I'm hit! (rationalizing gunshot wounds)

[Supplement Four]

Classic Traveller damage defintions:

Damaged, but no stats at zero? Superficial damage (Minor wound). Scrapes & brusies...or just the character being tired.

One stat at zero? Minor wound. Character knocked unconscious. With medical attention, will recover completely in half an hour.

Two stats at zero? Serious wound. Medical attention desperately needed. Character will recover, under medical treatment, over a long period of time. Hospital stay probably required.

Three stats at zero? Character is dead, kaput, tits up, raisin' the daisies.


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Alright, given that, how do you rationalize (in your games) what happens, in a firefight, when a character is hit, but no stats go to zero--or one stat goes to zero?

For example, let's say a character is shot by a burst from a SMG. 3D damage.

Damage is rolled, but no stats go to zero. And, the shot character isn't wearing armor.

What really happened there?

Was it a graze? (If so, then there are a hell of a lot more "grazes" in the Traveller universe rather than the real one.)

What about when a character is shot like that and only one stat goes to zero?

Was he really shot? I mean, he'll be healed, COMPLETELY, in half an hour. So, I can't imagine that the was shot.

What does that damage represent?

I mean, if two stats go to zero, it's easy. The character WAS shot. A bullet actually pierced the skin.

But, what I'm trying to discuss here is what happens when damaged is placed on a character from a gunshot--but the damage is not enough to represent a wound of that magnitude on the character.

Heck, maybe this is why the First Blood rule is so deadly.

Thoughts on this?

 

[Supplement Four]

Classic Traveller damage defintions:

Damaged, but no stats at zero? Superficial damage (Minor wound). Scrapes & brusies...or just the character being tired.

One stat at zero? Minor wound. Character knocked unconscious. With medical attention, will recover completely in half an hour.

Two stats at zero? Serious wound. Medical attention desperately needed. Character will recover, under medical treatment, over a long period of time. Hospital stay probably required.

Three stats at zero? Character is dead, kaput, tits up, raisin' the daisies.


=================================================


Alright, given that, how do you rationalize (in your games) what happens, in a firefight, when a character is hit, but no stats go to zero--or one stat goes to zero?

For example, let's say a character is shot by a burst from a SMG. 3D damage.

Damage is rolled, but no stats go to zero. And, the shot character isn't wearing armor.

What really happened there?

Was it a graze? (If so, then there are a hell of a lot more "grazes" in the Traveller universe rather than the real one.)

What about when a character is shot like that and only one stat goes to zero?

Was he really shot? I mean, he'll be healed, COMPLETELY, in half an hour. So, I can't imagine that the was shot.

What does that damage represent?

I mean, if two stats go to zero, it's easy. The character WAS shot. A bullet actually pierced the skin.

But, what I'm trying to discuss here is what happens when damaged is placed on a character from a gunshot--but the damage is not enough to represent a wound of that magnitude on the character.

Heck, maybe this is why the First Blood rule is so deadly.

Thoughts on this?

 

[far-trader]

Originally posted by Supplement Four:
Classic Traveller damage defintions:

Well, those are not exactly CT definitions but here's my thoughts...

Damaged, but no stats at zero? Superficial damage (Minor wound). Scrapes & brusies...or just the character being tired.

I wouldn't even consider this a "wound" in the sense of an actual injury. At this point it's just bruises and adreneline fatigue like you say. I'm generous here and allow recovery at one point per minute of rest.

One stat at zero? Minor wound. Character knocked unconscious. With medical attention, will recover completely in half an hour.

Actually CT states recovery from Minor Wounds requires Medical-1 or 3 days rest to recover the points once consciousness returns which happens after 10 minutes. When they come around they have their stats at half way (round down) between the injured level and full. Treatment or rest is required to return them to full. One presumes Medical-1 is pretty good treatment. Drugs and dressings mostly for this level. Simple wounds without complications is what I imagine.

Two stats at zero? Serious wound. Medical attention desperately needed. Character will recover, under medical treatment, over a long period of time. Hospital stay probably required.

Seriously wounded characters recover consciousness after 3 hours. Their stats remain at the injured level, or 1 for the two reduced to zero, until they are treated by Medical-3 at a medical facility. The Traveller Book adds that this requires 5-30 days. I see this as often including minor wound(s) but the serious wound trumps in terms of required care. A serious wound would involve surgery to repair internal damage and probably a transfusion.

Three stats at zero? Character is dead, kaput, tits up, raisin' the daisies.

Yep, nailed this one according to CT. I'm generally kinder though and allow a golden hour. If the character is treated within 10 minutes by Medical-1 they are stabalized and have up to one hour to reach a low-berth or hospital. The low-berth delays the requirement of a hospital indefinitely.

Once at a hospital Medical-3 is required to save the character. If successful all three stats will be permanently reduced by 0-5 points (d6-1) which may result in being disabled (a stat reduced to zero) but the character lives. With one or more stats reduced to zero they are dependant on assistance but may through hard work and therapy recover some independance (raise the stats per experience). As long as one stat remains at zero they are disabled and cannot act physically.


=================================================

Originally posted by Supplement Four:

Alright, given that, how do you rationalize (in your games) what happens, in a firefight, when a character is hit, but no stats go to zero--or one stat goes to zero?

For example, let's say a character is shot by a burst from a SMG. 3D damage.

Damage is rolled, but no stats go to zero. And, the shot character isn't wearing armor.

What really happened there?

Was it a graze? (If so, then there are a hell of a lot more "grazes" in the Traveller universe rather than the real one.)

The character was really really lucky

Grazed or missed entirely I'd say. Or the one round that hit happend to strike the billfold and the Cr10,000 in small bills stopped the bullet.

Originally posted by Supplement Four:
What about when a character is shot like that and only one stat goes to zero?

Was he really shot? I mean, he'll be healed, COMPLETELY, in half an hour. So, I can't imagine that the was shot.

What does that damage represent?

Well, again the CT I know they won't be up dancing around in half an hour without treatment, as mentioned above it's 3 days of rest. Sure they were shot, but again they were lucky and it was a minor wound. With simple treatment sure they're up and about in no time. A little cleaning and a patch and you're walking wounded, next patient.

Originally posted by Supplement Four:
I mean, if two stats go to zero, it's easy. The character WAS shot. A bullet actually pierced the skin.

Not necessarily. It could be the armor stopped the bullet but not the trauma. Most likely though, yes a bullet or bullets has gone into something soft and vital.

Originally posted by Supplement Four:
But, what I'm trying to discuss here is what happens when damage is placed on a character from a gunshot--but the damage is not enough to represent a wound of that magnitude on the character.

Bullet wounds come in all magnitudes.

From:

"I say old man, you've been shot."
"So I have, didn't even feel it. Why look the bullet bounced off my rib and only grazed me, I'll be fine, a little libation for the pain and some for disinfectant and a bandage will put me right as rain chap."

To:

"Dear me, I've been shot." <drops dead>

And the whole range can result from a hail of machine gun bullets or a single shot from a derringer.

It's all a bit of an abstraction but realistic enough. The first blood rule is there for one overriding purpose. To tone down the game as one of violence as first resort differentiating it from H&S (Hack & Slash) as we used to call D&D where the rule was attack first, or last, but always attack until there is only one victor. Good mindless roll playing

Traveller is better than that

 

[far-trader]

Originally posted by Supplement Four:
Classic Traveller damage defintions:

Well, those are not exactly CT definitions but here's my thoughts...

Damaged, but no stats at zero? Superficial damage (Minor wound). Scrapes & brusies...or just the character being tired.

I wouldn't even consider this a "wound" in the sense of an actual injury. At this point it's just bruises and adreneline fatigue like you say. I'm generous here and allow recovery at one point per minute of rest.

One stat at zero? Minor wound. Character knocked unconscious. With medical attention, will recover completely in half an hour.

Actually CT states recovery from Minor Wounds requires Medical-1 or 3 days rest to recover the points once consciousness returns which happens after 10 minutes. When they come around they have their stats at half way (round down) between the injured level and full. Treatment or rest is required to return them to full. One presumes Medical-1 is pretty good treatment. Drugs and dressings mostly for this level. Simple wounds without complications is what I imagine.

Two stats at zero? Serious wound. Medical attention desperately needed. Character will recover, under medical treatment, over a long period of time. Hospital stay probably required.

Seriously wounded characters recover consciousness after 3 hours. Their stats remain at the injured level, or 1 for the two reduced to zero, until they are treated by Medical-3 at a medical facility. The Traveller Book adds that this requires 5-30 days. I see this as often including minor wound(s) but the serious wound trumps in terms of required care. A serious wound would involve surgery to repair internal damage and probably a transfusion.

Three stats at zero? Character is dead, kaput, tits up, raisin' the daisies.

Yep, nailed this one according to CT. I'm generally kinder though and allow a golden hour. If the character is treated within 10 minutes by Medical-1 they are stabalized and have up to one hour to reach a low-berth or hospital. The low-berth delays the requirement of a hospital indefinitely.

Once at a hospital Medical-3 is required to save the character. If successful all three stats will be permanently reduced by 0-5 points (d6-1) which may result in being disabled (a stat reduced to zero) but the character lives. With one or more stats reduced to zero they are dependant on assistance but may through hard work and therapy recover some independance (raise the stats per experience). As long as one stat remains at zero they are disabled and cannot act physically.


=================================================

Originally posted by Supplement Four:

Alright, given that, how do you rationalize (in your games) what happens, in a firefight, when a character is hit, but no stats go to zero--or one stat goes to zero?

For example, let's say a character is shot by a burst from a SMG. 3D damage.

Damage is rolled, but no stats go to zero. And, the shot character isn't wearing armor.

What really happened there?

Was it a graze? (If so, then there are a hell of a lot more "grazes" in the Traveller universe rather than the real one.)

The character was really really lucky

Grazed or missed entirely I'd say. Or the one round that hit happend to strike the billfold and the Cr10,000 in small bills stopped the bullet.

Originally posted by Supplement Four:
What about when a character is shot like that and only one stat goes to zero?

Was he really shot? I mean, he'll be healed, COMPLETELY, in half an hour. So, I can't imagine that the was shot.

What does that damage represent?

Well, again the CT I know they won't be up dancing around in half an hour without treatment, as mentioned above it's 3 days of rest. Sure they were shot, but again they were lucky and it was a minor wound. With simple treatment sure they're up and about in no time. A little cleaning and a patch and you're walking wounded, next patient.

Originally posted by Supplement Four:
I mean, if two stats go to zero, it's easy. The character WAS shot. A bullet actually pierced the skin.

Not necessarily. It could be the armor stopped the bullet but not the trauma. Most likely though, yes a bullet or bullets has gone into something soft and vital.

Originally posted by Supplement Four:
But, what I'm trying to discuss here is what happens when damage is placed on a character from a gunshot--but the damage is not enough to represent a wound of that magnitude on the character.

Bullet wounds come in all magnitudes.

From:

"I say old man, you've been shot."
"So I have, didn't even feel it. Why look the bullet bounced off my rib and only grazed me, I'll be fine, a little libation for the pain and some for disinfectant and a bandage will put me right as rain chap."

To:

"Dear me, I've been shot." <drops dead>

And the whole range can result from a hail of machine gun bullets or a single shot from a derringer.

It's all a bit of an abstraction but realistic enough. The first blood rule is there for one overriding purpose. To tone down the game as one of violence as first resort differentiating it from H&S (Hack & Slash) as we used to call D&D where the rule was attack first, or last, but always attack until there is only one victor. Good mindless roll playing

Traveller is better than that