Re: Bludgeon

[Wright Frazier <khelek@ns1.cioe.com>]

> 
> 'course we are here to discuss such things. I've never actually seen
> this ruling come into play to be quite honest. Could be GMs didn't
> know about it. Could be my manual is older than dirt and its been
> changed. Does the rule make sense? Should it disappear as part of the
> suggested rewrite?

It doesn't make sense to me that they'd get a free round on you.  *shrug*
you are basically taking a free attack on their back, why would they
get to take a free smack at you if you miss?  They wouldn't if you
were just hacking them with a long sword, and this is just a fairly precise
attack to the back of someone's head.

Wright
> 
> 						-Steve
> 
> > really? hmmm...ah well..been awhile since I've been the victim of
> > a bludgeon or done one. =)
> >
> > > >From the original writeup... not something I added. That is an
> > > existing rule :)
> > > 
> > > > I agree with all of this except for the target of the bludgeon getting
> > > > a free round.  Why is this?
> > > >
> > > > > 
> > > > > For quite a while now there's been a couple of facets to bludgeon
> > > > > that have been played (by just about every GM I can think of) but
> > > > > aren't actually documented. They are "common use" modifications. I
> > > > > wrote up what I believe they are and am posting the whole text of
> > > > > the modified skill here. If everyone wants to give them the nod so
> > > > > we can be consitent? Also if no one has any objections, Dan could
> > > > > you consider this an errata submission?
> > > > > 
> > > > > The modified section is the last couple of sentences in the first
> > > > > paragraph and is surrounded by the '**' marks.
> > > > > 
> > > > > Basically adding two bits of functionality:
> > > > > 
> > > > > 1) The target can choose to either roll _OR_ just go unconscious;
> > > > > 2) The attacker can "pull" his swing to avoid a death roll.
> > > > > 
> > > > > 						-Steve
> > > > > 
> > > > > Bludgeon
> > > > > 
> > > > > Base Cost: 165		Attribute: AGI
> > > > > Skill Type: Auger	Extra Dice: non
> > > > > 
> > > > > Bludgeon is the ability to knock an unsuspecting target unconscious
> > > > > by striking from behind with a blunt instrument. The bludgeoner must
> > > > > position himself behind the target without the target having heard,
> > > > > seen or being aware in any way of the attacker. The GM will adjudicate
> > > > > the difficulty of the bludgeon based on factors such as alertness of
> > > > > the target, prevailing light conditions, and other distractions. If
> > > > > successfull, the target rolls on the Bludgeon Critical Hit Table in
> > > > > Appendix D. **The target may, at his option, elect to go unconscious
> > > > > as if they had rolled 41-70 on the Critical Hit Table rather than
> > > > > actually rolling. If it is the attackers goal to avoid inadvertantly
> > > > > killing the target, to "pull" his swing the difficulty check is raised 
> > > > > by 1 die and a roll resulting in death will result in coma instead.**
> > > > > 
> > > > > 	If the skill check fails, roll "to strike" against the target. If 
> > > > > this roll succeeds, the target takes damage as normal (resolving all 
> > > > > proper criticals and other modifiers). If the roll "to strike" fails,
> > > > > the target of the bludgeon gets one free round to act before combat
> > > > > continues.
> > > > > 
> > > >
> > > 
> >
>