Where has Hit Location gone?

RPGPundit · December 22, 2006, 01:05:04 AM

"when will they eeeeever learn?"

RPGPundit

Bradford C. Walker · December 22, 2006, 05:29:51 AM

Hit Locations died out in mainstream design for the exact reason Yamo stated: more trouble than it's worth. Consoles and computers handle that sort of complexity far better than tabletop games ever will, in terms of commercial viability, which is why you see that stuff crop up often over there. Issues of impairment are better handled abstractly; if you really need to know why your character has a -50% movement penalty after that last hit, you can explain it as you like- a pulled leg muscle, a damaged hip joint, whatever. That's cosmetic; what matters is the effect.

Sosthenes · December 22, 2006, 06:06:21 AM

"Died out" is a bit harsh. I don't think the ratio of games with hit locations and without them is much different than it was a few years ago.

Blackleaf · December 22, 2006, 08:43:36 AM

I agree with Bradford completely. Something game designers need to think about now that they didn't back in the 70s - 90s.

RedFox · December 22, 2006, 09:00:03 AM

Quote from: RPGPundit"when will they eeeeever learn?"

RPGPundit

Not any time soon, if those last posts are any indication.

*drum riff*

Sosthenes · December 22, 2006, 09:47:56 AM

Quote from: StuartI agree with Bradford completely. Something game designers need to think about now that they didn't back in the 70s - 90s.

You're talking about the computer stuff? Nah, they don't do more hit location stuff than they did in the late 80s or 90s. Less so, I'd say.

Blackleaf · December 22, 2006, 10:11:07 AM

What I mean is -- computers are better at doing tons of math, table look ups, multipe (simulated) dice rolls, comparing rules, etc. People are better at other things, like being creative, funny, artistic, clever, etc.

Now that RPGs are competing with World of Warcraft (and they are competing -- WotC knows this and ran ads that spoke to this), I think it's important to consider what makes the tabletop experience more fun than the videogame experience.

um... and everything Bradford C. Walker said.

beeber · December 22, 2006, 12:46:29 PM

a little late to this party. . .

i miss 'em too. always liked the grim & gritty, more lethal hit location stuff. makes the party less likely to resort to combat. unless they're faster on the draw, of course.

but PGMP's don't really need to be concerned with such things--

:verkill:

Sosthenes · December 22, 2006, 02:07:59 PM

Quote from: StuartWhat I mean is -- computers are better at doing tons of math, table look ups, multipe (simulated) dice rolls, comparing rules, etc. People are better at other things, like being creative, funny, artistic, clever, etc.

Computers are vastly better, granted, but we got by for centuries with rather complicated rules. Lawyers aren't replaced yet by printet circuit boards, the last time I looked. A computer allows you to venture beyond the relatively simple mechanisms of normal RPGs, but to justify its use you'd have to get a bit more involved than simple tables and the occasional die roll.

And my PowerMac _sucks_ at rolling a real die.

Dominus Nox · December 23, 2006, 01:47:31 AM

Ironically hit locations are alive and well and livign in computer FPS style games. Some of my favorite PC games use hit locations heavily.

beeber · December 23, 2006, 08:45:54 PM

when i do my CoC modern adventure early next year i plan on using hit locations. nothing emphasizes "think before shoot" more than that. meaning, when one sees how few hp one has per location, and notes the damage rating of weapons, i think they won't be as trigger happy.

but i'll probably be proved wrong in the first half hour of the adventure.