Merciful Weapons, Torture, and rules ironies..

[DM_Matt]

How many itemsand spells are there out there that can be used effectively for the exact opposite purpose they were designed for?


For instance, giving a weapon the merciful ability (always does subdual damage) ironically makes a wepaon better suited for torture. You can't accidently kill somene with subdual damage, but it still hurts. They will eventually pass out, but you won't need to waste healing on them, since they will wake up on their own, and be ready for some more beating.

I gess it goes to show that weapons don't not hurt people, people don't hurt people.

Any others out there?

 

[Particle_Man]

That's a pretty expensive alternative to just repeatedly kicking someone in the nads.

 

[Cabral]

Except that provoking an attack of opportunity from the person you are interrogating is something of a faux pas amongst torturers.

 

[Cthulhudrew]

That's a pretty expensive alternative to just repeatedly kicking someone in the nads.

I think it's a great ability to give to the weapon of a mastermind NPC in order to beat up his minions for not doing their jobs well, without having to resort to the greater expense of constantly having to replace them.

 

[Particle_Man]

Except that provoking an attack of opportunity from the person you are interrogating is something of a faux pas amongst torturers.

Usually, people being interrogated under torture are bound/chained/otherwise unable to threaten anyone, and thus unable to use an Aoo.

 

[Mercule]

Usually, people being interrogated under torture are bound/chained/otherwise unable to threaten anyone, and thus unable to use an Aoo.

And, being helpless gives you and auto-crit against them (coup de grace). Hello merciful scythe to the nads!

 

[Cthulhudrew]

Usually, people being interrogated under torture are bound/chained/otherwise unable to threaten anyone, and thus unable to use an Aoo.

Unless they headbutt. Or bite.

 

[lukelightning]

a holy sword can be used to make a wight. They give negative levels to evil things that pick them up...if you die from negative levels you return as a wight. Where do evil undead come from? Holy swords!

 

[Particle_Man]

Unless they headbutt. Or bite.

Let's give our torturers some credit, here. If the victim looks capable of headbutting or biting, then the victim would be restrained from doing so before the commencement of the torture.

These are professionals, you know.

 

[Particle_Man]

I think it's a great ability to give to the weapon of a mastermind NPC in order to beat up his minions for not doing their jobs well, without having to resort to the greater expense of constantly having to replace them.

Note that here a kick to the nads or slap across the face also works, as the minions likely would not *dare* take an Aoo against their master.