Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Alyss 07-17-07, 09:49 AM	So basically, I have a monster that I routinely stick in my adventures that strangles characters and sets them on fire. My players were asking about chopping off its arms, and I said I wan't sure whether they could do that. Hydras can have their heads chopped off by sundering the neck, and I've heard other people on the forum mention 'called shots'. So, can body parts be chopped off with called shots, and, if so, what are the rules regarding called shots? Thanks
Dalthbar 07-17-07, 09:59 AM	There are no "called shots" in the classic sense of 2nd edition. There's also no way to cut off body parts short of using a vorpal weapon. The "Sharpness" weapon was specifically left out. You can adapt the hydra rules, but I would do so sparingly, and only for specific monsters - e.g., it's a unique vulnerability to that monster you create, not all monsters. The only reason this was left in for the hydra is for historical reasons (e.g., the mythology of the hydra itself). Personally, I'd just say "there's no way you can cut off arms in the current rules" and walk away from it. If you let them do it to one monster, they're going to want to do it to everything they encounter because it's simply going to be easier than defeating the monster outright.
Alyss 07-17-07, 10:15 AM	Thank god, I'll tell them that. They're always wanting to chop bits off monsters and people, and it's a pain in the arse.
rkun 07-17-07, 10:29 AM	Regenerate "The subject's severed body members (fingers, toes, hands, feet, ARMS, legs, or even heads of multi headed creatures), broken bones and ruined organs grow back. . . ." the regenerate spell suggest that appendages can be cut off.
Dalthbar 07-17-07, 10:36 AM	the regenerate spell suggest that appendages can be cut off. Sure, I capture you and I cut off things, that's all well and good. There's PLENTY of RP and out-of-combat situations in which you may lose limbs and other extremities. But there are no combat situations in which you can lose body parts that don't result in death (I'm looking at you, Vorpal). This is why there's no called-shot mechanism in 3.x and the Sharpness ability was dropped as well. If we could do this, there'd be an official "hit points per body part" chart so you'd know exactly how hard it is to slice off an ear, wrist, knee, etc. But there's not. We can make this easier: Someone find me the rules in the PHB or DMG on how to sever an arm or leg in combat and then we can agree that there's a way. If not, then it's clear that there's no rules on how to do this and we can all agree that you can't without making something up via a house rule.
tarkin 07-17-07, 11:14 AM	There are rules in the PHB and DMG to let you cut off an arm or leg. The technique works like this: Step 1: Kill the creature, bringing him down to -10 (0 is just incapacitated, not dead). Step 2: Use Sunder to cut off his arms and legs, as they are no longer invalid targets.
risner 07-17-07, 12:17 PM	So, can body parts be chopped off with called shots, and, if so, what are the rules regarding called shots? The only called shots in D&D are: 1) True Strike 2) Disarm 3) Sunder items 4) Grapple 5) Trip The Hydra only has sundering heads because that is the Hydra's gimmick (from myths and previous editions.)
Apocolypse_77 07-17-07, 12:30 PM	Me and my group use a house rule critical hit table in which if a nat 20 critical hit is confirmed they roll d% on a table which targets a body part and has a different effect depending on whether weapon is blunt, slashing or piercing. This being said we also play with cheaper, very common potions of regeneration which regrow lost limbs in 1 round to prevent PC's from being gimped. As it only makes sense that monsters get to use the crit table too. Remeber this is just a house rule, definatly not RAW.
tarkin 07-17-07, 01:19 PM	The only called shots in D&D are: 1) True Strike 2) Disarm 3) Sunder items 4) Grapple 5) Trip The Hydra only has sundering heads because that is the Hydra's gimmick (from myths and previous editions.) You left out quite a few. Sneak Attacks ("to a vital spot" ) Criticals ("to a vital spot" Feats that enhance sneak attack (Hamstring) Monk Stun attack Assasin Death Attack Power Attack (penalty to hit, bonus to damage - it's effect is identical to a called shot, even if the description is not) Favored Enemey bonuses There are more as well. What does not exist are abusive things that win a battle after merely a single action. Even Assasin Death Attack takes a couple rounds to do. And YES, chopping off someone's arms or legs WILL win you the battle, even if you are silly enough to not say the guy falls down in shock and pain from having a major limb cut amputated in less than 6 seconds. So will blinding someone for more than a round.