Falling down stairs?

[alaph]

How would this be modeled?

Say the fall is down 5 meters of stairs at a 45 degree angle. And the stairs are concrete. And the faller slips resulting in a fall on the butt, back, and possibly head (would you include random location rolls with a limited set of applicable limbs?).

How many chances to stop falling should he get?

Was thinking about this outside my apartment complex :)

[JMD]

I would have them hit a random body part every second using the collisions table with increasing velocity based on the distance fell and a 45 degree angle.

If they make a dx or acrobatics (one per second) I would allow them to choose their body part that will be hit.

if there is a railing or similar object to grab, I would let them attempt to grab it every second.

if they have some means of stopping besides grabbing something, I'd have them roll that skill (nothing comes to mind though.)

I would also allow them to roll acro/dex to right themselves, and then jump off the stairs.

[Ragitsu]

Would hitting the edge of a step be worse than a flat side?

[JMD]

Originally Posted by Ragitsu

Would hitting the edge of a step be worse than a flat side?

That is factored in by the randomness of the die roll for damage.

[Ragitsu]

Originally Posted by JMD

That is factored in by the randomness of the die roll for damage.

But, I mean, would it?

[JMD]

Originally Posted by Ragitsu

But, I mean, would it?

If I didn't think so I wouldn't have said that. So I guess I'm missing the point of your reply.

[lexington]

Originally Posted by Ragitsu

Would hitting the edge of a step be worse than a flat side?

Yes. The same force in concentrated in a smaller area.

[Ragitsu]

Originally Posted by lexington

Yes. The same force in concentrated in a smaller area.

I imagine metallic/sharper edges MIGHT do cutting.

[vierasmarius]

Originally Posted by Ragitsu

I imagine metallic/sharper edges MIGHT do cutting.

I think that, if you fall down metal stairs with a sharp edge, it might do an extra point or two of damage overall... but there just isn't the concentrated effect to justify actual cutting damage.

[PK]

Originally Posted by Ragitsu

I imagine metallic/sharper edges MIGHT do cutting.

Unless they were literally sharpened, I wouldn't think so. Think of them as Blunt Claws -- extra damage due to being "edged and hard", but not enough to change it to cutting damage. I'd say that, compared to wooden stairs, your typical industrial/metal stairs would do +1/die of damage. (Not that we've established exactly how one should calculate "falling down stair damage", of course. I'm mulling it over...)