is an option but not too good where it is the default attack. -3DM seems like that would be a reasonable penalty for a vitals shot, or shooting to hit the device in the guys hand, or hitting the eye sensor on the robot etc. Sci-fi games just beg for called shots.