Grapple SM question

[MagiMaster]

Rereading Large Area Injury (B400), it doesn't mention whether or not this changes the attack roll for the attacker in any way (other than disallowing targeted attacks). Wouldn't you get some kind of bonus if you're aiming for something bigger than Torso? Would you just treat it as attacking their hex? Also, would the defender have to defend as if it were an area attack?

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by MagiMaster

Rereading Large Area Injury (B400), it doesn't mention whether or not this changes the attack roll for the attacker in any way (other than disallowing targeted attacks). Wouldn't you get some kind of bonus if you're aiming for something bigger than Torso? Would you just treat it as attacking their hex? Also, would the defender have to defend as if it were an area attack?

It would be the same as attacking an area of a size equal to weapon size (or bullet / explosion size for ranged attacks).

[MagiMaster]

So what would the bonus or penalty on that be?

Also, thinking about a flyswatter, is it just allowing you to avoid the pulling-your-punches-to-not-hurt-your-hand-against-the-wall penalty, or is it offering some bonus or enabling some maneuver?

[RyanW]

Originally Posted by jacobmuller

Oh, so you only count weapon size relative to the target if the attacker is SM+7 larger?

Honestly, I don't know the RAW, but the simplest way is to figure the SM of the striking surface of the attack (a slapping palm is about SM -7, a flyswatter is SM -6 or so) and always use the greater of the target and weapon size modifier.

[MagiMaster]

That sounds like a reasonable compromise, and not too hard to keep up with either. (So it'd be attack with the maximum of [relative sm] or [absolute weapon sm]. The absolute part still sounds a little funny, but it's probably fine.)

I'm not sure most flyswatters are a full +1 SM over a palm though.

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by MagiMaster

That sounds like a reasonable compromise, and not too hard to keep up with either. (So it'd be attack with the maximum of [relative sm] or [absolute weapon sm]. The absolute part still sounds a little funny, but it's probably fine.)

Relative SM of weapon, not absolute.

Originally Posted by MagiMaster

I'm not sure most flyswatters are a full +1 SM over a palm though.

Yeah, I'd agree with that.

A perforated flyswatter probably also gives flies a penalty to Dodge because it's harder for their airflow senses to detect.

[MagiMaster]

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

Relative SM of weapon, not absolute.

Wouldn't the relative SM of the weapon always be greater than the relative SM of the person?

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

Yeah, I'd agree with that.

A perforated flyswatter probably also gives flies a penalty to Dodge because it's harder for their airflow senses to detect.

That makes sense. I think flies would have a pretty good dodge.

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by MagiMaster

Wouldn't the relative SM of the weapon always be greater than the relative SM of the person?

Most of the time, you attack people with weapons with striking surfaces smaller than their entire body, not larger.