This free attack does not impinge on his normal sequence of attacks.
Dave rolled a d20p with a result of 13 and adds his +4 Attack Bonus for a total of 17. The GM also rolls d20p getting 15, then adds goblin #4’s +6 Defense Bonus resulting in a total defense of 21. Since the goblin’s 21 defense is greater than El Ravager’s 17 attack, the goblin successfully defended with its shield. Since the goblin blocked El Ravager’s blow with his shield, El Ravager’s attack deals half damage dice (2d4p+3 instead of 4d4p+3) against the shield.
Dave rolls damage and gets 4 and 4. Since Dave rolled the maximum on these dice (i.e., a penetration roll), he gets to roll each die again, subtracting -1 from the result. The rolls this time are 3 and 4, so he subtracts -1 from each for results of 2 and 3. However, since the actual roll penetrated again on one of those dice, he rolls that die again. This time, it’s a 3 and applying the -1 makes it a 2. El Ravager’s total damage is 18 points of damage (die roll 4+(3-1) + die roll 4+(4-1)+(3-1) +3 Damage Bonus = 18).
A small shield sustaining more than 8 points of damage in a single blow may be destroyed. Thus B.A. performed a competing roll to see if the Goblin’s shield was splintered. He checks the Shield Damage chart, then rolls d20-6 for the goblin and gets 12. Dave rolls d20 and gets 15. The shield splinters into several pieces under the weight of El Ravager’s massive blow. (Had Dave done 20 points to the small shield, it would have been automatically broken).
The small shield still applies its Damage Reduction value, however, lowering El Ravager’s damage to the goblin by 4 points.
Its armor further reduces the remaining damage by 2, so El Ravager’s blow causes the goblin to lose 12 hit points (18-4-2=12). That’s a painful blow, but there’s worse to come...
Dave’s 18 gross points of damage is a knockback (since a 10 point hit knocks back Small creatures) that forces the goblin 5 feet rearward. Furthermore, a goblin’s Threshold of Pain is 8 hit points. It sustained a 12 hit point wound from El Ravager’s battle axe so the GM has to make a trauma check for it. The goblin has a ToP Save of 6 thus the GM needs to roll a 6 or less on a d20 for it to shrug off the pain. He rolls an 11, so the goblin is not only knockedback 5 feet, but DOWN and writhing in pain for 30 seconds (5 seconds x (11-6) = 25). Assuming it’s not killed in the interim, it can act again when the Count Up reaches 31.
And now I'm suspecting they are trying to clearance out a product line straight to consumers rather than through normal (closeout) sales channels. The Hackmaster PHB is due out soon...
