Results 1 to 21 of 21
Thread: How to Run Weak Spots?
-
2010-04-16, 10:27 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
- Location
- I live in Alabama
- Gender
How to Run Weak Spots?
So I have a guy who can only be hurt by being hit in the head (Hes a vargouille necromancer who rides upon a animated zombie body) when he's attacked, how would you determine what hurts him and what doesn't? He keeps the fact a secret and no one knows that he must be hit in the head, as of yet.
-
2010-04-16, 10:29 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2009
- Location
- Central California, USA
- Gender
Re: How to Run Weak Spots?
A secret 1d6 roll?
1: Head
2: Right Arm
3: Left Arm
4: Right Leg
5: Left Leg
6: BodyMy games:
Have you ever wondered How to Succeed in Evil?
Thanks licoot for the awesome Pip avatar!
-
2010-04-16, 10:32 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2010
- Location
- Everywhere
- Gender
-
2010-04-16, 10:40 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2007
Re: How to Run Weak Spots?
If they don't know they won't hit it period,
Look to the Hydra, you can strike at the body or sunder the heads. But its a different mode of attack. If the guys fighting the Vargoyle don't know. So baring special circumstances they wouldn't target the head at all,
*However someone with ranks in knowledge the planes, undead or decent ranks in spot may simply notice the head and the body are separate entities.
-
2010-04-16, 10:44 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2009
- Location
- Central California, USA
- Gender
Re: How to Run Weak Spots?
My games:
Have you ever wondered How to Succeed in Evil?
Thanks licoot for the awesome Pip avatar!
-
2010-04-16, 11:02 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2008
- Location
- Riotsville, BC
Re: How to Run Weak Spots?
Hitting someone in the head is great if you get the chance, but it isn't the easiest spot to get a good shot/swing at. Personally, I tend to slice at extremities until my opponent is worn down enough to leave a good opening for their head or torso. Even then given a moving target there's a decent chance you don't hit exactly what you were aiming for, but you do tend to end up in a similar area: head, neck, upper torso, or shoulders. Places where all the vital organs are located. You're also not likely to hit someone in the legs in melee combat if you're not trying to.
-
2010-04-16, 11:13 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2009
- Gender
Re: How to Run Weak Spots?
I would say roll a secret d8 every time they hit. On 8, it's a hit at the head. Or change the die to whatever you find necessary.
However, if the players ever describe that they aim at the head on a hit, count it as such. During the fight, you should also allow the players to find out that they should be hitting a weak spot. Allow them to find out the weak spot with knowledge checks, perception (or equivalent in any system), and so on. Perhaps if your players just don't seem to be getting it, make the reveal by DM fiat.It always amazes me how often people on forums would rather accuse you of misreading their posts with malice than re-explain their ideas with clarity.
-
2010-04-16, 11:19 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2010
- Gender
Re: How to Run Weak Spots?
Sorry to be a party-pooper here, but this should be left to the abstract concept of Armor Class. Just give him a certain AC bonus due to the fact most of him in invulnerable.
After all, you wouldn't do this when your players are fighting a dragon:
PC: I roll to hit ... 20!
DM: Well, the dragon's scales are exceptionally tough. You need to place your arrow in the small gap between the scales to hit him. And since you didn't specify you're aiming for the gaps, it's a miss.
PC: But... I rolled a 20!
DM: Go tell someone who cares.
No, of course you wouldn't. That would be retarded. The dragon's lack of vulnerability is simply expressed as Natural AC bonus. No reason your guy can't be dealt with the same way.
-
2010-04-16, 11:20 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2007
Re: How to Run Weak Spots?
There are no called shots traditionally in D&D, hitting vital areas is covered by critical hits which undead are immune to. In D&D if you decapitate a zombie with say a vorpal sword you accomplish absolutely nothing they aren't George A. Romero zombies. There is no called shot to hit a human its an abstract hit point system.
-
2010-04-16, 11:23 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2009
- Location
- Central California, USA
- Gender
Re: How to Run Weak Spots?
My games:
Have you ever wondered How to Succeed in Evil?
Thanks licoot for the awesome Pip avatar!
-
2010-04-16, 11:30 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2008
Re: How to Run Weak Spots?
The proper way to do a weak point is to make it a Touch Attack.
Draconomicon has a feat that lets you make a Spot check to turn the next attack into a Touch Attack.
Complete Scoundrel has a Skill Trick that does the same.
Bo9S has the Emerald Razor maneuver (Diamond Mind 2), which means it's a feat via Martial Study.
Just, don't give them a bonus to damage. Or make the attack an Auto-Crit. Called Shots were not meant to be a separate mechanic from AC.
-
2010-04-16, 11:46 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
Re: How to Run Weak Spots?
Last edited by OracleofWuffing; 2010-04-16 at 11:46 PM.
"Okay, so I'm going to quick draw and dual wield these one-pound caltrops as improvised weapons..."
---
"Oh, hey, look! Blue Eyes Black Lotus!" "Wait what, do you sacrifice a mana to the... Does it like, summon a... What would that card even do!?" "Oh, it's got a four-energy attack. Completely unviable in actual play, so don't worry about it."
-
2010-04-17, 12:02 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2009
Re: How to Run Weak Spots?
Rolls that would Crit hit the head. No extra damage (immune to crits), but they hit the head. If a player figures out? Called shot, -6 penalty to hit.
-
2010-04-17, 12:06 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2007
- Location
- On my back, in my heart
- Gender
Re: How to Run Weak Spots?
I'd do it as a secret 50% miss chance. <50 targets body, >50 gets the head. Change the numbers as you will.
But I have to ask. How do they not notice the wing-ears and the tentacle-hair and the glowing green mouth?My Homebrew
Five-time champion of the GITP monster competition!
Current Projects:
Crossroads: the New World: A pathfinder campaign setting about an alternate history of North America, where five empire collide in a magical land full of potential. On the road to publication!
Epic Avatar and Sigitar by AlterForm
Spoiler
-
2010-04-17, 12:09 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2007
- Location
- Virginia
-
2010-04-17, 12:13 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2008
Re: How to Run Weak Spots?
How many HP does the body have?
The AC value already takes into account how difficult it is to hit a small target. If the character's AC is based on the body, just give a +8 AC bonus (or something) to the head. Attacks which hit the body's AC hit and damage the body, while attacks that hit the body's AC +8 (including natural 20s) hit and damage the head.
If you are using the head's AC seperately, then give the head a +4 AC (because opponents aren't always targeting the head) and use the body's AC seperately. Again, attacks that hit the body's AC damage the body while attacks that hit the head's AC (with the +4) damage the head instead.
-
2010-04-17, 12:14 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2008
-
2010-04-17, 12:24 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
- Location
- I live in Alabama
- Gender
Re: How to Run Weak Spots?
They notice it, but in this campaign, characters aren't familiar with the supernatural world just yet. so they wound understand the significance just yet.
The AC value already takes into account how difficult it is to hit a small target. If the character's AC is based on the body, just give a +8 AC bonus (or something) to the head. Attacks which hit the body's AC hit and damage the body, while attacks that hit the body's AC +8 (including natural 20s) hit and damage the head.
Thanks everyone for your suggestions.
-
2010-04-17, 12:49 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
Re: How to Run Weak Spots?
Alternately, a general method of simulating weak spots is through Power Attack or similar. Just change the multiplier to simulate going for weak spots that are exceptionally notable.
I would really like to see a game made by Obryn, Kurald Galain, and Knaight from these forums.
I'm not joking one bit. I would buy the hell out of that. -- ChubbyRain
Current Design Project: Legacy, a game of masters and apprentices for two players and a GM.
-
2010-04-17, 01:00 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2007
- Location
- Ominous flowers!
- Gender
Re: How to Run Weak Spots?
That does strike the best balance between sensible simulation and easy implementation. I would, however, like to strongly suggest you find some way to illustrate the fact if the players figure out the weak spot somehow.
Don't implement a "called shot" system, but in light of the fact that the characters would naturally be aiming a bit more for the head once they know, lessen the AC gap a little. (Not entirely - the head's still harder to hit! - just a little, since they'll be trying a harder to hit that area specifically.)
Also, what happens if they fell the zombie body without killing the head? You've figured that part out, right? Because I guarantee you that if you don't, it'll happen.
Seriously though, unless the body's somehow indestructible, it's entirely likely that in a fight they'll hit the body AC enough to destroy it. Make sure you have a plan for what your guy does then. Does he play possum until they leave? Does he detach from the body? Does he have spares somewhere?
-
2010-04-17, 01:03 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2009
Re: How to Run Weak Spots?
It's not an "auto crit". It's accuracy based on knowledge vs accuracy based on luck.
The crit represents luck, in hitting a more vulnerable area. Once that vulnerable area is known, aiming can make up for it.
The "crit" is the discovery mechanism. Beyond that, it's meant to serve no purpose.
EDIT: And this method HAS worked out in my favor, when I run zombie apocalypse. So yeah.Last edited by PhoenixRivers; 2010-04-17 at 01:06 AM.