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From:	Robert Watkins robert.watkins@******.com
Subject:	Called Shots (Was Re:SR3 movement PROBLEM (and initiative rant))
Date:	Wed, 16 Jun 1999 09:28:30 +1000

Message no. 1 The point people are missing about called shots in SR is that you don't
actually call the location. You don't do a called shot to the head, as such,
you just do a called shot.

All a called shot is is an attempt to hit a vulnerable area. For the former,
you increase the power level of the attack, representing the greater damage
done, but decreasing the chances of getting extra success (which sort of
defeats the point, if you ask me, but hey...).

The damage system in SR does not use hit locations, and as a result, armour
is averaged out over the whole body. Take the example of a helmet: it only
adds one or two (depending on type) points of armour protection, but that's
because of the size of the helmet. If it was solely protecting something the
size of a head, it would be adding more like 6 to 7 points of armour.

In addition to that, SR does not make the difficulty increase dependant on
the size of the target, which is what a true called shot mechanism would
use. If you allow called shots "to the head", you might as well allow called
shots to the left pinkie finger as well. Inflict the death by 1000 cuts via
a heavy pistol. :)

--
.sig deleted to conserve electrons. robert.watkins@******.com

From:	Sean McGrath nafien@*******.com
Subject:	Called Shots (Was Re:SR3 movement PROBLEM (and initiative rant))
Date:	Sat, 19 Jun 1999 16:54:53 +1000

Message no. 2 ----------
> From: Robert Watkins <robert.watkins@******.com>
> To: shadowrn@*********.org

> The point people are missing about called shots in SR is that you don't
> actually call the location. You don't do a called shot to the head, as
such,
> you just do a called shot.
>
> All a called shot is is an attempt to hit a vulnerable area.

I would consider an un-armoured head a "vulnerable target", especially
considering that a lot of adversaries characters face are wearing full body
cover ie. Lined Coat, Armored Clothing.

> For the former,
> you increase the power level of the attack, representing the greater
damage
> done, but decreasing the chances of getting extra success (which sort of
> defeats the point, if you ask me, but hey...).

Especially in SR3 with dodging rules. I recently had a character get very
near death because he insists on making called shots to heads. His target
dodged his single success then returned fire, twice, with a combat shotgun.
Net result D +3 in the overflow.

> The damage system in SR does not use hit locations, and as a result,
armour
> is averaged out over the whole body. Take the example of a helmet: it
only
> adds one or two (depending on type) points of armour protection, but
that's
> because of the size of the helmet. If it was solely protecting something
the
> size of a head, it would be adding more like 6 to 7 points of armour.

I'd say 7; that being the ballistic rating for heavy security armour.

However after taking a look at the BBB again I see your point.
The rule as written does state "vulnerable portion" and, yes, SR has no hit
location system, but I think it is pretty much a given by most groups that
aiming for specific body areas is a allowed. And more specifically; that
aiming for say, heads, allows you avoid the targets armour completely. I'm
not saying that I'm right, in fact this isn't at all supported by the
rules. However, I just assumed that most people interpreted things that
way.

I recall that there are rules for aiming for specific targets on VEHICLES
(weapons, tires, antennae, etc.) but I can't remember where and I'm just
too tired to go looking.

> --
> .sig deleted to conserve electrons. robert.watkins@******.com

- Sean

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