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Old 11-15-2009, 02:31 AM   #1
Phil C.
 
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Default Elbow Strike to the Foot

What's the deal on melee/unarmed hit locations resulting in the foot? I don't see how a guy can use an Elbow Strike and accidentally hit someone's foot...
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Old 11-15-2009, 02:56 AM   #2
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Default Re: Elbow Strike to the Foot

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Originally Posted by Phil C. View Post
What's the deal on melee/unarmed hit locations resulting in the foot? I don't see how a guy can use an Elbow Strike and accidentally hit someone's foot...
Martial Arts specifically addresses situations like this, but it was considered too fiddly for the basic set to have different random hit location tables for different types of combat/length of weapons.
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Old 11-15-2009, 03:06 AM   #3
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Default Re: Elbow Strike to the Foot

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Originally Posted by Crakkerjakk View Post
Martial Arts specifically addresses situations like this, but it was considered too fiddly for the basic set to have different random hit location tables for different types of combat/length of weapons.
I suppose I could just re-roll the hit location if it doesn't make sense.
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Old 11-15-2009, 03:20 AM   #4
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Default Re: Elbow Strike to the Foot

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Originally Posted by Phil C. View Post
I suppose I could just re-roll the hit location if it doesn't make sense.
Alternatively, don't roll hit locations randomly. Target them or don't. *shrug*
I just leave the random hit table for times when you really can't choose the target.
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Old 11-15-2009, 06:44 AM   #5
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Default Re: Elbow Strike to the Foot

Also keep in mind, in the chaos of life and death combat, there's no reason to assume that foot is on the ground at the time it was hit.
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Old 11-16-2009, 10:17 AM   #6
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Default Re: Elbow Strike to the Foot

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Also keep in mind, in the chaos of life and death combat, there's no reason to assume that foot is on the ground at the time it was hit.
Yeah, don't overlook this. You can easily hammer-fist a foot when someone is running and his foot is off the ground, and flexible person really can drop and punch the foot that easy. It's probably best to roll these ifs, ands, buts, and maybes into the -4 to strike the foot. For minimally trained-to-average fighters (skill 10-12), this is the same as unworkable. You'd have to be fairly remarkable to begin with to absorb a -4.
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Old 11-16-2009, 02:45 PM   #7
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Default Re: Elbow Strike to the Foot

Could explain it as the opponent attempting a round or crescent kick. interrupted by the elbow.
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Old 11-16-2009, 02:58 PM   #8
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Could explain it as the opponent attempting a round or crescent kick. interrupted by the elbow.
IF the opponent kicks.
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Old 11-16-2009, 03:06 PM   #9
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Default Re: Elbow Strike to the Foot

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IF the opponent kicks.
And that should really be a parry or stop hit.
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Old 11-16-2009, 03:15 PM   #10
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Default Re: Elbow Strike to the Foot

Even a fighter who isn't kicking is assumed to be engaging in constant fakes and footwork to justify his dodge defense. This detail is subsumed into stance, grip, etc. as Martial Arts explains – it isn't explicit. Thus, the defender might well be grabbing a little air to avoid what looks like a low shot, raising a foot to jam an anticipated kick, or simply running and bringing up his feet. The attacker might be in a low stance because he avoided a high shot on the defense, or because he wants a firm base for a power shot or to avoid a takedown. And at skill 14+, where upper-body strikes to the foot become plausible without going All-Out or Telegraphic, you have DX 14 and thus phenomenal flexibility; skill at DX+4 or more and thus notable training; or something in between . . . You might actually be good enough to land a low shot on a standing foe. I've seen fighters who could do this, practically doing the splits and recovering in under a second.

I think that it's fair to use the fussy posture-specific rules in Martial Arts, but while they add realism for static fighters posed in those postures, you can come up with plenty of situations where there ought to be exceptions to the optional rules. As I said, it's often simpler just to use the hit location modifiers and be done.
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