Good Questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Good Questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Karadur
02-09-04, 02:57 PM First, the Monk in our group wants to be able to make a bit of a called shot, with more damage. . . His initial idea involves using tumble to roll up to the opponent, who is male/ humanoid and use a driving leg thrust to the groin area. He expects this to do more damage, even after I (Im just another player not DM) explain to him that the rules already account for a monk being able to hit vital areas, thus he does regular damage not non-lethal. Any advice to make him happy?

Second, how would you describe each mental ability modifier as it pertains to learning.
Ex.
I see Intelligence as your ability to learn what you read in a book and understand it, while Wisdom gives you the ability to either retain or recall the information learned and give you insight on how to apply that information. Please discuss.
Heron_Marked_Blade
02-09-04, 03:25 PM There are no rules for called shots, for a reason. It slows the game down incredibly, and requires pages and pages of charts. It was perhaps D&D3E's best move when they got rid of those nightmare "hit charts." If the Monk-player insists, have him roleplay it out in front of you. Have your DM grab a sword, and have him tumble across the room toward the DM without getting hit while he tried his best to land a good one on him. If the monk's player succeeds, give him his called shot.

Intelligence: Mental acuity. The ability to understand complex information and/or concepts, as well as how to translate that knowledge into material form (hence Craft and wizard-magic).

Wisdom: Understanding the less materially obvious relationships in the world around you (such as faith, nature, etc). Could also be that sort of "sixth-sense" some people have.

Charisma: Personality. The ability to walk into a room and draw people's attention without saying anything, and/or control social interaction. Or the ability to change reality through force of will.
tarkin
02-09-04, 03:39 PM Actually, there are rules for called shots, but they are not called Called Shot rules, and they are all reasonable.

Here is a partial list of things that are basically called shots:

Power Attack
Stunning blow (monk)
Sneak Attack
Disarm
Sunder
Arterial Strike
Dirty Fighitng
...

From your description, I think one of the various monk attacks (Mantis Kick etc.) from Sword and Fist / Complete Warrior is what he wants.

Tell him he is goign to have to train to do that maneuver, and this involves spending a feat to get it.

If he does not like any feat listed in the various books, you can use this:

Monk's low blow.

Pre_req: 4 ranks of tumble, Improved Unarmed Strike

Benefit: As a Stardard action, after tumbling 20 ft (DC 15), you may make a single attack, doing x2 their strength bonus to damage instead of x1.5.
Karadur
02-09-04, 04:00 PM On the second question, the in game situation that had me/us wondering was the DM asked for an intelligence check from our in game Book man. He reads everything and the DM wanted him to make an intelligence check to see if he recalled a certain bit of information he had red, I said it should be Wisdom because as I understand it Wisdom is your ability to recall learned information.
Karadur
02-09-04, 04:05 PM Originally posted by tarkin
Benefit: As a Stardard action, after tumbling 20 ft (DC 15), you may make a single attack, doing x2 their strength bonus to damage instead of x1.5. [/B]

Where do you get the 1.5 from?
Vyvyan Basterd
02-09-04, 04:24 PM This is a huge pet peeve of mine. Why do people think that just because they come up with a clever (or not-so-clever) action, that they should gain some additional benefit for it?

This type of attack would humorously (if somewhat childishly, but I love bathroom humor) describe how the monk is dealing a Stunning Fist attack or use of the Dirty Fighting feat. The player is doing a great job describing his character's tactics instead of just saying "I hit," but that is called roleplaying and should not generate abilities beyond what the character has.
Naeron
02-10-04, 06:11 AM Easy implementation. If the Tumble roll succeeds and the monk threatens and confirms a critical then he succeeds in landing that low blow. Otherwise the target has managed to prevent the blow landing in the groin (which IS a location that combatants will protect).
Heron_Marked_Blade
02-10-04, 07:47 AM Originally posted by Karadur
On the second question, the in game situation that had me/us wondering was the DM asked for an intelligence check from our in game Book man. He reads everything and the DM wanted him to make an intelligence check to see if he recalled a certain bit of information he had red, I said it should be Wisdom because as I understand it Wisdom is your ability to recall learned information.

No, I think it would be an Intelligence check. Wisdom doesn't have to do with recalling stored information as much as it has to do with putting together the little clues around you (outside of your self) and making sense of the world. Intelligence has to do with pure brain-power, and storing/recalling cerebral information. That's why all Knowledge skills are based off of Intelligence.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Karadur 02-09-04, 02:57 PM	First, the Monk in our group wants to be able to make a bit of a called shot, with more damage. . . His initial idea involves using tumble to roll up to the opponent, who is male/ humanoid and use a driving leg thrust to the groin area. He expects this to do more damage, even after I (Im just another player not DM) explain to him that the rules already account for a monk being able to hit vital areas, thus he does regular damage not non-lethal. Any advice to make him happy? Second, how would you describe each mental ability modifier as it pertains to learning. Ex. I see Intelligence as your ability to learn what you read in a book and understand it, while Wisdom gives you the ability to either retain or recall the information learned and give you insight on how to apply that information. Please discuss.
Heron_Marked_Blade 02-09-04, 03:25 PM	There are no rules for called shots, for a reason. It slows the game down incredibly, and requires pages and pages of charts. It was perhaps D&D3E's best move when they got rid of those nightmare "hit charts." If the Monk-player insists, have him roleplay it out in front of you. Have your DM grab a sword, and have him tumble across the room toward the DM without getting hit while he tried his best to land a good one on him. If the monk's player succeeds, give him his called shot. Intelligence: Mental acuity. The ability to understand complex information and/or concepts, as well as how to translate that knowledge into material form (hence Craft and wizard-magic). Wisdom: Understanding the less materially obvious relationships in the world around you (such as faith, nature, etc). Could also be that sort of "sixth-sense" some people have. Charisma: Personality. The ability to walk into a room and draw people's attention without saying anything, and/or control social interaction. Or the ability to change reality through force of will.
tarkin 02-09-04, 03:39 PM	Actually, there are rules for called shots, but they are not called Called Shot rules, and they are all reasonable. Here is a partial list of things that are basically called shots: Power Attack Stunning blow (monk) Sneak Attack Disarm Sunder Arterial Strike Dirty Fighitng ... From your description, I think one of the various monk attacks (Mantis Kick etc.) from Sword and Fist / Complete Warrior is what he wants. Tell him he is goign to have to train to do that maneuver, and this involves spending a feat to get it. If he does not like any feat listed in the various books, you can use this: Monk's low blow. Pre_req: 4 ranks of tumble, Improved Unarmed Strike Benefit: As a Stardard action, after tumbling 20 ft (DC 15), you may make a single attack, doing x2 their strength bonus to damage instead of x1.5.
Karadur 02-09-04, 04:00 PM	On the second question, the in game situation that had me/us wondering was the DM asked for an intelligence check from our in game Book man. He reads everything and the DM wanted him to make an intelligence check to see if he recalled a certain bit of information he had red, I said it should be Wisdom because as I understand it Wisdom is your ability to recall learned information.
Karadur 02-09-04, 04:05 PM	Originally posted by tarkin Benefit: As a Stardard action, after tumbling 20 ft (DC 15), you may make a single attack, doing x2 their strength bonus to damage instead of x1.5. [/B] Where do you get the 1.5 from?
Vyvyan Basterd 02-09-04, 04:24 PM	This is a huge pet peeve of mine. Why do people think that just because they come up with a clever (or not-so-clever) action, that they should gain some additional benefit for it? This type of attack would humorously (if somewhat childishly, but I love bathroom humor) describe how the monk is dealing a Stunning Fist attack or use of the Dirty Fighting feat. The player is doing a great job describing his character's tactics instead of just saying "I hit," but that is called roleplaying and should not generate abilities beyond what the character has.
Naeron 02-10-04, 06:11 AM	Easy implementation. If the Tumble roll succeeds and the monk threatens and confirms a critical then he succeeds in landing that low blow. Otherwise the target has managed to prevent the blow landing in the groin (which IS a location that combatants will protect).
Heron_Marked_Blade 02-10-04, 07:47 AM	Originally posted by Karadur On the second question, the in game situation that had me/us wondering was the DM asked for an intelligence check from our in game Book man. He reads everything and the DM wanted him to make an intelligence check to see if he recalled a certain bit of information he had red, I said it should be Wisdom because as I understand it Wisdom is your ability to recall learned information. No, I think it would be an Intelligence check. Wisdom doesn't have to do with recalling stored information as much as it has to do with putting together the little clues around you (outside of your self) and making sense of the world. Intelligence has to do with pure brain-power, and storing/recalling cerebral information. That's why all Knowledge skills are based off of Intelligence.