Low Pain Threshold and Berserk.

[gilbertocarlos]

What about it? Someone with Berserk gain high pain threshold, but you can't have high and low pain threshold, Does one override the other? Is it impossible to have both? Is it a way to a berserker(Combat) gain extra points for free?

[RyanW]

For simplicity, I'd just say they cancel.

[the_matrix_walker]

You're immune to Stun and Shock and Move penalties, but you do not "get high pain threshold"

There is no prohibition against the combination. Were I GMing over such a character, I would probably rule that they went Berserk on any injury over 1 point rather than using the 1/4 HP rule.

[kirbwarrior]

Originally Posted by the_matrix_walker

Were I GMing over such a character, I would probably rule that they went Berserk on any injury over 1 point rather than using the 1/4 HP rule.

That's a really cool way of doing it. Would that apply to someone close too?

Also, High Pain Threshold and Berserk do stack except for immunities (immune twice doesn't do a whole lot).

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by the_matrix_walker

You're immune to Stun and Shock and Move penalties, but you do not "get high pain threshold"

And of course you only have that *while you are Berserk*. You can still suffer from having Low Pain Threshold when you are actually in control of yourself - e.g. for the rolls you make before you flip out, or after you successfully resist, or snap out of your frenzy, or when trying to resist torture. Or when the GM generously doesn't make you roll to resist going berserk and immediately start killing innocents or your companions when you are injured by being thrown from your horse, blowing an Extra Effort roll or other non-combat reason, though he probably should.

[Xplo]

I'd probably just run them as written. Sure, Berzerk magically makes LPT have no effect while it's active, so in a way it's like free points... but then, Berzerk isn't usually a state you want to be in.

[gilbertocarlos]

But what's the disadvantage to someone that plans to go berserk anyway, in battle because he is a lone wolf, or because he is in an arena?

He could get -40 just from that.

[BaHalus]

Well, there are interesting suggestions here.

We intend to run an arena game, with no inocents around, I'd say the social disadvantages of being berserk are out of the way and if it simply nulify low pain thresold, then it will be free points for low pain thresold.

And making easier to go berserk doesn't help either, as I think that if you take the berserk disadvantage in an arena game you already plan to go berserk anyway.

We were thinking between using Low Pain thresold anyway (without the crying like a baby part, of course) or giving normal shock penalties as if one thing compensates the other. Maybe giving half penalty could be a possibility?

With the penalty, then Low pain thresold would really be worth its points (you are attacking at a penalty, but attacks anyway!, nothing like defending for a turn to avoid penalties). With immunity to shock, it would be free points.

[kirbwarrior]

Originally Posted by BaHalus

We intend to run an arena game, with no inocents around, I'd say the social disadvantages of being berserk are out of the way and if it simply nulify low pain thresold, then it will be free points for low pain thresold.

And making easier to go berserk doesn't help either, as I think that if you take the berserk disadvantage in an arena game you already plan to go berserk anyway.

Is Berserk even a disadvantage at this point?

[starslayer]

The simple solution to this is to get an opponent who can make use of wait+retreat, and have enough skill to make use of limb, skull, and eye-hits, or just a flurry of blows.

Berserk is a terrible disadvantage even in arena games, because of the 'you always all out attack' part- no active defence, no dodge.