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<blockquote data-quote="Neonchameleon" data-source="post: 5921856" data-attributes="member: 87792">By making your attempt to throw sand in the orc chieftain's eyes into a bluff check for combat advantage.To quote (or paraphrase) GURPS &quot;If sand in the eyes always worked then fighters would give up carrying swords and instead start carrying round bags of sand.&quot;&nbsp; Orcs fight dirty and sand in the eyes should not be a killer strategy - in fiction it's almost always a desperation ploy in one on one combat.The idea that you should be able to make a called shot to a tiny target with an improvised weapon and have this appear to be actually better than using something designed for fighting that you practice with regularly despite it being a trite and cliched trick is not something that as a DM I would want to encourage in any game much this side of Wushu.Now pushing over bookcases, throwing wine barrells or barrells of pitch, and the like are all things that the DM can easily manage.&nbsp; 4e has some of the best improvisation guidelines of any form of D&amp;D on page 42 of the DMG or on the back of the DM screen.&nbsp; If you are stunting creatively so the rogue looks on thinking &quot;Why didn't I think of that?&quot; then the DM has very good guidance for such stunts.And for the record, if there was some reason the sand was especially good for eyeing people with or I was feeling generous I'd probably allow the fighter to spend a minor to put down their sword, a minor to pick up a handful of sand, and a standard to throw it.&nbsp; Dex vs reflex and blind the orc chieftain for one round on a hit.&nbsp; Leaving the fighter standing there with no sword in hand.&nbsp; It still isn't a worthwhile option for a fighter except for a combo with the rogue.&nbsp; And the rogue shouldn't be looking daggers at you - a rogue's 'Sand in the eyes' power does blindness and damage.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Neonchameleon, post: 5921856, member: 87792"] By making your attempt to throw sand in the orc chieftain's eyes into a bluff check for combat advantage. To quote (or paraphrase) GURPS "If sand in the eyes always worked then fighters would give up carrying swords and instead start carrying round bags of sand." Orcs fight dirty and sand in the eyes should not be a killer strategy - in fiction it's almost always a desperation ploy in one on one combat. The idea that you should be able to make a called shot to a tiny target with an improvised weapon and have this appear to be actually better than using something designed for fighting that you practice with regularly despite it being a trite and cliched trick is not something that as a DM I would want to encourage in any game much this side of Wushu. Now pushing over bookcases, throwing wine barrells or barrells of pitch, and the like are all things that the DM can easily manage. 4e has some of the best improvisation guidelines of [I]any[/I] form of D&D on page 42 of the DMG or on the back of the DM screen. If you are stunting creatively so the rogue looks on thinking "Why didn't I think of that?" then the DM has very good guidance for such stunts. And for the record, if there was some reason the sand was especially good for eyeing people with or I was feeling generous I'd probably allow the fighter to spend a minor to put down their sword, a minor to pick up a handful of sand, and a standard to throw it. Dex vs reflex and blind the orc chieftain for one round on a hit. Leaving the fighter standing there with no sword in hand. It [I]still[/I] isn't a worthwhile option for a fighter except for a combo with the rogue. And the rogue shouldn't be looking daggers at you - a rogue's 'Sand in the eyes' power does blindness and [I]damage[/I]. [/QUOTE]

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