Called shots

[tenntrav]

Problem came up in the last game.

PC want to put fist in Mooks face and avoid all the armor as the Mook is wearing no helmet.

Is this a called shot at -6 according to page 151?

Does the Mook get a DC25 reflex save, even though his head isn't an item that can be easily dropped?

Allowing called shots makes combat even more deadily...especially if you're not wearing a helmet...

In the end I gave the PC a -6 to hit and let him ignore armor. He started dropping Mooks like flys.

tenntrav

 

[Ellros]

Ignoring armor is almost like a critical. And there are feats that allow for that, like Sniper and Assassin.
In my campaign, I'm going to allow called shots like that, but if one connects, I will give penalties to the victim. Something like "you bash him in the face, and with the blood in his eyes, he now has a -2 penalty to strike back due to blurred vision" or some such. With the leathality of T20, I just feel anything that ignores armor must be carefully considered. After all, if the character does it to them, nothing stops the baddies from doing it back.

 

[xloop]

I have wondered about this as well. The game allows for called shot, but does not give any results from those shots (other then dropping an item). what if a called shot is to the head and it hits? I would think that a shot in the head would kill someone.

 

[themink]

Effectively, by allowing the called shot to ignore armour, you are allowing people to roll an auto crit!

If your players are the sort who are still likely to hit with a -6, then this will give them a huge bonus against armoured opponents.

Probably not what you wanted.

If one of my players wants to "call" a shot into a vulnerable area, then I would probably reduce armour by half (so 4 becomes 2) rather than ignore it all together.

I wouldn;t allow called shots on occassions when players aren;t aiming. If combat is fast and furious, people should be aiming as their training dictates (ie centre of the seen mass)

If they are in a close combat fight then I wouldn;t allow called shots at all.

 

[Ellros]

Hmm, I like that idea Mink. Halving the AR for a called shot. And also that it must be aimed, meaning a full round action most likely.

 

[Liam Devlin]

I concur...the close in fight- the full rd to aim looks kinda Movie-esque/ cinematic. It ain't Sam Peckinpah Slow-mo in a scrap! And standing still in a scrap has its own problems! (Bad guys see ya stock still aiming-no dex to yer AC when they fire you up on their initiative!)

 

[tenntrav]

I like Mink's approach. After reading the rule more thoroughly, here is my conclusion the next time it comes up in a game.

No called shots during close combat. No called shots into a close combat without appropriate feats (Assassin, Precise Shot, and/or Sniper). No called shots unless target is flat-footed.

Called shots with ranged weapons are a full round action (this is already in the rules). Called shots on "armorless" areas are at half AR. Called Shot may not be used when ROF>1.

Thanks for the opinions...I had forgotten about the sniper and assassin feats...

tenntrav