PCs attempting called shots

[Glorelendil]

Except that nobody is ever unarmed, Elfcrusher. The dagger is a weapon and it doesn't even encumber you.

Hrmmm....should you be allowed to Parry an Orcish great-axe with a dagger?

I know, I know...I'm doing exactly what I tried to warn JoeArcher about...you tweak one rule and you risk unraveling the whole thing.

Ok, back to bludgeoning weapons. Here's my proposal:
Club has Short Sword stats, and is usable by Hobbits
Mace/Hammer has Sword stats
Flail has Longsword stats*
Maul has Greatsword stats (except that it doesn't exist, but based on existing progressions it would be Dmg:9, Edge:10, Injury:18, Enc:4 )

Now in each case increase Edge to Gandalf, keeping Injury where it is. Then make the Called Shot effect:
"Stun: the target is staggered by the blow. On its next turn it is Moderately Hindered for both attack and defense."

Or is that too weak?

*Please don't write an essay about historical maces and flails and their relative sizes and weights and how many hands it took to use them...I'm just going for symmetry here to give choice without changing balance. The specific names can always be changed. As far as I'm concerned each of the four sizes could be fluffed by the player as having a chain or a hammer head or spikes or none of the above. (But probably not all of the above! A Morningflailhammer.)

[Falenthal]

I like the idea of a Concussion group, as I don't find Staves, Maces and Hammers that strange.
Just out of my head, I think that Mattock should be in this group, maybe representing the highest grade (a la Great Axe or Great Spear), thus eluding the discussion about Mauls/Morning Stars never existing in Middle-Earth.

Mattock has also an odd Dmg/Edge/Injury progression, which could result in an interesting group.

[Rich H]

I created a 'Hammers' Weapon Group, use the link in my signature to get to the appropriate document, as well as some new Called Shots.

[Robin Smallburrow]

I houserule that a player can suggest to me the type of called shot they want, and then I will rule whether it is possible given the weapon they are using and circumstances of the combat - I prefer this flexibility for the LM to judge what is a 'called shot' and I think my players do too as it gives them more options.

However, last night one called shot that didn't work: I had ruled that for a warrior on the ground fighting a mounted foe they could target the mount instead on a called shot (otherwise usually they have to roll Feat die twice and take worst result) - this led to a big argument because the players felt that it should be easier to hit the mount, despite my pointing out that the RAW made sense to penalise the warrior on the ground.

I am wondering if any others have come across this issue and how you resolved it - it is after all a standard known tactic of dwarves to target mounts first....

Robin S.

[Yepesnopes]

Maul has Greatsword stats (except that it doesn't exist, but based on existing progressions it would be Dmg:9, Edge:10, Injury:18, Enc:4 )

Actually there are official stats for a maul (pg 276 of the revised core book)

Damage: 9; Edge: 10, Injury: 16, Enc: ? Called-shot: Breaks shield

Although the Injury seems kind of low, I would expect maces to be the best against armours.

[Glorelendil]

Maul has Greatsword stats (except that it doesn't exist, but based on existing progressions it would be Dmg:9, Edge:10, Injury:18, Enc:4 )

Actually there are official stats for a maul (pg 276 of the revised core book)

Damage: 9; Edge: 10, Injury: 16, Enc: ? Called-shot: Breaks shield

Although the Injury seems kind of low, I would expect maces to be the best against armours.

Oh good find! I would say Enc 4 if a player-hero wanted to use it.

Gotta point out, though, that if you assume that 2 points of damage, 1 point of Edge, 2 points of Injury, and one-handedness are "equal", in terms of trading one for another (which seems to be the method by which the weapon table was developed, even if it doesn't turn out to be true statistically) then the Maul is inferior to other choices. Great Spear has same damage and injury but lower edge, Great Axe has same damage, higher edge, much (4) higher injury.

Maybe give a player version Injury 18 and call it a day?

[Majestic]

My players haven't used Called Shot at all, but then they're relatively inexperienced (the characters, not the players).

[Yepesnopes]

Maybe give a player version Injury 18 and call it a day?

Agree!


I guess called shots for Axes, Swords, and Mattock will remain in the void...