Attacks of specific body parts [Archive] - Wizards Community

Attacks of specific body parts [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ArcaneGriff
07-27-06, 09:50 AM Unfortunatelly I countn't find clarification in the core rulebook whether I can attack parts of the body of the foe.
However DM guide says as variant rules DM can apply damage to specific parts of the body. And then apply penalties to any actions that the character undertakes using that damaged part.
Well, if DM can apply such a damage why players can not attack foe's left hand or leg, for instance, declaring their intention to do so? Am I right with this assumption?
runestar
07-27-06, 10:11 AM I think it's termed a "called shot". There were supposedly rules on that in 3.0, but that was removed in 3.5. :confused:
R2-DS
07-27-06, 10:18 AM The problem with "called shots" is that the HP based damage system doesnt really support it that well.

It would take a bit of tweaking with both the AC and HP of everything in your game but not impossible.

Here's one possibility....

Head- Equal to 30% of the Torso (Where Torso means the characters Hit point total)
Legs(2)- Equal to 40% of the Torso
Arms(2)- Equal to 30% of the Torso
Hands(2)- Equal to 20% of the Torso

Looking at the above model consider this.........

1st level Fighter with no CON Bonus has 10 HP

That means

Head-3HP
Arms-3HP each
Legs-4HP each
Hands-2HP each
Torso-10HP

Seeing that, you can see how a character suddenly becomes more "robust". Now he has in effect double the Hit Points of a first level fighter and some might argue that this is unbalancing.

However.........

If you like this method and find it suitable for your game than you need to modify the AC system slightly to support this.

Treat each listed body part above as an object of the appropriate size to determine its "size" based AC modifier. This assumes that you are playing a "medium" sized Humanoid character.

Head- Tiny
Arms- Small
Legs- small
Hands- Diminutive
Torso- Medium

So lets look back at our 1st level fighter again. This same fighter is clad in "Full Plate" and has no DEX Bonus, so based on the above table his AC(S) would look like this......

Head-AC 20 Base of 10+ 2(tiny) +8(Full Plate)
Arms- AC 19
Legs- AC 19
Hands- AC 21
Torso- AC 18

All the regular rules still apply. All we've done here is to divide the body up into smaller segments. Like I said...takes some tweaking, but is "do able".

Hope that helps
Leilond
07-27-06, 10:23 AM there isn't any "called shot rule" in the 3.5
There are several balance reason, one of which is "true strike" spell, but there are a lot of that because of the HP system
tarkin
07-27-06, 10:32 AM Both 3.0 and 3.5 have called shot rules, but they are not called "Called Shots", because those words refer to incredibally abusive stuff in 2nd edition.

Here are a list of called shot rules in D20:

Power Attack. Less chance of hit, reasonable amount of extra damage.
Sneak Attack. Attack at a vital body part usually too well protected to target.
Sneak Attack related feats such as Hamstring, Arterial Strike.
Monk's Stunning blow. Sneak attack to head
Assasin's Death Attack. Targetting a one shot to kill area, such as the jugular vein.
Trip - targetting the legs
Disarm - targetting the weapon
Sunder - another targetting the weapon

There are some more, but please note the general rule of

YOU CAN'T TAKE A MINOR PENALTY TO HIT AND DO SOMETHING THAT WILL AUTOMATICALLY WIN THE BATTLE.

such as blinding someone, removing an arm, removing a leg, etc.

Keep in mind that True Strike etc. makes any penalty to hit that is not -20, a ridiculously easy thing to beat.
ArcaneGriff
07-27-06, 10:38 AM R2-DS, thanks a lot. I liked the idea but I wouldn't tweak rules and double HP. Trying to keep it balanced I would definetely go for your ratio distribution of hit points with minor changes:
torso 40%
head 20%
arms 10% each
legs 10% each

That gives 100% overall HP...

The same percentages can be applied to AC.

Regarding the "true strike" spell, it just ensures that the caster hits but nothing else. However, thank for all replies.

Did not get well on True Strike penalties... can you explain it futher?
R2-DS
07-27-06, 10:41 AM Any time!

But you've only accounted for 80% of total HP.

The only draw back to doing it the way you stated is that having a character with 1 or 2 hp in the torso is going to become pretty dull for your players fairly quickly. Now the Fighter is as robust as the wizard.

Good for the wizard.....not so good for the fighter.

Try a few sample encounters with each method before you decide. I think you'll see the advantages to leaving the Torso at 100% of HP.

Always remember...If the PC's can do it, so can the NPC's
BaelinWhale
07-27-06, 10:47 AM However DM guide says as variant rules DM can apply damage to specific parts of the body. And then apply penalties to any actions that the character undertakes using that damaged part.

He's referring to the Variant: Damage To Specific Areas options mentioned in the Dungeon Master's Guide 3.5 (pg 27)

As a general rule, if the DM uses it, then the player can too. However, this system, although more or less fair, is meant more for traps than for PCs or monsters to use simply because it'll complicate gameplay on the DM's part.
runestar
07-27-06, 10:49 AM The NWN PC game gave you the ability to make called shots, but I am not entirely sure how it was implemented. That and the discipline skill does not exist. :P
Leilond
07-27-06, 10:55 AM Please friends, leave out PC games when we talk about D&D
NWN remember vaguely the table game
ArcaneGriff
07-27-06, 11:00 AM D2-RS, Mmm, 80? Should not be mistaken... 40 + 20 + 2*10 + 2*10 = 100.
Agree, only some practice during first encounters it will give clear picture.

Sure, PCs and NPCs should be treated equally.

BaelinWhale, well for the traps it is clear but one of the PCs wanted to deliver this kind of special attack, I do not see any reason why I should not allow.
R2-DS
07-27-06, 11:07 AM D2-RS, Mmm, 80? Should not be mistaken... 40 + 20 + 2*10 + 2*10 = 100.
Agree, only some practice during first encounters it will give clear picture.

Sure, PCs and NPCs should be treated equally.

BaelinWhale, well for the traps it is clear but one of the PCs wanted to deliver this kind of special attack, I do not see any reason why I should not allow.

Duh? Ofcourse!......My mistake.
Heo1780
07-27-06, 11:31 PM I thought i read somewhere that a Called Shot incured a -2 penalty to the attack but something happened if you damaged that part.

I seem to have a problem with a certain Sorcerer of mine casting True Strike and then making a called shot on the person's head or eye...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ArcaneGriff 07-27-06, 09:50 AM	Unfortunatelly I countn't find clarification in the core rulebook whether I can attack parts of the body of the foe. However DM guide says as variant rules DM can apply damage to specific parts of the body. And then apply penalties to any actions that the character undertakes using that damaged part. Well, if DM can apply such a damage why players can not attack foe's left hand or leg, for instance, declaring their intention to do so? Am I right with this assumption?
runestar 07-27-06, 10:11 AM	I think it's termed a "called shot". There were supposedly rules on that in 3.0, but that was removed in 3.5. :confused:
R2-DS 07-27-06, 10:18 AM	The problem with "called shots" is that the HP based damage system doesnt really support it that well. It would take a bit of tweaking with both the AC and HP of everything in your game but not impossible. Here's one possibility.... Head- Equal to 30% of the Torso (Where Torso means the characters Hit point total) Legs(2)- Equal to 40% of the Torso Arms(2)- Equal to 30% of the Torso Hands(2)- Equal to 20% of the Torso Looking at the above model consider this......... 1st level Fighter with no CON Bonus has 10 HP That means Head-3HP Arms-3HP each Legs-4HP each Hands-2HP each Torso-10HP Seeing that, you can see how a character suddenly becomes more "robust". Now he has in effect double the Hit Points of a first level fighter and some might argue that this is unbalancing. However......... If you like this method and find it suitable for your game than you need to modify the AC system slightly to support this. Treat each listed body part above as an object of the appropriate size to determine its "size" based AC modifier. This assumes that you are playing a "medium" sized Humanoid character. Head- Tiny Arms- Small Legs- small Hands- Diminutive Torso- Medium So lets look back at our 1st level fighter again. This same fighter is clad in "Full Plate" and has no DEX Bonus, so based on the above table his AC(S) would look like this...... Head-AC 20 Base of 10+ 2(tiny) +8(Full Plate) Arms- AC 19 Legs- AC 19 Hands- AC 21 Torso- AC 18 All the regular rules still apply. All we've done here is to divide the body up into smaller segments. Like I said...takes some tweaking, but is "do able". Hope that helps
Leilond 07-27-06, 10:23 AM	there isn't any "called shot rule" in the 3.5 There are several balance reason, one of which is "true strike" spell, but there are a lot of that because of the HP system
tarkin 07-27-06, 10:32 AM	Both 3.0 and 3.5 have called shot rules, but they are not called "Called Shots", because those words refer to incredibally abusive stuff in 2nd edition. Here are a list of called shot rules in D20: Power Attack. Less chance of hit, reasonable amount of extra damage. Sneak Attack. Attack at a vital body part usually too well protected to target. Sneak Attack related feats such as Hamstring, Arterial Strike. Monk's Stunning blow. Sneak attack to head Assasin's Death Attack. Targetting a one shot to kill area, such as the jugular vein. Trip - targetting the legs Disarm - targetting the weapon Sunder - another targetting the weapon There are some more, but please note the general rule of YOU CAN'T TAKE A MINOR PENALTY TO HIT AND DO SOMETHING THAT WILL AUTOMATICALLY WIN THE BATTLE. such as blinding someone, removing an arm, removing a leg, etc. Keep in mind that True Strike etc. makes any penalty to hit that is not -20, a ridiculously easy thing to beat.
ArcaneGriff 07-27-06, 10:38 AM	R2-DS, thanks a lot. I liked the idea but I wouldn't tweak rules and double HP. Trying to keep it balanced I would definetely go for your ratio distribution of hit points with minor changes: torso 40% head 20% arms 10% each legs 10% each That gives 100% overall HP... The same percentages can be applied to AC. Regarding the "true strike" spell, it just ensures that the caster hits but nothing else. However, thank for all replies. Did not get well on True Strike penalties... can you explain it futher?
R2-DS 07-27-06, 10:41 AM	Any time! But you've only accounted for 80% of total HP. The only draw back to doing it the way you stated is that having a character with 1 or 2 hp in the torso is going to become pretty dull for your players fairly quickly. Now the Fighter is as robust as the wizard. Good for the wizard.....not so good for the fighter. Try a few sample encounters with each method before you decide. I think you'll see the advantages to leaving the Torso at 100% of HP. Always remember...If the PC's can do it, so can the NPC's
BaelinWhale 07-27-06, 10:47 AM	However DM guide says as variant rules DM can apply damage to specific parts of the body. And then apply penalties to any actions that the character undertakes using that damaged part. He's referring to the Variant: Damage To Specific Areas options mentioned in the Dungeon Master's Guide 3.5 (pg 27) As a general rule, if the DM uses it, then the player can too. However, this system, although more or less fair, is meant more for traps than for PCs or monsters to use simply because it'll complicate gameplay on the DM's part.
runestar 07-27-06, 10:49 AM	The NWN PC game gave you the ability to make called shots, but I am not entirely sure how it was implemented. That and the discipline skill does not exist. :P
Leilond 07-27-06, 10:55 AM	Please friends, leave out PC games when we talk about D&D NWN remember vaguely the table game
ArcaneGriff 07-27-06, 11:00 AM	D2-RS, Mmm, 80? Should not be mistaken... 40 + 20 + 210 + 210 = 100. Agree, only some practice during first encounters it will give clear picture. Sure, PCs and NPCs should be treated equally. BaelinWhale, well for the traps it is clear but one of the PCs wanted to deliver this kind of special attack, I do not see any reason why I should not allow.
R2-DS 07-27-06, 11:07 AM	D2-RS, Mmm, 80? Should not be mistaken... 40 + 20 + 210 + 210 = 100. Agree, only some practice during first encounters it will give clear picture. Sure, PCs and NPCs should be treated equally. BaelinWhale, well for the traps it is clear but one of the PCs wanted to deliver this kind of special attack, I do not see any reason why I should not allow. Duh? Ofcourse!......My mistake.
Heo1780 07-27-06, 11:31 PM	I thought i read somewhere that a Called Shot incured a -2 penalty to the attack but something happened if you damaged that part. I seem to have a problem with a certain Sorcerer of mine casting True Strike and then making a called shot on the person's head or eye...