Quote:
Originally Posted by Kalzazz
Varyon (or others), would you mind discussing the merits (or not) of tip slashes vs limbs or homogenous foes like golems?
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With a weapon designed for a Tip Slash (Short Spear or Heavy Spear), it's almost always a good idea to go for a tip slash if attacking limbs or foes with Unliving or Homogenous, as the -1 to damage is typically worth the x1.5 WM. With other weapons, that -2 to damage is a bigger hit, and may not be worth the x1.5. Once armor comes into play, you need to seriously weigh your options - those damage penalties mean you're less likely to penetrate in the first place, and 1 or 2 damage with a x1 WM is better than 0 damage with a x1.5 WM. If using the optional edge protection rules from
Low Tech, tip slash is almost
never a good idea against armor - you're quite unlikely to reach double DR (needed to get cutting rather than crushing damage), so you're better off getting the extra damage (and bleeding, if appropriate) from your impaling attack than using tip slash and hoping you roll high enough to fully get through armor.
In general, an average penetrating damage of 3.5 means a -1 to damage for x1.5 WM is
just barely worth it - average injury goes from 3.5 to 3.75, minimum goes from 1 to 0, maximum goes from 6 to 7 (well, 7.5, but you always have to round down). You need average penetrating damage of around 6 before the -2 isn't a horrible deal - average injury stays at 6, minimum drops from 1 to 0, and maximum goes from 13 to 16 (16.5). Note here I'm assuming 1d after armor for 3.5, 2d-1 after armor for 6, and at least DR 1; if no DR is involved, minimum injury is 1 either way.