12-22-2017, 08:57 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Feb 2016
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Using Cinematic Weapons in Realistic Campaigns
I was wondering what people would do if a PC attempted to build and use a cinematic weapons (like sword-chuks or whip-blades) in a realistic campaign? I am thinking that I would let them use it, but normal failures with a cinematic weapons would be treated as critical failures with realistic weapons and critical failures with cinematic weapons would automatically deal maximum damage to a random body part as the user loses control of the weapon in a potentially lethal fashion. What do you think, would you allow insane PCs to make and use sword-chucks or whip-blades in a realistic campaign?
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12-22-2017, 09:14 PM | #2 |
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: On the road again...
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Re: Using Cinematic Weapons in Realistic Campaigns
IME, most such weapons would normally have built-in skill or parry penalties, which in cinematic games could be bought off with the Exotic Weapons Training perk. In a realistic game, that perk would essentially be unavailable.
I'd only make "all failures are critical failures" part of an uber-gritty GRIMDARK! setting.
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12-22-2017, 09:50 PM | #3 |
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: Using Cinematic Weapons in Realistic Campaigns
Yeah, just the normal rules for exotic weapons and the fact that realistic stats for a lot of these things are going to suck should be enough.
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12-22-2017, 09:52 PM | #4 |
Join Date: Mar 2013
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Re: Using Cinematic Weapons in Realistic Campaigns
Hit penalties with unwieldy weapons, Parry 0U and critical failures with silly weapons are more likely to injure the user. That seems fair.
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12-22-2017, 10:30 PM | #5 |
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: Using Cinematic Weapons in Realistic Campaigns
"All failures are crits" is likely to feel cartoonish with anything short of flaming chainsaw chucks.
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12-22-2017, 10:44 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: Jun 2006
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Re: Using Cinematic Weapons in Realistic Campaigns
Quote:
Most cinematic weapons will "work" in reality - as an improvised club. The thing that makes them cinematic is often that the damage somehow outperforms that. Reduce it to appropriate crushing damage for their weight and assign a small skill penalty to Axe/Mace skill to use them and you're good. Just don't let the fact that it has a sharp edge or point fool you into automatically thinking it inflicts extra damage or counts as cutting or impaling.
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12-22-2017, 11:55 PM | #7 |
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Ronneby, Sweden
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Re: Using Cinematic Weapons in Realistic Campaigns
Does "sword-chucks" even qualify as a cinematic weapon? Googling seems to mostly produce jokes...
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12-23-2017, 02:10 AM | #8 |
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: On the road again...
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Re: Using Cinematic Weapons in Realistic Campaigns
I think we can blame the 8-Bit Theatre webcomic for popularizing them (Red Mage: "Wait. HOW many swords is he [Fighter] wielding?"). That's definitely a cinematic if not over-the-top setting, so of course most hits are going to be from there or inspired by it.
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"Life ... is an Oreo cookie." - J'onn J'onzz, 1991 "But mom, I don't wanna go back in the dungeon!" The GURPS Marvel Universe Reboot Project A-G, H-R, and S-Z, and its not-a-wiki-really web adaptation. Ranoc, a Muskets-and-Magery Renaissance Fantasy Setting |
12-23-2017, 05:37 AM | #9 |
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Eindhoven, the Netherlands
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Re: Using Cinematic Weapons in Realistic Campaigns
I've noticed a trend at SJGames to move away from using the term "silly" to mean "absolutely not feasible" to "cinematic." The reason being that there's a lot of "serious" weapons or moves or campaign styles that are also absolutely ridiculous. Many weapons from the Final Fantasy series spring to mind, as well as Darth Maul's lightsaber, but if you call them "silly," then fans of the series become offended. On the other hand, if you call sword-chucks "cinematic, then 8-bit theater fans don't get up in arms, so the latter is becoming the de facto term.
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12-23-2017, 08:43 AM | #10 |
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Ronneby, Sweden
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Re: Using Cinematic Weapons in Realistic Campaigns
Ok, I guess I would use "parody" for a weapon that only appear in a parody comic. Once a weapon has appeared in many or one rather large "serious" work I would use cinematic. So weapons from a Final Fantasy game could qualify as the franchise is both quite large and tend to be oh so very earnest. But that's just me. :)
Out of curiosity, how does sword chucks work visually? It doesn't seem like it would be very much like a nunchakus unless you plan to hold on to a sharp bit. |
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