DDM Preview 6 Cyclops

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Usually I'd agree. But with the way they're talking about "exceptions based rules" for monsters, I'm hoping we'll see a couple monsters who have called shot rules just for them. For instance, it'd be nice if the Cyclops had a rule that states that a PC can attempt to strike its eye. If they inflict X amount of damage, then the Cyclops loses X, Y, and Z abilities. If they don't make the roll, then they miss.

Something similar would be cool for vampires. If you have a wooden or silver weapon, then you can attempt to hit their heart with your attack. If you make the roll, then the vampire is dusted. If you fail the roll, then you miss.

So while I wouldn't want to see generic called shot rules, it would be nice if certain monsters had specific called shot rules relating to them only. I think it'd make fighting creatures like the Cyclops and Vampires more fun. But then again, I just thought of this right now. If I sit and think about it for another 10 minutes, I may end up finding 10 different flaws in this idea. Oh well.

In both situations, I can see a solution using the "Bloodied" state:
To have a chance to dust a Vampire at all, first bring him to his Bloodied state. He might get an additional +4 to Strength for that, but what you get is the ability to stake or behead him, killing him in own blow.
Similar might be with the Cyclops - you get him to Bloodied and now have a chance to take out his eye - but he might get a little bit more reckless now, too (-2 to AC, but +2 to attack and damage)

I think this is also a nice situation for many "Save or Die" effects against player characters, but it obviously doesn't fit all of them.

 

[Korgoth]

Hopefully one of the Cyclops' powers will not be "able to still act effectively if its eye gets poked out". That would be rather dumb.

 

[jmucchiello]

So while I wouldn't want to see generic called shot rules, it would be nice if certain monsters had specific called shot rules relating to them only. I think it'd make fighting creatures like the Cyclops and Vampires more fun. But then again, I just thought of this right now. If I sit and think about it for another 10 minutes, I may end up finding 10 different flaws in this idea. Oh well.

The most basic flaw being why can't I shove a stake into any humanoid's heart and kill it? Or why can't I blind anything with eyes on a head but suddenly can against the cyclops?

I'll also point out that 3e has its monsters with called shot rules: Ever fight a hydra? The most confusing monster in 3e. You can behead on of its heads with a Sunder attempt? Making a sunder attempt without Improved Sunder provokes an AoO. The hydra has combat reflexes. So you take two swings at it, it gets 2 bite attempts right back at you in addition to its 10 or so bite attacks on its turn.

 

[Lackhand]

The FIFU kerfuffle: would you believe Fixed It For Us?

Actually, it was a typo -- the keys are right next to each other -- and I didn't notice 'till now.

<-- totally ashamed

 

[KingCrab]

Those little things to either side of the painted eye really do look like eyes, though.

Specially if you think of the red spot as blood dripping down from the forehead. Then the two eye effect is greatly increased.

I kinda think all the really famous Greek Mythology creatures should be in the MM1.

 

[RPG_Tweaker]

Seriously, he looks like he has two eyes. What up wit dat?

So... would that make him a bicyclops?

 

[Baby Samurai]

So... would that make him a bicyclops?

Or:

Bicuriousclops.

 

[JDJblatherings]

What I fins most interestign in the Cyclops beingin the MM is there might be an indicator towards a trend here- more monsters from classcial fiction/lore that nonD&Ders can identify.

 

[Wolfspider]

I'll also point out that 3e has its monsters with called shot rules: Ever fight a hydra? The most confusing monster in 3e. You can behead on of its heads with a Sunder attempt? Making a sunder attempt without Improved Sunder provokes an AoO. The hydra has combat reflexes. So you take two swings at it, it gets 2 bite attempts right back at you in addition to its 10 or so bite attacks on its turn.

Oh, it's worse than that. EACH of those Attacks of Opportunity is 10 bites!

 

[Fifth Element]

Edited.