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Post by Stu Venable on Feb 5, 2013 15:39:22 GMT -8
In our last L5R session, one of the PCs wanted to make a called head shot. This requires 3 raises. His Void is only 2.
So according to the rules, he CAN'T make said head shot.
First question: Did we get this right. I think we did. Tyler (who's also been read the book extensively) thinks we did too. But DID we?
Secondly (assuming we DID get right), that sucks. I can see making it very unlikely, but you can't even TRY it?
I'm thinking about instituting a house rule:
Currently, declaring a raise costs +5 to the TN, with the limit to the number of raises being equal to Void.
I'm thinking about allowing declared raises above Void, but those raises cost +10 to TN.
For those of you who are more knowledgeable of the game: would this break anything?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2013 16:03:58 GMT -8
Weird rule, indeed, actually it used to be that the max number of raises was either your void OR the skill rank, whichever was higher, they changed it for simplicity. Probably put there to not exploit raises against helpless and unaware opponents.
For this case I would say that it depends on the effect the player wants to have, is he going for the head to "insta-kill", then I'd say don't let him do it, at all, since it would make the Earth ring (and total wounds) less relevant, a -20 is not that hard in certain circumstances (center stance+void spent). The game would suck if everyone tried to headshot all the time.
If he wants to drop someone unconscious or stun, that is not an important NPC, I'd say go for it. Maybe ask for an earth roll from the target. I personally ignore this limitation for called shots, since it is mostly "flavour" with not so deadly effects.
Alternatively, he can call all the raises he can for damage and if the blow connects, you can call it a headshot. If you want to hit harder just use the extra damage maneuver, that's what it's for. Unlike GURPS, just because you didn't do a called shot, it doesn't mean you hit the torso.
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SirGuido
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Post by SirGuido on Feb 5, 2013 16:18:23 GMT -8
I don't think its going to unbalance it all that much, but it means you will have to houserule how that is going to affect things like wounds. If they call a shot to a arm, will someone lose an arm? What will be the deciding factor for them to lose said arm? Etc.
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kevinr
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Post by kevinr on Feb 5, 2013 21:56:10 GMT -8
When I first read those rules I felt it is in place simply to stop low rank players from getting extra attacks and/or racking up ridiculous amounts of extra damage.
My wife's rank 1 Kakita Bushi currently rolls 10k4 and re-rolls 1s, if she goes into full attack she is up to 10k6 she would average 49.89 a roll without rerolling the 1s, with that in there it would be even higher. That's 25-30 over the TN of stuff we normally face at rank 1. She could easily get a second attack most every time she attacked. Or she could take those 5 raises and put them into extra damage 5k0 raising her current 7k2 damage to 10k3 which would average her 38.82 damage a hit, pretty much a one shot kill on everything we have faced at rank 1 so far.
I could see it getting out of hand quickly. However since called shot does not have any mechanical effect written in the rules I would base the number of raises needed on that off of what they are trying to get out of it. If you would allow a called shot to the head to cut the head off I would make them wait until they save up the 18xp they need to raise the void level to 3 for the power to one shot all things.
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jfever
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Post by jfever on Feb 6, 2013 14:38:43 GMT -8
One thing that I was confused about overall was that the "called shot" rules didn't apply any additional rules at all. Like, extra damage or something. They tell you how difficult the action is, but don't give you the mechanical result? ? I think Taronicos had it right: If they deal a ton of damage, you flavor it by saying they made a headshot. OVerall, the system seems to make combat as deadly as possible so you can take care of it quick, and get back to role playing. Expecting specific rules on headshots might be too much . . . . .
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Post by Stu Venable on Feb 6, 2013 16:15:16 GMT -8
The rules state that the specific effects of called shots are up to the GM.
I figure if they do a substantial amount of damage with a called shot, it's been lopped off (whatever it was).
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SirGuido
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Post by SirGuido on Feb 6, 2013 16:30:18 GMT -8
I think I'm going to houserule it the way you mentioned.
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Post by The Northman on Feb 7, 2013 5:39:36 GMT -8
I think for a while we played that a targeted attack doing more than 1/2 the target's total wounds severed whatever you were targeting.
There's certainly an aspect of them wanting Void to be a sort of governor on how damaging characters and enemies of certain levels could be. I always viewed Void in large part as how truly confident the character is in his ability. By that logic, a lower void character might be skilled, but he's really focusing on strikes he's sure will land and not getting cut in half as opposed to attempting masterstroke maneuvers. It also prevents every mook from trying to cut PC's heads off in every battle.
I like your idea on the houserule - I might attach a penalty to their own TN to be hit as well, as they're overextending their abilities and leaving themselves open to counter-attack. It's the wildly swinging kid who charges the seasoned badass only to impale himself on his enemy's sword, for example.
But man, if he would've connected...
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Post by Stu Venable on Feb 7, 2013 10:11:29 GMT -8
I like that. It might make it more balancing.
Maybe for every raise above void your Armor TN goes down by 5?
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Post by The Northman on Feb 7, 2013 10:59:05 GMT -8
I think it might make things more dramatic, risking your own hide with bold moves as opposed to just risking a miss.
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SirGuido
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Post by SirGuido on Feb 7, 2013 12:34:11 GMT -8
I think going by 5's is a bit much, personally. I say for every raise above void it raises the TN by 10 and lowers yours by 3.
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Post by Stu Venable on Feb 7, 2013 15:13:43 GMT -8
Maybe by 3 for most characters and by 5 for Dave's.
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Post by SirGuido on Feb 7, 2013 17:27:41 GMT -8
LOL, sure. Dave has a giant cock that needs taming.
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kevinr
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Post by kevinr on Feb 7, 2013 20:56:32 GMT -8
Oh to bad my zombie only rolled a 2.....oh that hits what a surprise.
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jfever
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Post by jfever on Feb 10, 2013 22:04:18 GMT -8
After playing with the house rule today, I think it works. Good call Stu.
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