Chopping off Body Parts

[funkysnunkulator]

I think it would work very well as an optional system for people who want it.

But yeah, I should've said that in my last post. I don't think I want it added to the assumed core, but I'd like it to be available.

everything should be brought back. all optional. everything. maybe even with some clarity on what is available on the different worlds (monsters, magic, prestige classes etc)

though, truly classic stuff should be included.

it would be a shame if in thier zeal to produce a slick, easy, streamline, bug free game, that they accidentally get rid of some of the very things that make it interesting.

 

[delericho]

I really like the concept of the rules handling the loss of limbs, yet I would never use such rules in a campaign I ran, nor would I ever play in a game run by a DM using those rules.

(Yes, I know that doesn't make much sense. Still, it is what it is.)

If 4e is to have such rules, even having them marked as optional, I would vastly prefer they be relegated to the equivalent of an Unearthed Arcana tome than be in a core rulebook.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

That's a pretty silly rule that assumes the only reason someone might lose a limb is because the other guy was "pulling his punches" and didn't want to kill him. Sure, that might explain Vader taking Luke's hand, but that rule's not a good general-case solution.

No, it doesn't.

It assumes that someone attempting to dishand someone while keeping him alive is pulling his punches. Note that there's a lightsaber combat talent which allows you to fight without pulling your punches at all and still pull this off.

If you don't use that optional rule, feel free to describe any blow which kills your opponent in a manner consistent with the weapon used (lopping off arms, legs, and heads as you desire).

The issue, as has already been pointed out, is that D&D uses abstract, ablative hit points, and anything that bypasses those abstract, ablative hit points is likely to break the game.

Which is why the above rules only kick in if you would have killed the other guy anyway.

 

[Voadam]

I did laugh every time I read the regeneration entry on monsters in 3e. In 3e you sort of have to be out of combat to maim someone. You could narratively get there but not mechanically under RAW. Unless you are using Torn Asunder. Or overlaying rollmaster criticals. Or the 1e critical hits dragon article. Or house rules or other adopted rules.

 

[frankthedm]

From SWSE

Maiming Foes (Official Optional Rule)

A character may attempt to cripple an opponent instead of killing him. To do so, the character must declare his intent ahead of time and make an attack at a –5 penalty and deals half damage on a successful attack. Should the resulting attack take his foe to 0 hit points while still overcoming his threshold (effectively killing him) the target is instead maimed in some manner, but otherwise alive (see the Severing Strike talent

Wow, reminds me of a gentler version of how I suggested to do called shots in 3.5.

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=176424
Take a -4 to hit and decide what limb you want to sever, ruin or crush etc. If you hit and the damage takes the victim to 0 or fewer HP, the result you wanted has occured. Otherwise the would was not severe enough and they were only wounded [lost HP as normal]

Honestly, Halving the damage makes the attempt not worth it unless you are really trying to show off.

 

[Gargoyle]

If there are rules for dismemberment in 4e, I would bet that they apply only to certain monsters who have a special vulnerability to it. For instance, it would make sense to try to dismember:

giant squid's tentacles
hydra heads
zombies trying to eat your brains (who just can't die no matter how much you hack at them)
an immortal who can only die if you lop off his head

The thing is, I would welcome a standard set of rules for it, but only if it applied to particular situations such as these. These types of scenarios are standard fantasy heroic stuff.

Most combat situations shouldn't call for such rules, and I wouldn't want the PC's or most villains/monsters subjected to limb loss. If it can happen in every fight, it's just too much.