[OGL Steampunk] Loss of Limbs?

[TheAuldGrump]

One of the things I quickly found in OGL Steampunk is that with Massive Damage equal to the target's Con people could get very dead, very quickly.

As an alternative I have started using the Hit Location rules that I first read in AEG's Swashbuckling Adventures. (Does anybody know the original source?) Allowing a character to spend an action point to instead roll on a handy dandy loss of limb chart rather than die.

It also allows me to use the rules for the prosthetic limbs described in E. N. Publishing's Steam & Steel, which for me is part of Steampunk's flavor. It also explains the limping, wounded veterans shuffling around and jumping at sudden noises. There's a war on you know...

In play it has worked out well, with one character losing a leg. Rather than a prosthetic the character has decided to have a souped up wheelchair built. (With a hidden compartment holding a simple prosthetic for emergencies.) Losing a limb as the result of a critical would have annoyed him, having the choice to lose a limb rather than lose the character was a whole different ball o' wax.

Has anyone done something similar?

The Auld Grump, the boiler blew at half past six. Fire down below!

*EDIT* None of the categories listed quite fit... Steampunk is, well... Steampunk!

 

[jaerdaph]

That's an excellent idea - nice reuse of the old d20 library too.

Original source of the Losing Limbs table: Not sure. I checked the d20 sources listed in SA's section 15 that I own - Quintessential Fighter, Seas of Blood (both from Mongoose) and Seafarer's Handbook (Fantasy Flight Games), and I didn't see it in those.

Edit: It's also possible it could be original material to Swashbuckling Adventures.

 

[Gospog]

Hey Auld Grump,

We use a house rule for Star Wars D20 that handles limb loss in an original way as well. (limb loss is a big deal in Star Wars, you know?)

If you critical on an attack, and roll a number for your crit confirm that would also be a critical for that weapon (for example, a 20 confirmed with a 20), then a limb is lost in the attack.

It's worked out well for us.

On a related note, I really like the way you mix your D20 resources, Grump. To me, that's what D20 is all about. I think a lot of people miss out on that. Your games sound fun.

-Tom

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Hey Auld Grump,

We use a house rule for Star Wars D20 that handles limb loss in an original way as well. (limb loss is a big deal in Star Wars, you know?)

If you critical on an attack, and roll a number for your crit confirm that would also be a critical for that weapon (for example, a 20 confirmed with a 20), then a limb is lost in the attack.

It's worked out well for us.

On a related note, I really like the way you mix your D20 resources, Grump. To me, that's what D20 is all about. I think a lot of people miss out on that. Your games sound fun.

-Tom

Heh, limb loss has a fine tradition in Star Wars too!

The reason I felt that the rule was so necessary is one that has bearing in SW as well - there are weapons that deal structural damage, which means the same X10 damage that vehicle weapons in SW deal out.

Add to this the fact that Massive Damage is set to the character's Con and you get a glimpse of how lethal it can be... and some of those weapons that deal X10 samage are man portable. Even a 1 can mean instant death for someone with a 10 Con. And it gives the occassional excuse for a 'dead' villain to reappear with a shiny new prosthetic. I let death by hit point loss stand as is though, there needs to be a risk when the guns begin to pound.

Being able to snag rules from multiple compatible sources is one of the things I like best about D20!

The Auld Grump

 

[Gospog]

Thematically, another thing Star Wars and Steampunk have in common is the availibility of a technological replacement for a lost limb.

This isn't practical in most genres. In Star Wars, it's canon and in Steampunk, it's pretty much required!

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Thematically, another thing Star Wars and Steampunk have in common is the availibility of a technological replacement for a lost limb.

This isn't practical in most genres. In Star Wars, it's canon and in Steampunk, it's pretty much required!

Heh, I won't argue that!

Even some of the steampunk figures available have prosthetics. So do some of the Iron Kingdoms figures for that matter...

The Auld Grump

 

[ledded]

Heh, I won't argue that!

Even some of the steampunk figures available have prosthetics. So do some of the Iron Kingdoms figures for that matter...

The Auld Grump

That's for sure. The Steve Jackson Steampunk miniatures set (a good set BTW, and can be found here and there pretty affordably) has some, in particular one fella who has had both hands replaced by razor sharp spinning blades. Pretty cool, but it must be hard to go to the bathroom.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

That's for sure. The Steve Jackson Steampunk miniatures set (a good set BTW, and can be found here and there pretty affordably) has some, in particular one fella who has had both hands replaced by razor sharp spinning blades. Pretty cool, but it must be hard to go to the bathroom.

Sadly, 'Blades', as he was known to his few friends, was killed Thursday during an attempt to pick his nose...

The Auld Grump