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Old 09-19-2020, 07:16 PM   #1
Ezra
 
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Default Ranged Attacks and Target Posture

Does targeting a character who is lying down only incur a penalty if the attacker wants to hit the torso, groin, or legs?

On B548, it says targets that are crouching, kneeling, sitting, or lying down impose a -2 penalty to target the torso, groin, or legs. However, the "Posture Table" on p. B551 just lists -2 to targeting, which would seem to imply a blanket -2 to hit.

Does targeting a prone character not impose a penalty for targeting "whatever target presents itself"?

Also, is there a range at which this does not apply? It seems strange a target 2 yards away would impose a -2 penalty to hit for a shot to the torso.
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Old 09-19-2020, 10:33 PM   #2
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Default Re: Ranged Attacks and Target Posture

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Originally Posted by Ezra View Post
Does targeting a character who is lying down only incur a penalty if the attacker wants to hit the torso, groin, or legs?

On B548, it says targets that are crouching, kneeling, sitting, or lying down impose a -2 penalty to target the torso, groin, or legs. However, the "Posture Table" on p. B551 just lists -2 to targeting, which would seem to imply a blanket -2 to hit.
The summaries do sometimes cause some confusion, like there's one spot which just mentions AOD gets 1/2 move without clarifying like it does a couple other places that only Dedicated Dodget gets that and others get Step
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Old 09-19-2020, 10:55 PM   #3
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Default Re: Ranged Attacks and Target Posture

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* If attacker is at the same or lower elevation and farther away than his own height, he attacks
your torso as if it were half exposed (-2 to hit), and cannot attack your groin, legs, or feet at all.
If you also have your head down, he cannot attack your neck, eyes, or face
1.8 yard man attacks a lying man's torso at no penalty within 2 yards of them.
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Old 09-19-2020, 11:11 PM   #4
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Default Re: Ranged Attacks and Target Posture

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1.8 yard man attacks a lying man's torso at no penalty within 2 yards of them.
Ah, good point. You have to infer it.
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Old 09-20-2020, 11:04 AM   #5
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Default Re: Ranged Attacks and Target Posture

I found the answer to my own question. The explanation is to the immediate right of the "Posture Table" on p. B551. I'll post it here in case someone else stumbles upon this thread:

Quote:
Target: The modifier to hit your torso, groin, or legs with a ranged attack. No penalty to strike other hit locations, if they are visible from that posture.
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Old 09-21-2020, 08:33 AM   #6
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Default Re: Ranged Attacks and Target Posture

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I found the answer to my own question. The explanation is to the immediate right of the "Posture Table" on p. B551. I'll post it here in case someone else stumbles upon this thread:
That should really be no further penalty to strike other hit locations if they are visible from that posture. The skull doesn’t magically become easier to hit with a ranged attack if someone drops prone, even though it’s not getting a defensive bonus like the torso, groin, and legs.
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Old 09-21-2020, 02:45 PM   #7
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Default Re: Ranged Attacks and Target Posture

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I found the answer to my own question. The explanation is to the immediate right of the "Posture Table" on p. B551. I'll post it here in case someone else stumbles upon this thread:
That makes no sense; why is there an extra penalty to hit groin or legs, but not vitals or arms? And if there is no extra penalty to the vitals or arms, none of the others make sense to me, anyway.
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Old 09-21-2020, 03:25 PM   #8
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Default Re: Ranged Attacks and Target Posture

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That makes no sense; why is there an extra penalty to hit groin or legs, but not vitals or arms? And if there is no extra penalty to the vitals or arms, none of the others make sense to me, anyway.
Vitals are sub-hitlocation of torso, so it makes sense for them to gain -2 too.
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Old 09-21-2020, 11:54 PM   #9
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Default Re: Ranged Attacks and Target Posture

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That makes no sense; why is there an extra penalty to hit groin or legs, but not vitals or arms? And if there is no extra penalty to the vitals or arms, none of the others make sense to me, anyway.
My guess is that if you're lying on the ground, and your enemy is in your front arc, then your head, arms, and shoulders are blocking your torso, legs, etc. (notice it specifies your opponent is at an equal elevation or lower).
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Old 09-22-2020, 12:30 AM   #10
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Vitals are sub-hitlocation of torso, so it makes sense for them to gain -2 too.
So is the groin but that are called out specifically. I don't think anything in the rules lumps vitals in as a subgroup so I wouldn't assume a penalty carries over.

Even if it does, it doesn't explain legs vs arms.
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