Called shots - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Called shots

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
sebby2022
Jun 22, 2008 21:29:22 I'm really sorry if this has come up before, but I looked through all 9 pages and didn't see anything on it. I wanna know how you guys do called shots. I want something that is static and not to my discretion to my players can argue and get mad. Thanks.

----------------
Now playing: White Skull - Guardians
via FoxyTunes
#2
kuonji
Jun 23, 2008 1:06:51 I don't do called shots. They tend to disrupt the game. While it may be enjoyable for a player to chop an arm off of an enemy, when the enemy chops the player's arm off that tends to send that character into retirement.
#3
generalhenry
Jun 23, 2008 1:33:26 they don't exist for very good reasons.

If you want some, make some new powers.
#4
AaronOfBarbaria
Jun 23, 2008 1:37:37 What would you want called shots to do?

More damage? = giving everyone power attack for free, or something unbalanced.

Conditions like blind, prone, or stunned? = powers already do this, making up a way to do it that everyone can do even without those powers is unbalanced because it makes those powers "unnecessary" since the condition they inflict is usually the main reason to take the power in the first place.

Permanent hindrances? = un-fun because the PC is the only one really going to experience the effect of this... you cut off the monster's arm, then you kill him or never see him again... or, a monster cuts your arm off and you have to deal with for the rest of the game (and make up a lot of new rules just to cover that situation)

Called shots don't really have anything to add to the game except for "realism", and "realism" is bad for a high-fantasy RPG... "realistically" the monsters always win.
#5
mrwombat
Jun 23, 2008 1:44:51 Give it an attack penalty, and assign an effect for various hits: Blind, Daze, Slow, and Weak being the ones I'd use off the top of my head (save ends, or until end of next turn, depending on how hard you make it to do, or maybe what weapon they're using). So -2 to hit somebody in the leg/arm/head and slow/weaken/daze them until the end of their next turn, or -5 to hit somebody in the eye and blind them for a turn. That sort of thing.

Nobody in my group's thought about a called shot yet, but I roll a d6 when minions are killed or critters are reduced below 0 HP to decide where they were hit (coups de grace, too). Just for flavor, so that I know I'm not repeating myself every time. In your case, I'd probably allow more permanent damage on a called shot that disabled or killed somebody; severed limbs, caved in skulls, eye gouging.

You may want to houserule a ritual or some utility healing powers to include limb restoration, as well. It's all fun and games until somebody loses an eye and can't figure out how to get it back, and it'd be awkward if sleeping for six hours grew new limbs.
#6
AaronOfBarbaria
Jun 23, 2008 1:56:36
Give it an attack penalty, and assign an effect for various hits: Blind, Daze, Slow, and Weak being the ones I'd use off the top of my head (save ends, or until end of next turn, depending on how hard you make it to do, or maybe what weapon they're using). So -2 to hit somebody in the leg/arm/head and slow/weaken/daze them until the end of their next turn, or -5 to hit somebody in the eye and blind them for a turn. That sort of thing.

Nobody in my group's thought about a called shot yet, but I roll a d6 when minions are killed or critters are reduced below 0 HP to decide where they were hit (coups de grace, too). Just for flavor, so that I know I'm not repeating myself every time. In your case, I'd probably allow more permanent damage on a called shot that disabled or killed somebody; severed limbs, caved in skulls, eye gouging.

You may want to houserule a ritual or some utility healing powers to include limb restoration, as well. It's all fun and games until somebody loses an eye and can't figure out how to get it back, and it'd be awkward if sleeping for six hours grew new limbs.

Current rule in place: Power Attack (Feat) - -2 to attack, +2 damage (+3 if using a 2-handed weapon) scales up with tier.

also consider that most conditions you mentioned only come from encounter and daily sources.

A called shot mechanic does not make sense unless it is an option on every attack made.

so that leaves us at a point where we have to ask... Is a +2 or 3 damage bonus after taking a feat = to slow/weakened/dazed at your own option?

The answer: Most certainly not.

Solution 1: Called shots be a feat that starts with minor effects and scales to better effects with each tier that applies a corresponding penalty to attack rolls.

-this almost entirely defeats the purpose of trying to implement a called shot system, since it isn't so much as a called shot as it is a special option anymore-

Solution 2: leave the rules regarding hits/damage/effects as is and describe an attack that creates a condition in a way that is analogous with a called shot.

-this works for anyone that was only looking for the ability to say "I take his legs out from under him with a sweep of my hammer." or "I kick dirt into my enemy's eyes as a dart forward to stab him." and have it be true to what their character is mechanically doing. It also is already balanced with the system as it is the system.-

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 sebby2022 Jun 22, 2008 21:29:22	I'm really sorry if this has come up before, but I looked through all 9 pages and didn't see anything on it. I wanna know how you guys do called shots. I want something that is static and not to my discretion to my players can argue and get mad. Thanks. ---------------- Now playing: White Skull - Guardians via FoxyTunes
#2 kuonji Jun 23, 2008 1:06:51	I don't do called shots. They tend to disrupt the game. While it may be enjoyable for a player to chop an arm off of an enemy, when the enemy chops the player's arm off that tends to send that character into retirement.
#3 generalhenry Jun 23, 2008 1:33:26	they don't exist for very good reasons. If you want some, make some new powers.
#4 AaronOfBarbaria Jun 23, 2008 1:37:37	What would you want called shots to do? More damage? = giving everyone power attack for free, or something unbalanced. Conditions like blind, prone, or stunned? = powers already do this, making up a way to do it that everyone can do even without those powers is unbalanced because it makes those powers "unnecessary" since the condition they inflict is usually the main reason to take the power in the first place. Permanent hindrances? = un-fun because the PC is the only one really going to experience the effect of this... you cut off the monster's arm, then you kill him or never see him again... or, a monster cuts your arm off and you have to deal with for the rest of the game (and make up a lot of new rules just to cover that situation) Called shots don't really have anything to add to the game except for "realism", and "realism" is bad for a high-fantasy RPG... "realistically" the monsters always win.
#5 mrwombat Jun 23, 2008 1:44:51	Give it an attack penalty, and assign an effect for various hits: Blind, Daze, Slow, and Weak being the ones I'd use off the top of my head (save ends, or until end of next turn, depending on how hard you make it to do, or maybe what weapon they're using). So -2 to hit somebody in the leg/arm/head and slow/weaken/daze them until the end of their next turn, or -5 to hit somebody in the eye and blind them for a turn. That sort of thing. Nobody in my group's thought about a called shot yet, but I roll a d6 when minions are killed or critters are reduced below 0 HP to decide where they were hit (coups de grace, too). Just for flavor, so that I know I'm not repeating myself every time. In your case, I'd probably allow more permanent damage on a called shot that disabled or killed somebody; severed limbs, caved in skulls, eye gouging. You may want to houserule a ritual or some utility healing powers to include limb restoration, as well. It's all fun and games until somebody loses an eye and can't figure out how to get it back, and it'd be awkward if sleeping for six hours grew new limbs.
#6 AaronOfBarbaria Jun 23, 2008 1:56:36	Give it an attack penalty, and assign an effect for various hits: Blind, Daze, Slow, and Weak being the ones I'd use off the top of my head (save ends, or until end of next turn, depending on how hard you make it to do, or maybe what weapon they're using). So -2 to hit somebody in the leg/arm/head and slow/weaken/daze them until the end of their next turn, or -5 to hit somebody in the eye and blind them for a turn. That sort of thing. Nobody in my group's thought about a called shot yet, but I roll a d6 when minions are killed or critters are reduced below 0 HP to decide where they were hit (coups de grace, too). Just for flavor, so that I know I'm not repeating myself every time. In your case, I'd probably allow more permanent damage on a called shot that disabled or killed somebody; severed limbs, caved in skulls, eye gouging. You may want to houserule a ritual or some utility healing powers to include limb restoration, as well. It's all fun and games until somebody loses an eye and can't figure out how to get it back, and it'd be awkward if sleeping for six hours grew new limbs. Current rule in place: Power Attack (Feat) - -2 to attack, +2 damage (+3 if using a 2-handed weapon) scales up with tier. also consider that most conditions you mentioned only come from encounter and daily sources. A called shot mechanic does not make sense unless it is an option on every attack made. so that leaves us at a point where we have to ask... Is a +2 or 3 damage bonus after taking a feat = to slow/weakened/dazed at your own option? The answer: Most certainly not. Solution 1: Called shots be a feat that starts with minor effects and scales to better effects with each tier that applies a corresponding penalty to attack rolls. -this almost entirely defeats the purpose of trying to implement a called shot system, since it isn't so much as a called shot as it is a special option anymore- Solution 2: leave the rules regarding hits/damage/effects as is and describe an attack that creates a condition in a way that is analogous with a called shot. -this works for anyone that was only looking for the ability to say "I take his legs out from under him with a sweep of my hammer." or "I kick dirt into my enemy's eyes as a dart forward to stab him." and have it be true to what their character is mechanically doing. It also is already balanced with the system as it is the system.-