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Message no. 1
From: Brother Equine <equine@********.NET>
Subject: Up Close And Personal
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 1995 14:53:00 CDT
I ran into a situation last night while running a game. The players where=

in a ditch fighting someone when another baddie came up to the side of the=

ditch and fired at them. He was then shot for a moderate wound. When it
was the baddies turn again he fell in the ditch (BOTCHED ROLL). The sammie=

of the group kicked his gun away and put HIS gun to the baddies head and
pulled the trigger. Should I have given the baddie a chance to move or
something or since it was not his phase then he was shot point blank in the=

head? Should the player even roll for something like that or could you just=

say "His brains and skull explode out the back of his head."???? Scenerios=

like this have happened a few times to me and it just does not seem fair to=

the baddies. Especially when they have a better Reaction than the player
shooting them.

Ed
Message no. 2
From: Jani Fikouras <feanor@**********.UNI-BREMEN.DE>
Subject: Re: Up Close And Personal
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 1995 17:40:53 +0200
> I ran into a situation last night while running a game. The players where
> in a ditch fighting someone when another baddie came up to the side of the
> ditch and fired at them. He was then shot for a moderate wound. When it
> was the baddies turn again he fell in the ditch (BOTCHED ROLL). The sammie
> of the group kicked his gun away and put HIS gun to the baddies head and
> pulled the trigger. Should I have given the baddie a chance to move or
> something or since it was not his phase then he was shot point blank in the
> head? Should the player even roll for something like that or could you just
> say "His brains and skull explode out the back of his head."???? Scenerios
> like this have happened a few times to me and it just does not seem fair to
> the baddies. Especially when they have a better Reaction than the player
> shooting them.

I'd say that this requires an unarmed combat test (puting the muzzle
to the targets forehead) and one can always react to such an attack.

--
"Believe in Angels." -- The Crow

GCS d H s+: !g p1 !au a- w+ v-(?) C++++ UA++S++L+>++++ L+>+++ E--- N++ W(+)(---)
M-- !V(--) -po+(---) Y+ t++ 5++ R+++ tv b++ e+ u++(-) h*(+) f+ r- n!(-) y?
Message no. 3
From: Brother Equine <equine@********.NET>
Subject: Re: Up Close And Personal
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 1995 10:32:00 CDT
<Snipped the stuff about my game>

>
> I'd say that this requires an unarmed combat test (puting the muzzle
>to the targets forehead) and one can always react to such an attack.
>
>
Ok thank you. That is what I thought but one of the players said if it was=

the sammies turn then he should be able to just shoot. Now I know...and
knowing is half the battle. Or so they tell me after every GI JOE episode. =

Thanks again.

ED
Message no. 4
From: Riffs <rivchin@****.RUTGERS.EDU>
Subject: Re: Up Close And Personal
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 1995 14:47:30 EDT
>Should the player even roll for something like that or could you just
>say "His brain and skull explode out the back of his head."????

I would say that it is totally up to you as a GM. If the charcter being
shot in the head is inconsequential and it would speed up the combat, then
let him be shot in the head. He did mess up and fall in the trench after
all. On the other hand, if the character is important to the overall story
and you don't really want to see him go out in such a manner, then let him
make a reaction roll or something to avoid the shot. Without considering
the rules too much, just think about the combat in the larger scheme of
the run.


----------riffs "Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
"I think so, Brain, but me and Pipi
Longstockings? I mean, what would the
children look like?"
Message no. 5
From: Paul Jonathan Adam <Paul@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: Up Close And Personal
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 1995 18:57:54 GMT
> The sammie
> of the group kicked his gun away and put HIS gun to the baddies head and
> pulled the trigger. Should I have given the baddie a chance to move or
> something or since it was not his phase then he was shot point blank in the
> head? Should the player even roll for something like that or could you just
> say "His brains and skull explode out the back of his head."???? Scenerios
> like this have happened a few times to me and it just does not seem fair to
> the baddies. Especially when they have a better Reaction than the player
> shooting them.

I'd say getting close enough to put the gun to his head means he was within
one metre. SR2 Page 83: Interception. So your NPC could have had a free melee
combat attack, which could mean much or nothing.

If they get really gung ho about executing people like this, roll dice behind
your screen, cackle, and describe the dreadful metallic crunch as the player
pulls his trigger and the mainspring breaks, making the gun useless. And the
NPC reaches behind him and brings out his backup Savalette Guardian...

Okay, GM manipulation, but so what? Once in a while, that sort of cold-blooded
murder is good roleplaying. If it happens every other session, the characters
are asking for someone to return the compliment: the NPC could have been kicked
unconscious or otherwise subdued, they didn't have to be executed, and word
gets around. But that's just the way I run my game... :-)

--
When you have shot and killed a man, you have defined your attitude towards
him. You have offered a definite answer to a definite problem. For better or
for worse, you have acted decisively.
In fact, the next move is up to him.

Paul J. Adam paul@********.demon.co.uk
Message no. 6
From: Damion Milliken <adm82@***.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Up Close And Personal
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 1995 22:38:13 +1000
Brother Equine writes:

> The sammie of the group kicked his gun away and put HIS gun to the baddies
> head and pulled the trigger. Should I have given the baddie a chance to move
> or something or since it was not his phase then he was shot point blank in
> the head? Should the player even roll for something like that or could you
> just say "His brains and skull explode out the back of his head."????
> Scenerios like this have happened a few times to me and it just does not
> seem fair to the baddies. Especially when they have a better Reaction than
> the player shooting them.

I'd simply say that it couldn't be done. SR combatatants do not simply stand
there and trade shots. They _move_. It's not a case of "I shoot him", then
"he shoots me". It's duck, weave, pop up and fire, launch yourself to the
left dodging, and so on. The poor sod who fell in the pit was not going to
be lying there limply (unless he was KO'd). He'd be squirming and attempting
to get up. You do not magically freeze while it is not your go. It is not
likely that one combatant will be able to get a gun to another's head. That
is why there are no "point blank" shooting rules. Because even at point
blank, both party's are not going to be still enough to recieve any bonuses
(other than the fact that you are at short range). OTOH, if it is a surpise
situation, then I'd probably allow it. But if the guy who's brains were going
to get splattered knew about the attack, then the attacker would need to
subdue him first before he could point blank shoot him in the head. If he
didn't first subdue his victim, then he'd be required to take the +4 called
shot modifer for shooting at a particular location. Even then, the target
would get a Body test (head shots aren't always fatal, just mostly so :-)).

--
Damion Milliken Unofficial Shadowrun Guru E-mail: adm82@***.edu.au

(GEEK CODE 2.1) GE -d+@ H s++:-- !g p0 !au a19 w+ v(?) C++ US++>+++ P+ L !3
E? N K- W M@ !V po@ Y+ t+ 5 !j R+(++) G(+)('''') !tv(--@)
b++ D B? e+$ u@ h* f+ !r n----(--)@ !y+

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