Called shot ??? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Called shot ??? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Blackstorm
03-04-06, 01:38 PM I want to know if it's possible to do a "called shot" ?

Example : I'm playing a rogue and I want to throw my dagger in the eye of a creature to blind him...

Does I simply have to put a penalty (like -4) on attack roll ?
Does the creature got a special save to avoid blindness (like Reflex save) ?
Does it require a full-round action (to aim with precision)...

Does I exists rules about "called shot" ?
itliaf
03-04-06, 02:23 PM the rules assumed that anyone making an attack is generally aiming for the most vital spots and trying to do as much damage as possible, the damage roll abstractly determines severity of injury and location of hit. No amount of penalty could reasonably account for a called shot, because it's too easy to find a way around even the hugest attack penalties (true strike). Some things, (like animals) have such low AC for their CR that even a -10 penalty to attack won't stop the party's raging barbarian (or cleric with divine favor cast) from dropping creature after creature in one hit thanks to called neck shots with that great ax.
Full round actions on helpless targets are coup de grace and pretty much work like a free called shot (target saves or dies), but they only work on helpless targets.
There are feats that allow rogues to have special "called shot-like" effects when they use their sneak attack. For example, there are feats like crippling or razing or arterial strike that allow certain penalties to be applied, like slower movement rate(by attacking the hamstring), or trading in a die of sneak attack for a number of rounds of "bleeding" damage(by attacking a major artery). Another feat allows a rogue with plenty of ranks in spot to "called shot" his way past his target's armor bonus if he takes an action to scan the target for weaknesses. And there may be more. All the above mentioned feats are either in complete warrior or adventurer. Sandstorm also has a chain of feats that lets you blind targets by throwing sand in their eyes. Most of these feats allow saving throws
So, if you can convince your DM, you can probably make up a "blinding strike" feat, but it would almost have to have requirements that make it so no one below 6th level could actually take it. A feat that allowed any kind of called shot would be too powerful. The way I see it "special combat maneuver" feats are fine but should be constructed so that they are less useful than straight up attacking in most situations.

Does I answer your question?
NthDegree256
03-04-06, 02:38 PM I used to wonder why D&D had no Called Shot mechanism.

Then I looked at the 1st-level spell True Strike. All a 1st-level wizard would need to do is cast True Strike once, then declare "I'm aiming for his throat" and fling a dagger. Odds are he'd hit, and (realistically speaking) kill whoever he wanted to outright. That's far too much power to put into anyone's hands.

Obviously, there are other reasons, but that was the one that really cinched it for me.
FlameLover
03-04-06, 05:26 PM Here's the thing - 'Called Shots' are fine if, and only if, you assume the folowing:

Unless otherwise stated, whenever a character is attacking they are aiming for the throat, heart, etc.

So we can have Called Shots if they are a way of representing aiming at less vital areas. I'd make it something like this:

In place of an attack you can aim at the arms, legs, eyes, etc. of an opponent. You roll an attack roll as usual and if you beat their AC you can choose one of the following penalties to inflict:

-1 to attack for 1d6 rounds
-5ft movement for 2d6 rounds
-4 spot and -1 ranged attacks for 1d6 rounds
-8 listen for 3d6 rounds

They represent arms, legs, eyes, ears, in order. As you can see the more the penalty affects combaat the smaller the penalty and the shorter the duration. Penalties are not cumulative but overlap, meaning that you might inflict someone with

2 rounds of -1 attack
4 rounds of -1 attack
5 rounds of -1 attack

And they'd only ever suffer -1 attack for max 6 rounds, but if they healed one then they'd still have the penalties form the others.

To heal one of these effects it should be a DC15 heal check, full-round action, provokes attacks of opportunity.

I havn't playtested this for balance but it seems OK. Making a feat such as Improved Called Shot that adds an extra 1d6 to the duration of effects seems fair aswell.

EDIT: Fixed a mistake or two. Just wanted to add that you could easily make more Called Shot types using the same basic principle. I can't think of other locations off the top of my head, but I'm sure certain monsters would have special places to hit. Like attacking a monster's tail (if they have one ofcourswe) might impose a -8 on Balance checks for 3d6 rounds. Just remember to base the penalty on the affect on combat - not any of this stupid "realism".
Rhomphaia
03-04-06, 05:34 PM There are mechanics for called shots, but they are not called such and tend to have effects other than damage. Examples include the following.

Improved Trip (called shot for the feet/legs)
Improved Sunder (called shot for a weapon/piece of equipment)
Power Attack (can be construed as aiming for more vital areas)
Improved Grapple (called shot to the limbs)

There is a mechanic for it, but they are resolved in different ways depending on the manuever chosen.
Rulebook
03-04-06, 06:05 PM theres a 3rd party book called Torn Asuner: Critical Hits that has a good amount of info on called shots and critical hit tables

just be wary of using them, because they're like nukes... once you use them, your DM starts using them as well.

what you thought a gem like that was a one-sided advantage?
narukagami
03-04-06, 07:02 PM theres a 3rd party book called Torn Asuner: Critical Hits that has a good amount of info on called shots and critical hit tables

just be wary of using them, because they're like nukes... once you use them, your DM starts using them as well.

what you thought a gem like that was a one-sided advantage? They're also like nukes in the sense they destroy the world and make it uninhabitable. To put it bluntly, they're broken.

As Rhomphaia pointed out, called shots already exsist.
draconic_swine
03-04-06, 11:32 PM Most of the reasons have pretty much been covere, but I always like to toss this (http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/rants/calledshots.html) out every time called shots come up.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Blackstorm 03-04-06, 01:38 PM	I want to know if it's possible to do a "called shot" ? Example : I'm playing a rogue and I want to throw my dagger in the eye of a creature to blind him... Does I simply have to put a penalty (like -4) on attack roll ? Does the creature got a special save to avoid blindness (like Reflex save) ? Does it require a full-round action (to aim with precision)... Does I exists rules about "called shot" ?
itliaf 03-04-06, 02:23 PM	the rules assumed that anyone making an attack is generally aiming for the most vital spots and trying to do as much damage as possible, the damage roll abstractly determines severity of injury and location of hit. No amount of penalty could reasonably account for a called shot, because it's too easy to find a way around even the hugest attack penalties (true strike). Some things, (like animals) have such low AC for their CR that even a -10 penalty to attack won't stop the party's raging barbarian (or cleric with divine favor cast) from dropping creature after creature in one hit thanks to called neck shots with that great ax. Full round actions on helpless targets are coup de grace and pretty much work like a free called shot (target saves or dies), but they only work on helpless targets. There are feats that allow rogues to have special "called shot-like" effects when they use their sneak attack. For example, there are feats like crippling or razing or arterial strike that allow certain penalties to be applied, like slower movement rate(by attacking the hamstring), or trading in a die of sneak attack for a number of rounds of "bleeding" damage(by attacking a major artery). Another feat allows a rogue with plenty of ranks in spot to "called shot" his way past his target's armor bonus if he takes an action to scan the target for weaknesses. And there may be more. All the above mentioned feats are either in complete warrior or adventurer. Sandstorm also has a chain of feats that lets you blind targets by throwing sand in their eyes. Most of these feats allow saving throws So, if you can convince your DM, you can probably make up a "blinding strike" feat, but it would almost have to have requirements that make it so no one below 6th level could actually take it. A feat that allowed any kind of called shot would be too powerful. The way I see it "special combat maneuver" feats are fine but should be constructed so that they are less useful than straight up attacking in most situations. Does I answer your question?
NthDegree256 03-04-06, 02:38 PM	I used to wonder why D&D had no Called Shot mechanism. Then I looked at the 1st-level spell True Strike. All a 1st-level wizard would need to do is cast True Strike once, then declare "I'm aiming for his throat" and fling a dagger. Odds are he'd hit, and (realistically speaking) kill whoever he wanted to outright. That's far too much power to put into anyone's hands. Obviously, there are other reasons, but that was the one that really cinched it for me.
FlameLover 03-04-06, 05:26 PM	Here's the thing - 'Called Shots' are fine if, and only if, you assume the folowing: Unless otherwise stated, whenever a character is attacking they are aiming for the throat, heart, etc. So we can have Called Shots if they are a way of representing aiming at less vital areas. I'd make it something like this: In place of an attack you can aim at the arms, legs, eyes, etc. of an opponent. You roll an attack roll as usual and if you beat their AC you can choose one of the following penalties to inflict: -1 to attack for 1d6 rounds -5ft movement for 2d6 rounds -4 spot and -1 ranged attacks for 1d6 rounds -8 listen for 3d6 rounds They represent arms, legs, eyes, ears, in order. As you can see the more the penalty affects combaat the smaller the penalty and the shorter the duration. Penalties are not cumulative but overlap, meaning that you might inflict someone with 2 rounds of -1 attack 4 rounds of -1 attack 5 rounds of -1 attack And they'd only ever suffer -1 attack for max 6 rounds, but if they healed one then they'd still have the penalties form the others. To heal one of these effects it should be a DC15 heal check, full-round action, provokes attacks of opportunity. I havn't playtested this for balance but it seems OK. Making a feat such as Improved Called Shot that adds an extra 1d6 to the duration of effects seems fair aswell. EDIT: Fixed a mistake or two. Just wanted to add that you could easily make more Called Shot types using the same basic principle. I can't think of other locations off the top of my head, but I'm sure certain monsters would have special places to hit. Like attacking a monster's tail (if they have one ofcourswe) might impose a -8 on Balance checks for 3d6 rounds. Just remember to base the penalty on the affect on combat - not any of this stupid "realism".
Rhomphaia 03-04-06, 05:34 PM	There are mechanics for called shots, but they are not called such and tend to have effects other than damage. Examples include the following. Improved Trip (called shot for the feet/legs) Improved Sunder (called shot for a weapon/piece of equipment) Power Attack (can be construed as aiming for more vital areas) Improved Grapple (called shot to the limbs) There is a mechanic for it, but they are resolved in different ways depending on the manuever chosen.
Rulebook 03-04-06, 06:05 PM	theres a 3rd party book called Torn Asuner: Critical Hits that has a good amount of info on called shots and critical hit tables just be wary of using them, because they're like nukes... once you use them, your DM starts using them as well. what you thought a gem like that was a one-sided advantage?
narukagami 03-04-06, 07:02 PM	theres a 3rd party book called Torn Asuner: Critical Hits that has a good amount of info on called shots and critical hit tables just be wary of using them, because they're like nukes... once you use them, your DM starts using them as well. what you thought a gem like that was a one-sided advantage? They're also like nukes in the sense they destroy the world and make it uninhabitable. To put it bluntly, they're broken. As Rhomphaia pointed out, called shots already exsist.
draconic_swine 03-04-06, 11:32 PM	Most of the reasons have pretty much been covere, but I always like to toss this (http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/rants/calledshots.html) out every time called shots come up.