Called Shots
Remember, players can make called shots against their targets’ anatomy, in exchange for having to roll against a higher defense stat and lowered crit range.
- The player has a crit range of +2 (crit on a d20 attack roll of 18-20), and their target’s AC is 14. They choose to go for the Head (+4). The AC is now 18, and their crit range is now -2 (minimum 20 meaning they’re back to crits only on nat 20s).
If the part has hit points of its own, it can also be grappled, but the target can add that anatomy’s bonus to the grapple check. If these hit points are depleted, the part is destroyed and any leftover damage spills over to the target’s overall hit points.
If they want to target any Secret anatomy, they need to successfully Discern or Scrutinize their target (beat their target’s DC) first before they can learn of and target it. Remember, the ability to make a called shot on one target does not carry over to the next, but they can to discern their targets before starting a strife…
A list of common anatomy. Note that this is by no means comprehensive.
Head (+4): Attacks against the head deal 50% bonus damage.
Wings (+4): Creatures with wings lose flight for 1 round if their wings are hit or grappled.
- Alternately, it may have hit points and permanently remove flight from the target if destroyed, such as the wolf-chancellor’s jetpack.
Arm (+2): If the target is grappling someone with this arm when it is damaged, the grappler must immediately make a grappling check against the attack roll to maintain it, otherwise the grapple is released. If the target isn’t grappling anyone, they have disadvantage to attempt a grapple for 1 round.
- Some creatures, like the basilisk, have a Tail that serves the same purpose.
- And others, like the landshark, have Jaws for the same purpose.
Leg (+2): Attacks against the leg that inflict any effect besides damage also inflict Cripple (10) for 1 round. Since Cripple stacks with itself, a crippling strike against the legs can seriously slow someone.
- Some creatures, like basilisks, have four or more legs. In these cases, at least half the target’s legs must be targeted and affected.
Tool (+2 to +6): Some creatures, like carapacians, carry around weapons, shields, psionic focii, or other types of tools. These have hit points, so they can be destroyed or grappled. Additionally, forced movement effects knock tools out of their wielder’s hands for the given distance.
Psi Core (Secret) (+2): Attacks against the psi core do 50% bonus damage, just like headshots, and are easier to pull off, but only psionic attacks can target them. Typically, only psionic creatures will have them.
Artery (Secret) (+4): This represents what it sounds like. The DC for spotting this is higher than normal, and it has hit points. If this is destroyed, the target gains a permanent DoT that can only be removed by being psionically healed or two Medicine checks.
- This also represents fuel lines on many mechanical carapacian constructs. In this case, swap out healing and Medicine with repairs and Engineering.
- Developer’s Note (10/29/2020): Or specify psionic healing and swap Medicine with Occult for psionic creatures. This variant isn’t in the bestiary as of this writing, but the possibility exists, if your SM is of that bent.
Opening (Secret) (+0): This represents some weakness within the creature’s strife techniques that you use against them. Attacks against this have +2 to hit.
Shatterpoint (Secret) (+0): This represents some weak, brittle spot on a creature, and is no harder to hit than a normal, uncalled attack. Attacks against this part have +2 crit range, and critical hits Daze the target for 1 round.
Vitals (Secret) (+2): This represents some soft, vulnerable part of a creature. It can be grappled, despite not having hit points, and creatures whose vitals are damaged or grappled are Dazed for 1 round or as long as the grapple lasts.
Tools (Secret) (+2 to +6): No different than their more visible counterparts above, though psionic focii tend to be more secret than not.