Hit location dice

[RosenMcStern]

The "swap the dice for hitloc" method has been tried out during the MRQ playtest, and it simply does not work with BRP. With your hit location table, you would simply have ALL criticals hit the rigth leg.

The system is fine as it is - either general hit points only, or a d20 roll for hit location.

[Mugen]

I think a purely random method for generating a hit location is not a good thing.
I'd take into consideration the player's description, and adjust the outcome according to the attack level of success and the damage taken.

For instance, if a player says "I aim the head", rolls a normal success and deals 1 point of damage, I'd describe he hit his opponent's shoulder, or arm if he has made a parry.
I'd only keep track of a wound locations in case of a major wound.

[Tywyll]

Personally, I prefer Hit Locations to only come into play if a player specifically aims for something, otherwise they just slow down combat (in my experience) and lead to armless-legless PCs (not something most of my players are that keen on experiencing).

However, when I do use HL, I much prefer HERO's 3d6 Location roll. I think the linear nature of a simple d20 providing basically the same % chance to hit the head as there is to hit the chest (or nearly) is way off. Also the HERO method allows for Aim High, or Aim Low for when you are either doing something like a fist fight (and you just aren't ever going to hit the leg) or have a relative height advantage/disadvantage. And since the fantasy bestiary came out, there are all sorts of HL for weirdly shaped monsters.

[Dredj]

Originally Posted by frogspawner

The Location D6 (or D12) is a cute gimmick. (What more 'useful complexity' do you think a D20 provides, though?)

But if you want simpler, faster, streamlined combat - why not just use BRP? The default, that is: no hit locations...

I think hit locations are great for running survival horror style games, like I'm planning on doing. That way you can know what limbs were hacked off and what the effects would be--such as how long the PC has till they bleed out. It makes the survival factor much more important.

[The Last Conformist]

For missile attacks, this hit loc table may be interesting - it's based on US statistics for gunshot wounds suffered in assaults.

[badcat]

Seriously, Trif, RosenMcStern nailed the problem with the 'reverse attack roll' hit location chart as in Warhammer. It can work, but you have to arrange things so that the percentage chance to hit never falls below 20% or so...like Warhammer.

[RosenMcStern]

Alas, using the same dice for hitlocs has some advantages, but it does not suit BRP well. You must live with it.

However, when I do use HL, I much prefer HERO's 3d6 Location roll.

3d6 is nonlinear (it is a bell curve). It is perfect for determining chances of success, as it naturally models casuality and statistics. It is less perfect when you have to design your own critters from scratch.

After designing hit location tables for weird monsters for years for RQ3, I can definitely state that 3d6 is a no-no unless you know that nothink non-humanoid is coming into play, and d100 is definitely more realistic, but a tidbit complicate. D20 is simple enough to design new creatures in a few minutes, and flexible enough to provide for a minimum of realism.

That said, MRQ location table is d20 but sucks. Too linear. (This I say to become a little more popular, as I usually advocate MRQ here ).

[Trifletraxor]

Originally Posted by badcat

Seriously, Trif, RosenMcStern nailed the problem with the 'reverse attack roll' hit location chart as in Warhammer. It can work, but you have to arrange things so that the percentage chance to hit never falls below 20% or so...like Warhammer.

I've been thinking about a d6 location dice, not a reverse attack roll hit location.

SGL.

[badcat]

Oh, I was replying to a reply to a reply, or something like that. Just talking about one of the options. I usually just do it like SB1, myself. Less steps.

[Trifletraxor]

Originally Posted by badcat

Oh, I was replying to a reply to a reply, or something like that. Just talking about one of the options. I usually just do it like SB1, myself. Less steps.

SB1, is that the same way as the new default? With general hit points and a major wound table?

SGL.