Attacking vital spots: Using the crit chart

[TechVoid 1]

Hi fellows,

has someone else thought about using the critical tables more active? We always wondered why critical hits should only appear if all the wounds are gone. With the new attack modifiers changed with BC and OW, single shots become more attractive - granted. But if you would allow a player who uses the called shot action to trigger critical table results, single shots would be just more attractive against single opponents, while full auto is the attack of choice vs. hordes.

I would make it as a talent which requires the use of called shot. If the attack is successfull one could rule, that for 2 DoS you are allowed to trigger the first effect of the according chart, depending on the hit location. Then the defender is allowed a Toughness check (unnatural characteristics apply) with a bonus equal to his size modifier.

One could build following talents, like allowing two effects for 4 DoS or three for 6 DoS. And in addition to that give the defender a -10 and -20 penalty for his toughness check.

Then I guess it would be possible for a sniper to slow down an advancing tyranid warrior by shooting at his legs.

What do you think?

Cheers,

--Tech Void.

[AlphariusOmegon7 24]

 Use the ZH rules from Black Crusade, not Righteous Fury.  Am doing this in my campaign, works great.  

In case you don't know the rules, when you roll a straight 10 on a damage die, this inflicts Zealous Hatred.  You then roll 1d5 and apply the appropriate critical hit.  This leads to lovely drawn out Fatigue battles, as the enemy can use it too - also it works great if you're scaling attacks for size like I do.  The Carnifex can now instagib the PCs - so they all aim for its legs and let rip, slowing it and even halting it in its tracks, like what would happen in a real firefight.  

[TechVoid 1]

AlphariusOmegon7 said:

In case you don't know the rules, when you roll a straight 10 on a damage die, this inflicts Zealous Hatred.  You then roll 1d5 and apply the appropriate critical hit.

Well - I have the impression that FFG slowly learns to improve the usage of the system.

But I must confess that this a bit too simplified for my taste (like the horde ruling). I mean, c'mon, John the Guardsman shoots with his laspistol at a hive tyrant and comes up with a 10 on the damage roll. This can lead to the fact, that the hive tyrant is fatigued after the hit? You are not serious…

Cheers,

--TechVoid.

[AlphariusOmegon7 24]

 Luck.  

You're rolling a DICE for damage.  It's all about probability.  The noob guardsman got lucky, hit the Tyrant in a weak spot (if of course he could shoot at all - if a straight off the training ground guardsman stood his ground and shot at a hive tyrant, he isn't normal and the Ordo Xenos will be snapping him up if he survives).  Sure, one in ten is an awfully high chance of luck, but given how little fatigue does to a hive tyrant ("oh no, its effective weapon skill is reduced to 60") in small amounts this is ok.  I mean, I recently (based on a post by professor_kylan) ran a Hierophant v. Oreseeker combat by myself, and the biotitan ended up with 27 fatigue and was still trogging away, slicing the oreseeker in half and blowing it up because its toughness bonus was nothing short of ridiculous.  Admittedly it could barely move and one of its arms wasn't working, but hey.  

So in brief, luck.  

[bogi_khaosa 267]

TechVoid said:

But I must confess that this a bit too simplified for my taste (like the horde ruling). I mean, c'mon, John the Guardsman shoots with his laspistol at a hive tyrant and comes up with a 10 on the damage roll. This can lead to the fact, that the hive tyrant is fatigued after the hit? You are not serious…

Cheers,

--TechVoid.

That's not how it works. You have to do at least 1 Wound to trigger the 1d5 Critical roll, so John isn't doing much of anything.

[TechVoid 1]

bogi_khaosa said:

 

That's not how it works. You have to do at least 1 Wound to trigger the 1d5 Critical roll, so John isn't doing much of anything.

Okay,

that makes sense! Thanks.

Cheers,

-- TechVoid.

[Nathiel 0]

Two things worth noting: it's the effect of the 1d5 crit. not actual critical damage. this means it does not add up or get modified by things that change critical damage like True Grit.

Also they did add that if you wouldn't damage with the 10 rolled then you do one actual point of damage. So the guy with a las pistol has a chance of doing one single point of damage and getting eaten for his trouble.

[TechVoid 1]

1st

Yes, of course.

That is how I originally planed to to it.

2nd

Nice. That's the grim darkness of the far future … but looking at several sci-fi action movies, this last point of damage is eventually the one needed to bring the beast down.

 

Cheers,

--TechVoid.