Combat: Shock and Stunning rules question

[wat3rm0le]

I'm still new to GURPS and I was reading the section on Injuries, Illness, and Fatigue. I came across a perplexing contradiction, in my mind, and I was hoping for some clarification.

I searched the forums but was unable to find any reference to it. I'll apologize now if this has been treated else where.

Under Knockdown and Stunning B420, "Whenever you suffer a major wound, and whenever you are struck in the head (skull, face, or eye) or vitals for enough injury to cause a shock penalty (See Shock, p.419), you must make an immediate HT roll to avoid knock down and stunning" (emphasis mine)

My question is, doesn't a player always suffer shock after any injury?

Under Shock B419 "Whenever you suffer injury, reduce your DX and IQ by the number of HP you lost - to a maximum penalty of -4, regardless of your injuries - on your next turn only. This effect, called 'shock' is temporary"

Doesn't the wording "for enough injury to cause a shock penalty" imply that a character could be injured and not be shocked?

This is probably just me catching up to the the party, so thank you for your help clarifying!

[martin_rook]

Offhand, without consulting my books, I'd say that's there because sometimes an attack will cause 0 points of injury but still have other effects. Also, if memory serves, characters with very high amounts of hit points don't take shock penalties for each single point of injury (say, a dragon with 30HP suffers a -1shock penalty for every 3 points of injury, I believe).

[Nereidalbel]

Starting at 20 HP, every multiple of 10 increases the minimum injury to cause Shock penalties. At 20 HP, it takes a minimum of 2 injury to cause -1, 3 injury at 30, etc.

[johndallman]

It is possible to take "injuries" that don't amount to a hit point (e.g., most cat scratches) and thus don't cause a shock penalty.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by Nereidalbel

Starting at 20 HP, every multiple of 10 increases the minimum injury to cause Shock penalties. At 20 HP, it takes a minimum of 2 injury to cause -1, 3 injury at 30, etc.

Originally Posted by johndallman

It is possible to take "injuries" that don't amount to a hit point (e.g., most cat scratches) and thus don't cause a shock penalty.

Also, characters with High Pain Threshold don't generally suffer shock penalties.

[Nereidalbel]

Originally Posted by Bruno

Also, characters with High Pain Threshold don't generally suffer shock penalties.

Well, they NEVER take shock penalties, actually.

[corwyn]

Originally Posted by Bruno

Also, characters with High Pain Threshold don't generally suffer shock penalties.

I still don't think HPT makes you immune to that HT roll; you still get +3 to the roll, though.

[Nereidalbel]

Originally Posted by corwyn

I still don't think HPT makes you immune to that HT roll; you still get +3 to the roll, though.

It quite clearly makes you immune to shock. +3 to the HT roll for being hit in the head, but still immune to shock.

Originally Posted by B59

You never suffer a shock penalty when you are injured.

[corwyn]

Originally Posted by Nereidalbel

It quite clearly makes you immune to shock. +3 to the HT roll for being hit in the head, but still immune to shock.

Well, I nefer said that it didn't. Just pointing out that, AFAIK, being immune to the shock does not make you immune to the stunning effect of the head hit. Some could interpret "enough injury to cause shock" as not being affected if they take no shock penalty due to HPT. Bruno, in fact, seemed to be implying it.

[wat3rm0le]

Thanks @corwyn, @Nereidalbel, @Bruno, @johndallman, and @martin_rook

for help grokking GURPS.