Hit Locations , Helmets and Monster Hit Dice

[TheMetal1]

When one of my players - new to C&C, but a long time gamer -was rolling up a character, I checked his work he had added the helmet bonus to his overall AC. The Players Handbook still has AC Value to Helmets, but in the Rules there is no mention of it. I don't allow it, as Helmets are simply cosmetic and I don't typically play with any hit-location, disappointing to the Player, but no big deal. But I've been thinking about this now and I think this is something that I'd like to incorporate.

I checked out Arms & Armor which had AC Values and %s and then the Castle Keepers Guide for ideas. So far this is what I have.

Randomly Landed Blows
Most attacks against a foe do not strike exactly where the attacker intended. Sometimes aimed at a chink in the opponent’s defenses, a strike misfires due to the opponent’s own movements or other battlefield conditions. These blows strike in seemingly random places. To determine where a such a blow strikes it is a simple matter to assign a number to a body segment, and then roll a related die for the purpose of hit location.

Table 17.7A Randomly Landed Blows: Humanoid Target (Human, Elf, Dwarf, Goblin, Kobold, Giant, Ogre, etc.) Roll 1d8

1. Head
2. Left Arm
3. Right Arm
4 - 6. Torso
7. Left Leg
8. Right Leg

My idea is to have everyone roll a d8 and d20 at the same time. If a head is hit with no helmet, then it will be an Automatic Critical. Thoughts on this? Anyone else use Helmets in game or hit location?

Last thing, I always add the Monster hit-dice to the attack roll, except for 1 HD monsters. But what about Damage - do any of you add their HD to damage? Thanks.

[Traveller]

Regarding helms, there should be a note beneath the table in the PHB that the AC bonus only applies to called shots to the head. Hit location rules, if any, are up to the CK. I personally don't use helm bonuses or called shots and feel the helms table shouldn't be in the PHB, but in the CKG as an optional rule.

I don't add HD to damage.

[Arduin]

When one of my players - new to C&C, but a long time gamer -was rolling up a character, I checked his work he had added the helmet bonus to his overall AC. The Players Handbook still has AC Value to Helmets, but in the Rules there is no mention of it.

It is an AD&D artifact. Here is the original rule from the DMG.

Helmets
It is assumed that an appropriate type of head armoring will be added to
the suit of armor in order to allow uniform protection of the wearer.
Wearing of a "great helm" odds the appropriate weight and restricts
vision to the front 60" only, but it gives the head AC 1. If a helmet is not
worn, 1 blow in 6 will strike at the AC 10 head, unless the opponent is
intelligent, in which case 1 blow in 2 will be aimed at the AC 10 head (d6,
1-3 = head blow).

[Lord Dynel]

When one of my players - new to C&C, but a long time gamer -was rolling up a character, I checked his work he had added the helmet bonus to his overall AC. The Players Handbook still has AC Value to Helmets, but in the Rules there is no mention of it. I don't allow it, as Helmets are simply cosmetic and I don't typically play with any hit-location, disappointing to the Player, but no big deal. But I've been thinking about this now and I think this is something that I'd like to incorporate.

I checked out Arms & Armor which had AC Values and %s and then the Castle Keepers Guide for ideas. So far this is what I have.

Randomly Landed Blows
Most attacks against a foe do not strike exactly where the attacker intended. Sometimes aimed at a chink in the opponent’s defenses, a strike misfires due to the opponent’s own movements or other battlefield conditions. These blows strike in seemingly random places. To determine where a such a blow strikes it is a simple matter to assign a number to a body segment, and then roll a related die for the purpose of hit location.

Table 17.7A Randomly Landed Blows: Humanoid Target (Human, Elf, Dwarf, Goblin, Kobold, Giant, Ogre, etc.) Roll 1d8

1. Head
2. Left Arm
3. Right Arm
4 - 6. Torso
7. Left Leg
8. Right Leg

My idea is to have everyone roll a d8 and d20 at the same time. If a head is hit with no helmet, then it will be an Automatic Critical. Thoughts on this? Anyone else use Helmets in game or hit location?

Last thing, I always add the Monster hit-dice to the attack roll, except for 1 HD monsters. But what about Damage - do any of you add their HD to damage? Thanks.

I do allow for called shots, but they rarely came up in my games. I follow the guidelines for Called Shots from the CKG (I don't have my books with me, so I cannot reference a page at the moment). In my games, head AC is either 10 + Dex bonus (for no helm) or 10 + helm AC + Dex bonus. That's the AC needed to hit the head.

I don't use random hit locations, like you describe, Metal. There's nothing wrong with it, per se, I just don't like the idea too much. I just assume that a normal hit is to a non-vital location (unless it is "called" to a vital spot and is successful). Any location that is affected by a hit should have special rules to hit it, and not be random. YMMV, of course.

[Ronin77]

The problem I have with hit location is that hit points are somewhat abstract. And hit location is very spacific. Usually for damage against enemies I translate the damage rolled. Low damage I say it hit a limb. Strong hit is a hit to a vital area.

I do allowed called shots though. You dont want to sneak a peek around a corner with out your dome covered.

[mbeacom]

When one of my players - new to C&C, but a long time gamer -was rolling up a character, I checked his work he had added the helmet bonus to his overall AC. The Players Handbook still has AC Value to Helmets, but in the Rules there is no mention of it. I don't allow it, as Helmets are simply cosmetic and I don't typically play with any hit-location, disappointing to the Player, but no big deal. But I've been thinking about this now and I think this is something that I'd like to incorporate.

I checked out Arms & Armor which had AC Values and %s and then the Castle Keepers Guide for ideas. So far this is what I have.

Randomly Landed Blows
Most attacks against a foe do not strike exactly where the attacker intended. Sometimes aimed at a chink in the opponent’s defenses, a strike misfires due to the opponent’s own movements or other battlefield conditions. These blows strike in seemingly random places. To determine where a such a blow strikes it is a simple matter to assign a number to a body segment, and then roll a related die for the purpose of hit location.

Table 17.7A Randomly Landed Blows: Humanoid Target (Human, Elf, Dwarf, Goblin, Kobold, Giant, Ogre, etc.) Roll 1d8

1. Head
2. Left Arm
3. Right Arm
4 - 6. Torso
7. Left Leg
8. Right Leg

My idea is to have everyone roll a d8 and d20 at the same time. If a head is hit with no helmet, then it will be an Automatic Critical. Thoughts on this? Anyone else use Helmets in game or hit location?

Last thing, I always add the Monster hit-dice to the attack roll, except for 1 HD monsters. But what about Damage - do any of you add their HD to damage? Thanks.

I do allow for called shots, but they rarely came up in my games. I follow the guidelines for Called Shots from the CKG (I don't have my books with me, so I cannot reference a page at the moment). In my games, head AC is either 10 + Dex bonus (for no helm) or 10 + helm AC + Dex bonus. That's the AC needed to hit the head.

I don't use random hit locations, like you describe, Metal. There's nothing wrong with it, per se, I just don't like the idea too much. I just assume that a normal hit is to a non-vital location (unless it is "called" to a vital spot and is successful). Any location that is affected by a hit should have special rules to hit it, and not be random. YMMV, of course.

This is pretty much how I run it as well.

[kreider204]

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