Need help with Nonlethal Damage

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

undead_jed

Nov 04, 2008 19:10:24		I apologize if this is the wrong place for this. Please let me know and I'll take it there instead but I just had a rules question. A session I'll be running soon will very likely end up in a fist fight between some NPC's and one or more of my players. In reference to nonlethal damage, the Modern core rulebook says:

[INDENT]"Nonlethal damage doesn't affect hit points. Instead, if a single attack deals nonlethal damage that equals or exceeds the target's current Constitution score, the target must make a Fortitude save (DC 15). On a successful save, the target is dazed for 1 round. On a failed save, the target is knocked unconscious for 1d4+1 rounds."[/INDENT]

Here's my problem. If a medium sized (human) only deals 1d3 + Strength modifier in nonlethal damage, how could anyone ever knock a guy out? Even with a STR of 18, affording a bonus of +4, the most anyone could hope to do is 7 points. That's not enough to knock out someone with even an average CON score. How would you resolve a fight in this way? It would go on indefinately until someone opted to deal lethal damage or picked up an object that deals more damage than fists.

Unless there's something I'm missing, I'm totally stumped. Can anyone help me out?
#2

ranger_reg

Nov 05, 2008 15:41:05
I apologize if this is the wrong place for this. Please let me know and I'll take it there instead but I just had a rules question. A session I'll be running soon will very likely end up in a fist fight between some NPC's and one or more of my players. In reference to nonlethal damage, the Modern core rulebook says:

[INDENT]"Nonlethal damage doesn't affect hit points. Instead, if a single attack deals nonlethal damage that equals or exceeds the target's current Constitution score, the target must make a Fortitude save (DC 15). On a successful save, the target is dazed for 1 round. On a failed save, the target is knocked unconscious for 1d4+1 rounds."[/INDENT]

Here's my problem. If a medium sized (human) only deals 1d3 + Strength modifier in nonlethal damage, how could anyone ever knock a guy out? Even with a STR of 18, affording a bonus of +4, the most anyone could hope to do is 7 points. That's not enough to knock out someone with even an average CON score. How would you resolve a fight in this way? It would go on indefinately until someone opted to deal lethal damage or picked up an object that deals more damage than fists.

Unless there's something I'm missing, I'm totally stumped. Can anyone help me out?

The human above is going to need a few feats. If he's basically a boxer, he should get at least Brawl and Knockout Punch. He can pick from both feat tree.