Let's talk about DAMAGE!

[Supplement Four]

CT is nothing if not deadly.

Cinematic Action Hero versus the hordes it ain't

[/QB]

I'm not going to do it, but a thought: A GM *could* keep the First Blood rule as written, but then hype up armor protection where armor would do a much better job of protecting you than it does in CT. Then, fire combat would remain deadly and realistic, yet you could still have some exciting fire fights--but just don't get caught without your armor!

(and don't get hit in the hand..or the foot..or, God forbid, the head...)

 

[Supplement Four]

CT is nothing if not deadly.

Cinematic Action Hero versus the hordes it ain't

[/QB]

I'm not going to do it, but a thought: A GM *could* keep the First Blood rule as written, but then hype up armor protection where armor would do a much better job of protecting you than it does in CT. Then, fire combat would remain deadly and realistic, yet you could still have some exciting fire fights--but just don't get caught without your armor!

(and don't get hit in the hand..or the foot..or, God forbid, the head...)

 

[mike wightman]

Originally posted by WJP:
Like this. As a matter of fact, I'm copying this right now and saving it for my notes.

Good stuff.

It comes from the CT+ combat section:

http://www.travellerrpg.com/cgi-bin/Trav/CotI/Discuss/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=000318;p=11

CT+ being a project a lot of us worked up on these boards last summer.

 

[mike wightman]

Originally posted by WJP:
Like this. As a matter of fact, I'm copying this right now and saving it for my notes.

Good stuff.

It comes from the CT+ combat section:

http://www.travellerrpg.com/cgi-bin/Trav/CotI/Discuss/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=000318;p=11

CT+ being a project a lot of us worked up on these boards last summer.

 

[Border Reiver]

by Sigg Oddra:

Damage is applied to the physical characteristics of the wounded party, with the controlling player deciding how the points are allocated.

Strength - damage to muscle
Dexterity - damage to sensory and nervous system
Endurance - organ damage, blood loss


An exceptional success cause all damage to a single characteristic, determined randomly (the old first blood rule). This represents the massive trauma that can occur if something vital is hit:

Strength - bone hit
Dexterity - head/spine hit
Endurance - major organ punctured/nicked artery

I'm definitely going to look more at the CT plus threads. This is the same way we dealt with damage in the good old CT days but I don't think we came up with it ourselves. There must have been some cross pollination from somewhere. The brain damage is inspirational. I've encountered a resurgent interest in CT and this may be the way to go.

 

[Border Reiver]

by Sigg Oddra:

Damage is applied to the physical characteristics of the wounded party, with the controlling player deciding how the points are allocated.

Strength - damage to muscle
Dexterity - damage to sensory and nervous system
Endurance - organ damage, blood loss


An exceptional success cause all damage to a single characteristic, determined randomly (the old first blood rule). This represents the massive trauma that can occur if something vital is hit:

Strength - bone hit
Dexterity - head/spine hit
Endurance - major organ punctured/nicked artery

I'm definitely going to look more at the CT plus threads. This is the same way we dealt with damage in the good old CT days but I don't think we came up with it ourselves. There must have been some cross pollination from somewhere. The brain damage is inspirational. I've encountered a resurgent interest in CT and this may be the way to go.

 

[mike wightman]

It's adapted from something in a Traveller's Digest IIRC.

 

[mike wightman]

It's adapted from something in a Traveller's Digest IIRC.

 

[Spinward Scout]

I personally think that the first blood rule is unrealistic and far too deadly.

So's real life combat...

If you get shot in the chest, you're in critical condition - and most likely have what's called a Sucking Chest Wound.

It sucks, so I've been told.

Once your lung collapses, you're on a countdown. That countdown is how long it takes for your body to run out of oxygen.

Now if you don't get medical attention...

On the other hand, if that chest wound hits your heart, you're probably done before you can get to a hospital.

A head wound that penetrates the skull, well, if you don't end up dead, you're a vegetable.

I hear stomach wounds are kinda nasty - but could take weeks to kill you.

If you get shot anywhere else, it just depends if it hits a good sized artery/vein or not.

That's just what I remember from U.S. Navy Boot Camp GunShot Wound First Aid Training.

Any head or chest wound that penetrates the bone has a pretty good chance of killing you. Everything else is a good story to tell your grandkids. They teach police to fire at center of body mass - smack dab in the middle of the chest. Any professional would do the same - unless it's a sniper (who aim for the back of the skull). It's the amatures that are unpredictable and shoot you in the foot.

I think that's why that first blood rule applies - if your don't get killed right off the bat, the person shooting at you probably sucks. hehe

Dameon

 

[Spinward Scout]

I personally think that the first blood rule is unrealistic and far too deadly.

So's real life combat...

If you get shot in the chest, you're in critical condition - and most likely have what's called a Sucking Chest Wound.

It sucks, so I've been told.

Once your lung collapses, you're on a countdown. That countdown is how long it takes for your body to run out of oxygen.

Now if you don't get medical attention...

On the other hand, if that chest wound hits your heart, you're probably done before you can get to a hospital.

A head wound that penetrates the skull, well, if you don't end up dead, you're a vegetable.

I hear stomach wounds are kinda nasty - but could take weeks to kill you.

If you get shot anywhere else, it just depends if it hits a good sized artery/vein or not.

That's just what I remember from U.S. Navy Boot Camp GunShot Wound First Aid Training.

Any head or chest wound that penetrates the bone has a pretty good chance of killing you. Everything else is a good story to tell your grandkids. They teach police to fire at center of body mass - smack dab in the middle of the chest. Any professional would do the same - unless it's a sniper (who aim for the back of the skull). It's the amatures that are unpredictable and shoot you in the foot.

I think that's why that first blood rule applies - if your don't get killed right off the bat, the person shooting at you probably sucks. hehe

Dameon

 

[mike wightman]

I have no problem with a shot placed into the vitals causing a lot of trauma, but an awful lot of gunshot victims don't drop as easily as the first blood rule makes it happen - especially the handgun related wounding statistics I've googled.

Rifle wounds, especially with the correct ammo, are a lot more deadly.

It's why I've gone for a degree of success (on your to hit task) and hit location modification to base damage.

 

[mike wightman]

I have no problem with a shot placed into the vitals causing a lot of trauma, but an awful lot of gunshot victims don't drop as easily as the first blood rule makes it happen - especially the handgun related wounding statistics I've googled.

Rifle wounds, especially with the correct ammo, are a lot more deadly.

It's why I've gone for a degree of success (on your to hit task) and hit location modification to base damage.

 

[Jame]

Originally posted by Sigg Oddra:
Rifle wounds, especially with the correct ammo, are a lot more deadly.

This is why I would increase rifle damage by 1D, which has always been my pet peeve.

 

[Jame]

Originally posted by Sigg Oddra:
Rifle wounds, especially with the correct ammo, are a lot more deadly.

This is why I would increase rifle damage by 1D, which has always been my pet peeve.

 

[mike wightman]

This article contains some interesting stuff:

http://www.firearmstactical.com/pdf/fbi-hwfe.pdf

(with thanks to Bill for originally finding it).

 

[mike wightman]

This article contains some interesting stuff:

http://www.firearmstactical.com/pdf/fbi-hwfe.pdf

(with thanks to Bill for originally finding it).

 

[mike wightman]

Originally posted by Jame:
This is why I would increase rifle damage by 1D, which has always been my pet peeve.

I tend to agree, but I'd rather lower handgun damage than increase that of rifles and carbines.

 

[mike wightman]

Originally posted by Jame:
This is why I would increase rifle damage by 1D, which has always been my pet peeve.

I tend to agree, but I'd rather lower handgun damage than increase that of rifles and carbines.

 

[Spinward Scout]

Rifle wounds, especially with the correct ammo, are a lot more deadly.

True, people can survive low calibur wounds a lot better than something a high calibur rifle would do to a body. But a shot to the heart is still a shot to the heart or a shot to the base of the skull is still going to shut down someone's autonomic nervous system no matter what calibur you are using. Higher calibur gives more damage, but aim (or lucky shooting) is what makes it deadly. Somebody threw up a hit location post the other day - I wonder if that would help with the First Blood Rule.

Dameon

 

[Spinward Scout]

Rifle wounds, especially with the correct ammo, are a lot more deadly.

True, people can survive low calibur wounds a lot better than something a high calibur rifle would do to a body. But a shot to the heart is still a shot to the heart or a shot to the base of the skull is still going to shut down someone's autonomic nervous system no matter what calibur you are using. Higher calibur gives more damage, but aim (or lucky shooting) is what makes it deadly. Somebody threw up a hit location post the other day - I wonder if that would help with the First Blood Rule.

Dameon