Electricity damage too good?, 6S(e) stun batons and stick n shock make close combat silly Options

[Tech_Rat]

Thank the forum gods for sig size limits...

Wasn't going to sig the whole thing... Just the line that made me chuckle...

[AngelisStorm]

Question: (yes, it is a "real world"-ish question)

Why does SnS (and other electrical weapons) halve Impact armor?

I have never been tazed. However, how does a thick coat effect the process? What about a leather jacket? (For that matter, a flak jacket or kevlar.)

There are three factors to SnS (I believe):
1. It ups the damage of smaller firearms (up to assault rifle levels)
2. It halves armor (which is generally already lower, though I generally ignore that, given the PPP system)
3. Secondary effects.

On the first issue: Why is a tazer bullet more effective than a "real" bullet?*

I've asked the second question above. "Because it's electricity" is the answer. Maybe electrical weapons shouldn't be treated the same as lightning bolts. (Maybe.)

Third, if a tazer didn't incapaciate folks, why use it (besides that it's non-lethal). I believe someone stated (on one of these threads) that most mooks have the stats to generally keep from passing out. Cinematically, it's a cool effect. Real world, neh. People (I don't believe) generally pass out from tasering. (Thank goodness this is a game.)

Regarding the -2 penalty: how badly are folks (ordinarly) disoriented after being tasered? Combat rounds are 3 seconds, so even if an individual takes 1/6th of a minute in real life to "shake off" being tasered, then the penalty might hold up.

*tosses in 2 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) *

[Yerameyahu]

It's -Half, I assume, because of the abstract nature of the hit system. You only need to connect, not hit a vital location. *shrug* No, I'm not terribly convinced either. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[darthmord]

Question: (yes, it is a "real world"-ish question)

Why does SnS (and other electrical weapons) halve Impact armor?

I have never been tazed. However, how does a thick coat effect the process? What about a leather jacket? (For that matter, a flak jacket or kevlar.)

There are three factors to SnS (I believe):
1. It ups the damage of smaller firearms (up to assault rifle levels)
2. It halves armor (which is generally already lower, though I generally ignore that, given the PPP system)
3. Secondary effects.

On the first issue: Why is a tazer bullet more effective than a "real" bullet?*

I've asked the second question above. "Because it's electricity" is the answer. Maybe electrical weapons shouldn't be treated the same as lightning bolts. (Maybe.)

Third, if a tazer didn't incapaciate folks, why use it (besides that it's non-lethal). I believe someone stated (on one of these threads) that most mooks have the stats to generally keep from passing out. Cinematically, it's a cool effect. Real world, neh. People (I don't believe) generally pass out from tasering. (Thank goodness this is a game.)

Regarding the -2 penalty: how badly are folks (ordinarly) disoriented after being tasered? Combat rounds are 3 seconds, so even if an individual takes 1/6th of a minute in real life to "shake off" being tasered, then the penalty might hold up.

*tosses in 2 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) *

There was an episode of Deadliest Warrior recently where it was SWAT vs GSG. They did a live demo of a taser being used on a guy. It hit the guy, you heard the click-click-click of the Taser and the guy's arms froze in a boxing sort of pose, he hunched over (forward) and had to be helped down. He could NOT move. All the sound he made was a grunting noise. It took about 15-30 secs after the taser was turned off before the guy started actively responding to the people around him. His arms relaxed after about 10 secs or so. I believe the guy who volunteered to be tased was a LAPD SWAT member.

Having been hit by electricity before, I really don't want to try the receiving end of a taser.

[darthmord]

It's -Half, I assume, because of the abstract nature of the hit system. You only need to connect, not hit a vital location. *shrug* No, I'm not terribly convinced either. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I think the rationale is that Impact armor protects against low velocity impacts like clubs, knives, swords, etc. If you have more Impact armor, you have additional padding, cushioning, etc. SnS, tasers, etc are all low velocity weapons.

As such, it'll be harder to hurt someone under it with low velocity weaponry. But since Tasers, SnS, shockgloves, etc only need conductive contact, the need for 'damage' per se is reduced. The 'damage' dealt is from the electrical nature of the weapon, not the weapon's ballistic characteristics.

Much in the same vein as casting shocking hand in D&D. You needed to make an attack roll against armor class 10 (+dex/agility bonuses) rather than against their full armor value due to just needing to touch the target regardless of their armor.