Why are things immune to crits?

[0-hr]

I'm putting some sythectic beings (basically life-like androids) into my game and am stuck trying to figure out if they should be immune to critical hits or not.

On the one hand, they are basically constructs. On the other, they have CPUs and power centers, and other "vital spots".

Should they be immune to critical hits, or not? Is there any text to make it clear one way or the other?

 

[dcollins]

My 3.0 MM (p. 5) says that all constructs are immune to critical hits. The comment in the 3.0 DMG (p. 64) is that "Certain creatures are immune to critical hits because they do not have vital organs, points of weakness, or differentiation from one portion of the body to another."

In the case of constructs, it seems clear that in general they don't bleed, have arteries, feel pain, or otherwise have areas that are vulnerable to massive trauma the way an organism does.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I don't know either ruleset, but do d20 Modern or Dragonstar have robots? And if so, do the critical rules cover them?

I see your point about the difference between golems and androids.

-Hyp.

 

[mmu1]

The relevant example from Dragonstar would be Soulmechs, life-like robots which have minds of sentient creatures place withig their "neural net". They're affected by criticals and mind-affecting magic.

 

[juliaromero]

The relevant example from Dragonstar would be Soulmechs, life-like robots which have minds of sentient creatures place withig their "neural net". They're affected by criticals and mind-affecting magic.

Soulmechs are the exception, a special case. All other robots in Dragonstar are not affected by critical hits just like other constructs.

Torn Assunder provides rules for "critical effects" that still work on creatures not subject to critical hits (for example, cutting off a zombies leg might not do more damage to it, but it will still slow it down). Otherwise you can just use Soulmechs as the base creature for your androids if you want something that is subject to critical hits and you don't want to use house rules or special rules (which would be the easiest way to deal with it for your case in my opinion).

Before I started playing Dragonstar I introduced a robot into a normal fantasy D20 setting. I also felt like there should be some sort of "critical" opportunity since it had sensitive systems. I just made up some quick house rules that if you scored a critical you targeted a random system and had a table of effects for each system (for example, if you criticalled the processor it would get minuses on it's rolls in future, if you hit a weapon system you could destroy it, or increase the fumble chance for it or something). I guess this is similar to Torn Assunder's critical effects table in a way. It was a nice way to add a bit of flavor for a different sort of adventure for the group.

 

[med stud]

I think constructs and corporeal undead should be affected by critical strikes from a logical POV. A hit to the knee of a golem would be much more effective in stopping it then a hit to the torso. The same of course goes for zombies, skeletons and vampires.

From a game balance POV I dont know, constructs and undead are maybe immune to crits to compensate for not having Con.

 

[Wippit Guud]

In the case of constructs, it seems clear that in general they don't bleed, have arteries, feel pain, or otherwise have areas that are vulnerable to massive trauma the way an organism does.

"My chemical nutrients are like your blood. If you prick me, do I not... leak?"




- But I got out of my uniform for you, Data.

 

[Bauglir]

Androids as you say would have vulnerable systems, but unlike creatures, androids are made by a design, and (assuming they were built with at least combat survivability in mind, if not built specifically for combat) chances are those key systems would be better protected (eg extra armour plating around the power core)

As such I'd suggest giving them 50% crit immunity (as with armour of fortification)

 

[Arc]

It's the same problem for plants: certain areas, such as root structure, stems, are weaker than others. It seems like a balance decision, so it doesn't really matter whether your androids are immune to crits or not. What matters is if they are balanced with/without that immunity.

 

[Delemental]

Given that these androids do have "vital" areas, but that it's likely that their sensitive areas are not in the same places or performing the same functions as an organic being, how about a rule where these androids are immune to criticals just like normal D&D constructs, unless the attacker has ranks in something like Knowledge (androids) or Craft (robotics), representing the fact that they would know where to hit the androids to cause critical damage.