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Old 08-21-2012, 08:04 PM   #2
vierasmarius
 
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Oregon
Default Re: Hit location miss by 1

I think this was done for balance reasons rather than realism. For example, the Jaw is -6 to hit, compared to the Face at -5. The only difference between the two is that the Jaw gives an extra -1 to knockdown rolls from crushing attacks. If a miss by 1 hit the Face instead of the Torso, there would never be a reason to aim for the Face instead of the Jaw with blunt instruments or unarmed attacks. The Ear and Nose have a slightly larger penalty (-7) but a greater effect on a hit, so again for balance a miss by 1 hits the Torso to prevent them from being over-targeted.

The joints and veins/arteries are apparently difficult enough to hit on their own (-3 relative to the limb or extremity) that it's acceptable to have a miss by 1 hit the parent limb rather than the torso.
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