Help! Body location hit rules?

[dkilgo]

I agree with certain "called shot" systems actually working when applied properly.

Kreynolds and I are devising a system that works well with the critical hit system. Our locational damage system is based off of when a character actually succeeds with a critical hit. Once the hit has been confirmed you use the "map" to decide where you hit this particular character. All areas of concern offer different penalties, and some of them stack to a limit. The system works really well when a group of characters don't threaten too many criticals, but when you enhance the ability to threaten a critical hit then it really gets complicated. We are working on a way to stream line this into a more structured and organized system that does not occupy too much time within the game.

 

[Umbran]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Help! Body location hit rules?

Now, if you *have* to do it, for a spell, say...

But see above. As soon as you allow it because one spell supposedly needs it, then everyone else starts to wonder why no other spell or attack can use it. Making single exceptions like that is terribly annoying. Do it, or don't do it.

Plus, I think you'd be hard pressed to create a spell that really requires it. For crying out loud, the spell has magic! Since when does finding a particular place on the body matter for magical effects?

 

[Umbran]

We are working on a way to stream line this into a more structured and organized system that does not occupy too much time within the game.

Dude, it's got a "map". It's got a list of various penalties, and varying rules on how they stack. It's already going to occupy too much time, for all the looking up that'll need to be done. Sure, I suppose some folks like slow, mechanics heavy combat, but when I want that, I'll play a wargame.

All My Humble Opinion, of course.

 

[dkilgo]

I agree with both sides of this arguement, but there has to be a sollution to this. Every problem has its sollution, and I believe that kreynolds and I are on the right track with finding this sollution. Granted it would take a little more time, but the pay off is so much more worth it in the end. That is, if you want to add a little bit more excitement into the game. Because I really feel that this would add to the visualization of combat, and make me keep coming back for more.

My Humble Opinion, and you are entitled to yours.

 

[IceBear]

It sounds more like your hit location system is a "passive" one - ie, AFTER you make a Critical Hit you determine where you hit and apply any special modiifers as needed. I don't have as much of an issue with this type of hit location (other than the time it takes to determine where you were hit and to track the special damage). If you really want to continue with this, look in the 2nd Edition Player's Option books. They had various maps for different body types, types of damage, and how the various cure spells affected the special damage. There was even one for rolling a 1 on a Saving Throw.

However, I think many people are looking for an "active" system in which you specifically target a body part and then attack. In my opinion, that system would take more work than it would be worth to fit into the abstract hitpoint system. That's not to say that I couldn't conceive of someone coming up with a system that works for their campaign, but I doubt that it would work well in most campaigns. There will come a point where "I attack it's head" will become the standard attack as the chance of failure will be marginal in comparison to potential damage, and as we all know, the current system is already assuming you are attacking the most vulnerable spots that you can.

IceBear