Called shots... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Called shots... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
MetalGod85
04-20-04, 04:13 AM I'm planning on putting my players through a bunch of zombie encounters, and being a big fan of George Romero I believe that the only way to put a zombie down permanently is to hit it in the head. Anybody have suggestions on how to deal with called shots?
Maladaar
04-20-04, 04:36 AM Use the search button and search the boards for called shots. There are already at least two threads going on about it. You might find some insight there.

Edit: Here are some links

Called shot (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=222888&highlight=called+shot)

Precise or called shot (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=206350&highlight=called+shot)

Called Shot Question (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=172218&highlight=called+shot)

Called Shot Rules (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=160058&highlight=called+shot)

Critical Hit / Called Shot House Rule (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=122672&highlight=called+shot)
MetalGod85
04-20-04, 05:44 AM Thanks man
Fixxxer
04-20-04, 03:25 PM Of course, the easy way to do things would be simply to base a head-shot on description alone. In essence, run the encounter normally (no called shots) and whenever an attack brings the zombie's hp down to 0, just describe it as a wound to the head.
MetalGod85
04-21-04, 02:12 AM Well we ran the zombie encounter tonight. I played it thusly: reduce the Zombie down to 0 hit points and it's effectively immobilized, allowing you to coup de gras it at your leisure. This became fun as occasionally a player would drop a zombie and be completely surprised that it still had enough "life" in it to reach up and bite the ankle of the distracted PC (such a bite then imparting a zombie disease similar to mummy rot).

Alternatively I would allow the players to make a called shot to the head (Full round action, -5 it hit, provokes attack of opportunity from threatening creatures other than the target of the called shot) to instantly kill said zombie. It balanced out well simply because of the number of undead they were fighting. It was a satisfying 2-hour combat that we all enjoyed immensely. Thanks everyone for the suggestions and the links.
Fixxxer
04-22-04, 02:52 PM I just have two points:

Well we ran the zombie encounter tonight. I played it thusly: reduce the Zombie down to 0 hit points and it's effectively immobilized, allowing you to coup de gras it at your leisure. This became fun as occasionally a player would drop a zombie and be completely surprised that it still had enough "life" in it to reach up and bite the ankle of the distracted PC (such a bite then imparting a zombie disease similar to mummy rot).

Technically, zombies, being undead, are immune to CdG. I think I can see what you mean, though. :)

Alternatively I would allow the players to make a called shot to the head (Full round action, -5 it hit, provokes attack of opportunity from threatening creatures other than the target of the called shot) to instantly kill said zombie. It balanced out well simply because of the number of undead they were fighting. It was a satisfying 2-hour combat that we all enjoyed immensely. Thanks everyone for the suggestions and the links.

Be VERY careful with this. How long do you expect it will be before your PCs are facing off against something that's not a zombie and they expect to be able to get an insta-kill by simply taking a -5 to hit? You'll either have to let them do it, which will basically allow them to walk through anything you place in front of them with the greatest of ease, or you can tell them that it only works with zombies, which is impossible to explain.
nevick
04-22-04, 03:07 PM If the only way to hurt your Zombies is to hit it in the head i would add some ac according to the size-bonus rules. +2 AC for being tiny for example. effectively a penalty for being forced to go for the head each blow or shot.

If the only way to finish a zombie off is to hit in in the head i would apply the rules of hitting an inanimate tiny object. all DMG is subdual up to the point of 0 or less HP. then automatic hit in melee on the head if you use CdG.
if in a rush. ac 10 -5 for no dex +2 for size (AC 7).

All this provided the PC know of this fact of course =P
pres_man
04-23-04, 05:35 AM called shot = true strike craziness

PC: I do a called shot to the head.
DM: Ok, that (+x ac to creature/-x to hit/whatever).
PC: Ok, I quickened true strike so my attack is ... + 20 ... equals y. Does that hit?
DM: Yes. :bored:
PC: Cool it's dead.
MystErikEry
04-23-04, 05:54 AM Pick one of two easy solutions:

(A) Have the PC's fight against creatures which do not have heads, such as slimes and/or oozes, plant creatures, Chaos Beasts, Darkmantles, and so on. Or, perhaps a multi-headed creature like an Ettin or Hydra.

(B) Have the enemies use the same tactic against the PC's. Fighting approximately twenty Kobolds with a penchant for attempting to chop off heads makes them fairly likely to succeed in killing a PC, on a natural 20, even with huge penalties.

Fun fun fun!
Sildatorak
04-23-04, 10:15 AM Originally posted by Fixxxer
you can tell them that it only works with zombies, which is impossible to explain.

Through a combination of soft wits and half-decayed musclature, zombies have a weakness in their heads that they don't especially defend. It is easy to break their skulls open, and they are trying to get to your gooey brainy goodness so much that they ignore the fact that you're trying to knock their blocks off.

It's flimsy, but it is slightly better than "I'm the DM I say so." :D

If you want a little more rules-based precident I think you'll have to go back to 2e, where there were examples of called shots trying to hit a monster's specific weakness.
MetalGod85
04-23-04, 04:57 PM I informed my players from the get go that this called shots to the head=instant kill would only apply to zombies. You have to remember: I'm a huge George Romero fan (especially his Dead Trilogy). Before designing this encounter I spent a lot of time watching those movies, and I wanted a practical way to represent the iconic "go for their heads" tactic shown in the movie. It's one of those little house rules that can see a decidedly finite amount of usage (unless I keep throwing zombies at them, which can get pretty boring) I felt the way it played out that it captured an element of these films.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
MetalGod85 04-20-04, 04:13 AM	I'm planning on putting my players through a bunch of zombie encounters, and being a big fan of George Romero I believe that the only way to put a zombie down permanently is to hit it in the head. Anybody have suggestions on how to deal with called shots?
Maladaar 04-20-04, 04:36 AM	Use the search button and search the boards for called shots. There are already at least two threads going on about it. You might find some insight there. Edit: Here are some links Called shot (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=222888&highlight=called+shot) Precise or called shot (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=206350&highlight=called+shot) Called Shot Question (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=172218&highlight=called+shot) Called Shot Rules (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=160058&highlight=called+shot) Critical Hit / Called Shot House Rule (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=122672&highlight=called+shot)
MetalGod85 04-20-04, 05:44 AM	Thanks man
Fixxxer 04-20-04, 03:25 PM	Of course, the easy way to do things would be simply to base a head-shot on description alone. In essence, run the encounter normally (no called shots) and whenever an attack brings the zombie's hp down to 0, just describe it as a wound to the head.
MetalGod85 04-21-04, 02:12 AM	Well we ran the zombie encounter tonight. I played it thusly: reduce the Zombie down to 0 hit points and it's effectively immobilized, allowing you to coup de gras it at your leisure. This became fun as occasionally a player would drop a zombie and be completely surprised that it still had enough "life" in it to reach up and bite the ankle of the distracted PC (such a bite then imparting a zombie disease similar to mummy rot). Alternatively I would allow the players to make a called shot to the head (Full round action, -5 it hit, provokes attack of opportunity from threatening creatures other than the target of the called shot) to instantly kill said zombie. It balanced out well simply because of the number of undead they were fighting. It was a satisfying 2-hour combat that we all enjoyed immensely. Thanks everyone for the suggestions and the links.
Fixxxer 04-22-04, 02:52 PM	I just have two points: Well we ran the zombie encounter tonight. I played it thusly: reduce the Zombie down to 0 hit points and it's effectively immobilized, allowing you to coup de gras it at your leisure. This became fun as occasionally a player would drop a zombie and be completely surprised that it still had enough "life" in it to reach up and bite the ankle of the distracted PC (such a bite then imparting a zombie disease similar to mummy rot). Technically, zombies, being undead, are immune to CdG. I think I can see what you mean, though. :) Alternatively I would allow the players to make a called shot to the head (Full round action, -5 it hit, provokes attack of opportunity from threatening creatures other than the target of the called shot) to instantly kill said zombie. It balanced out well simply because of the number of undead they were fighting. It was a satisfying 2-hour combat that we all enjoyed immensely. Thanks everyone for the suggestions and the links. Be VERY careful with this. How long do you expect it will be before your PCs are facing off against something that's not a zombie and they expect to be able to get an insta-kill by simply taking a -5 to hit? You'll either have to let them do it, which will basically allow them to walk through anything you place in front of them with the greatest of ease, or you can tell them that it only works with zombies, which is impossible to explain.
nevick 04-22-04, 03:07 PM	If the only way to hurt your Zombies is to hit it in the head i would add some ac according to the size-bonus rules. +2 AC for being tiny for example. effectively a penalty for being forced to go for the head each blow or shot. If the only way to finish a zombie off is to hit in in the head i would apply the rules of hitting an inanimate tiny object. all DMG is subdual up to the point of 0 or less HP. then automatic hit in melee on the head if you use CdG. if in a rush. ac 10 -5 for no dex +2 for size (AC 7). All this provided the PC know of this fact of course =P
pres_man 04-23-04, 05:35 AM	called shot = true strike craziness PC: I do a called shot to the head. DM: Ok, that (+x ac to creature/-x to hit/whatever). PC: Ok, I quickened true strike so my attack is ... + 20 ... equals y. Does that hit? DM: Yes. :bored: PC: Cool it's dead.
MystErikEry 04-23-04, 05:54 AM	Pick one of two easy solutions: (A) Have the PC's fight against creatures which do not have heads, such as slimes and/or oozes, plant creatures, Chaos Beasts, Darkmantles, and so on. Or, perhaps a multi-headed creature like an Ettin or Hydra. (B) Have the enemies use the same tactic against the PC's. Fighting approximately twenty Kobolds with a penchant for attempting to chop off heads makes them fairly likely to succeed in killing a PC, on a natural 20, even with huge penalties. Fun fun fun!
Sildatorak 04-23-04, 10:15 AM	Originally posted by Fixxxer you can tell them that it only works with zombies, which is impossible to explain. Through a combination of soft wits and half-decayed musclature, zombies have a weakness in their heads that they don't especially defend. It is easy to break their skulls open, and they are trying to get to your gooey brainy goodness so much that they ignore the fact that you're trying to knock their blocks off. It's flimsy, but it is slightly better than "I'm the DM I say so." :D If you want a little more rules-based precident I think you'll have to go back to 2e, where there were examples of called shots trying to hit a monster's specific weakness.
MetalGod85 04-23-04, 04:57 PM	I informed my players from the get go that this called shots to the head=instant kill would only apply to zombies. You have to remember: I'm a huge George Romero fan (especially his Dead Trilogy). Before designing this encounter I spent a lot of time watching those movies, and I wanted a practical way to represent the iconic "go for their heads" tactic shown in the movie. It's one of those little house rules that can see a decidedly finite amount of usage (unless I keep throwing zombies at them, which can get pretty boring) I felt the way it played out that it captured an element of these films.