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Dumpshock Forums _ Shadowrun _ Ambushing Vehicle Convoys, Further Info Required

Posted by: satcong Aug 18 2003, 02:40 PM

Thanks to all who replied to the earlier thread, information was most welcome. However, now that I know how the attack is carried out I have a few more questions.

1. When an explosive device is detonated under the target vehicle, let's say it inflicts 14D damage, does the vehicle floor absorb some of this damage (like a barrier?) before the occupants of the vehicle take a Damage Resistance Test themselves?

2. If deadly damage is inflicted on the vehicle, it automatically crashes - does the driver get to make a crash test?

Posted by: TinkerGnome Aug 18 2003, 03:17 PM

QUOTE

2. If deadly damage is inflicted on the vehicle, it automatically crashes - does the driver get to make a crash test?

Page 147 lists having the vehicle destroyed as a reason for making a crash test. However, there's no listing for what the TN modifier is for the Destroyed level on the vehicle condition monitor. From the Errata, we also have some help, which indicates at Destroyed you make a crash test.

I'd go ahead and allow the crash test with the serious wound modifier. Pass or fail, the vehicle comes to a complete stop, the only difference being whether or not the passengers are goo.

Posted by: hobgoblin Aug 18 2003, 04:23 PM

QUOTE

1. When an explosive device is detonated under the target vehicle, let's say it inflicts 14D damage, does the vehicle floor absorb some of this damage (like a barrier?) before the occupants of the vehicle take a Damage Resistance Test themselves?

it works just like any other attack against a vehicle, and damage against people inside the vehicle is given in sr3 p. 147.

QUOTE

2. If deadly damage is inflicted on the vehicle, it automatically crashes - does the driver get to make a crash test?

no, basicly the vehicle is toast, no controls work or anything like that, most likely the vehicle have broken up. start checking damage for people inside...

Posted by: Switchblade Aug 18 2003, 05:11 PM

I wouldn't think you would need to make a crash test, as the vehicle is destroyed and the rigger has no hopes of driving it and therefore avoiding the crash. However, BBB pg 147 second column under "Crashing" third bullet point says differently. If the vehicle gets destroyed, you have to make a crash test.

Posted by: TinkerGnome Aug 18 2003, 05:44 PM

The result of a failed crash test is, specifically, an collision. It's possible that a vehicle without a working engine could still be steered to a safe stop. Which is why I'd go ahead and allow the crash test. The damage to the vehicle's steering is represented by the wound modifier.

Posted by: hobgoblin Aug 18 2003, 09:15 PM

and i would expect that a vehicle that are pr definition destroyed (that what the D when attacking vehicles) are not under control. and whats the point of makeing a crash test with a vehicle thats allready damaged to the breakingpoint? only reason i can think of is the people inside but if you blow the vehicle to hell then most likely anyone inside is dead or dieing (excluding that combat troll in heavy military armor and level 4 dermal sheath that is)...

Posted by: Ed_209a Aug 18 2003, 10:03 PM

I would say it depends on exactly _how_ the vehicle reached Deadly damage.

If it goes to Deadly status from one attack, say ATGM vs stepvan, then it is little more than a pile of junk in motion, burning brightly.

If it is gradually ground to Deadly by a succession of Light & Moderate wounds, then it would kind of coast to a stop, or suffer a loss of control & crash.

Posted by: Kagetenshi Aug 18 2003, 10:21 PM

I personally toss on a +4 TN modifier for Deadly in situations like these.

~J

Posted by: Laughlyn Aug 18 2003, 10:46 PM

Hobgoblin wrote

QUOTE

2. If deadly damage is inflicted on the vehicle, it automatically crashes - does the driver get to make a crash test?

no, basicly the vehicle is toast, no controls work or anything like that, most likely the vehicle have broken up. start checking damage for people inside...

The GM should make a judgment call on this based on the weapon used and how badly the vehicle was damaged. If you watch footage of vehicles being taken out you don't typically see a pattern. Unless of course that pattern is to watch the vehicle being blown into lots of little pieces. A deadly wound to a vehicle can be as little as a blown motor/transmission to said vehicle being turned into confetti. Again it should be a judgment call and not a hard fast rule.

Posted by: Zazen Aug 18 2003, 11:57 PM

Watch enough "Worlds Wildest Police Videos" and you'll see cars being disabled in nice comfy ways, and cars being disabled in bad painful ways. I say you still roll a crash test to find out which way your vehicle is disabled

Posted by: RangerJoe Aug 19 2003, 12:38 AM

Remember, the vehicle condition monitor is just like the physical condition monitor of a PC. A Deadly wound does not mean "wham! Your PC is stone dead. Time to make a new character." Rather, it means, "Unless your buds slap a trauma patch on you or get you some other attention ASAP, you're going to experience a (variably) slow and agonizing death on the floor of wherever you got hit." Thus, it makes sense for a vehicle which has taken D damage to be able to make a (heavily modified) crash test. My '95 neon is driving around with something like an S level wound on it. One more really big pot hole (eh, M damage or so) and I'll be needing to make a crash test, even though the car is still more or less put together (not broken up). Hooray for abstract damage systems.