When you want to shoot the passengers

[Wulf Ratbane]

A lot depends on the calibre of the weapon, and the angle of the shot. I real instances of police aiming to shoot out a tire, they are rarely using a 9mm weapon, thier handguns are typically larger calibre. They also have training on doing this. Also, did your friend fire at teh sidewalls? Or the tread? That will make a BIG difference. the sidewalls are Many times more vulnerable to puncture

Other than the calibre of the weapon, and perhaps a feat for special training, the rules don't model any of the intricacies of shooting out a tire. The difference between a 9mm and a .45, in game, is going to average out to 1 or 2 points of damage.

You also forgot the PSI in the tire-- that would make a difference, too.

Simply put, it's hard to explain, in game terms, what happens in reality when you shoot at a tire. There are a lot of variables at work that really don't need to be modeled in the game.

As I said, "There's an awful lot of physics at work that I am perfectly willing to hand over to the whims of the dice." Shooting out a tire can remain relegated to the to hit roll, damage roll, and a lucky critical, and leave it at that.

It really comes down to whether you want to allow called shots in your game or not. 3e has pretty much done away with that notion, but if you are going to allow a called shot on a tire, what rationale do you have for denying a player a called shot on someone's noggin?

Wulf