[DF] Shallow Stake Pits Damage

[Dragondog]

In DF2 page 12, it says that Shallow Stake Pits does "thrust impaling damage based on victim’s ST." Should it really be based on the victim's ST? And what is the justification for that?

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by Dragondog

In DF2 page 12, it says that Shallow Stake Pits does "thrust impaling damage based on victim’s ST." Should it really be based on the victim's ST? And what is the justification for that?

The theory on most traps like this is how much it hurts is a function of how hard you drive yourself into it. You could use the victim's mass (and speed in some cases, though for a stake you are just bringing your weight down onto it) instead. But GURPS usually abstracts mass to HP, so for normal animals, where ST and HP will be fairly proportional it wouldn't make much difference.

[Bruno]

Slam damage is based on Strength too, as a proxy for mass. It's a consistency thing.