Aiming for opponent's weak points?

[Saruman]

Although, again, the concept of combat is very abstract, I was wondering if it would be sensate to incorporate a variant where the PCs could aim for their opponent's weak point.

I know that standard critical hits mean hitting a target in his weak point, but: if a PCs deals a critical hit, such as piercing an orc in his neck (that would be his weak point), then the PC discovers his target's weakness and in the future he may attempt to deal damage in his neck, with some effort and concentration.

Something like:
The player may opt for taking a penalty to his attack roll (-2 for instance), but therefore adding a bonus to his damage roll (x2, like a normal crit. hit, although maybe that seems like too much and a +2 bonus would be fine).

Similar to the power attack feat.

[Kelb_Panthera]

There are already a couple of options that are fluffed like this. Emerald Razor, for one, is fluffed as aiming at a chink in the enemy's defense via a concentration check vs the enemy's AC. I forget the name of it but there's a feat in, I believe, complete warrior that does the same with a spot check and a skill trick in complete scoundrel that does the same.

All of the above are limited to either once per encounter or once per opponent per encounter.

[eggynack]

Isn't this a lot like sneak attack? Like, you're able to hit the opponent's weak point, because they're off their guard, so you deal a bunch of bonus damage. Seems like that could work.

[Psyren]

Pathfinder has Called Shot variant rules (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/other-rules/called-shots) that you could plunder, refine and repurpose as you saw fit.

[Maginomicon]

I implemented Called Shot Attacks (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=300755) for this purpose.

[Saruman]

I implemented Called Shot Attacks (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=300755) for this purpose.

How long have you been using this variant?

[Maginomicon]

How long have you been using this variant?
The campaign started up at least 6 months ago, probably a lot longer. I combo this variant with a bunch of other variants (most notably, Save Points (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=306961)), so YMMV on it. I updated it so that wings and tails are added to the foot/leg category, but that's about all that changed since the time of the thread's posting.

[supermonkeyjoe]

I assume that PCs are always aiming for a targets weak spot, a critical hit is when they actually manage to succeed.

[Eldest]

I assume that PCs are always aiming for a targets weak spot, a critical hit is when they actually manage to succeed.

This. In a fight, you kinda aim for what hurts the other guy, and usually get close. Crits are when you actually hit it.

[Joe the Rat]

There are a couple of class features and skill tricks that do this fluff-wise: ignoring armor via touch attack, but that's about getting a solid hit, not For Massive Damage.

First thing that comes to mind is trading to-hit for critical range: take a ding on your chance to score any blow to focus on scoring a telling blow. You could do this with a damage boost rider (like a Power Attack). Cap this based on Int or Dex mod, perhaps?

Another way to do it is to build it into the creature - you can attack it per normal, or go for the AC30 glowing red button to deal x4 damage.

[AstralFire]

Simple called shot variant:

PC takes a -10 to attack. In return, if the attack hits, it's a critical - no roll for confirmation needed.

Can only be attempted once a round, as a standard or readied action.