I wish to know what is the rule for a PC who wants to strangle a foe in order to make him loose conscious or to kill him?
I don't think there is a rule, my suggestion would be pin him (with grapple) and deliver nonlethal damage. You might even pin him and use drowning rules. (In normal in combat this takes too long, so it's not really unfair)
However someone pinning and muting him, and a second giving him some good punshes to the head might be easier. Strangling is more about flavor than rules I guess.
I don't think there is a rule, my suggestion would be pin him (with grapple) and deliver nonlethal damage. You might even pin him and use drowning rules. (In normal in combat this takes too long, so it's not really unfair)
However someone pinning and muting him, and a second giving him some good punshes to the head might be easier. Strangling is more about flavor than rules I guess.
That's what I think, because suffocating rules don't speak about this fact.
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If I remember right, d20 Modern actually did have rules for strangling someone in combat. Let me check real quick...
Okay, I'm back, and yes, I have d20 Modern's corebook open on my lap as I type this:
Strangulation
When a character is strangled by an instrument (such as a noose) or an attacker, use the rules below:
A character can strangle or choke a character of the same size category or one size larger or smaller. (For example, a Medium-size creature can strangle a Small, Medium-size, or Large target.) The strangling attempt incurs an attack of opportunity.
To begin the choke, the attacked must succeed at a grapple attempt. If the grapple succeeds, the attacker can choose to deal normal unarmed damage as well as choke the target. The target can hold his breath for a number of rounds equal to his Constitution score. After this period of time, the target must make a Constitution check (DC 10 + 1 for each previous check) every round to continue holding his breath. The target begins to suffocate on a failed check (see Suffocation and Drowning.)
If at any time the target breaks free or slips free of the grapple, the stranglehold is broken (though any damage that was dealt remains.) Note that a grappled target who is not pinned can use his attack action to strangle his attacker.
Okay, I'm back, and yes, I have d20 Modern's corebook open on my lap as I type this:Strangulation
That's the way I think to manage it, but I find that the caracter would be able to hold his breath a number of round equal to his constitution a little too long, it's not the same thing to take a deep breath to swin under water and to be surpise by someone who tries to kill you via that way. Don't you think?
You can hold your breath a pretty long time, even under duress. The problem arises from the difference between a choke hold and a strangle hold. A choke only restricts breathing while a strangle restricts breathing and blood flow. This is is a important distinction because it's the lack of blood flow that makes strangulation so dangerous. While one could hold their breath for several minutes, a garrote would cause unconsciousness/death in only a few rounds.
Strangling someone with your bare hands would take longer (how much longer depends on too many variables to say with ease) but would still be much quicker than suffocation rules allow.
I agree with Sempai. Holding your breath for another of rounds equal to your constitution score is really long, ESPECIALLY if you're engaged in a demanding activity like combat. Yes, I know that's what the rules say but I think it's very unrealistic. We actually had four of us in our gaming group test this the other day. It was terrible. With their high constitutions, Dwarves would be some pretty mean swimmers!
My question would be... what if the choker had a garrote wire. That would do lethal damage to the target. I'm guessing the choker would need to succeed on their grapple checks but let's argue the garrote wire gives them some sort of bonus. That could be lethal. But you're probably only doing 1d2 or 1d4 plus strength each round and it would take forever to kill a melee class PC this way... which got me thinking about strangulation/suffocation rules.
Any thoughts on using a garrote wire to impact the strangulation process?
My fears would be if this is too effective then every rogue would start using them to stealth/strangle targets.
I agree with Sempai. Holding your breath for another of rounds equal to your constitution score is really long, ESPECIALLY if you're engaged in a demanding activity like combat. Yes, I know that's what the rules say but I think it's very unrealistic. We actually had four of us in our gaming group test this the other day. It was terrible. With their high constitutions, Dwarves would be some pretty mean swimmers!My question would be... what if the choker had a garrote wire. That would do lethal damage to the target. I'm guessing the choker would need to succeed on their grapple checks but let's argue the garrote wire gives them some sort of bonus. That could be lethal. But you're probably only doing 1d2 or 1d4 plus strength each round and it would take forever to kill a melee class PC this way... which got me thinking about strangulation/suffocation rules.
Any thoughts on using a garrote wire to impact the strangulation process?
My fears would be if this is too effective then every rogue would start using them to stealth/strangle targets.
It would be extremely effective. A garrote causes unconsciousness in 10 to 15 seconds, that's 3 to 5 rounds. A garrote would also give some kind of awesome grapple modifier because it's so hard for the victim attack the garroter. There's a reason a garrote is an iconic assassination weapon. It's just so darn good at what it does. It's only drawback is you need to catch your victim unawares and you are vulnerable to attacks by 3rd parties.
Back to suffocation, a common man can easily hold his breath for well over a minute before "passing out" that's key, holding your breath yourself is hard to judge because you'll gasp for air long befor you suffocate. By, RAW a commoner with 10 Con can hold his breath for 2 min before making saves, and that's fairly accurate, really. Considering Olympic swimmers can hold their breaths for over seven minutes. Somehow I don't think Micheal Phelps has a Con of 35. If Micheal had a feat that let him hold his breath twice as long, he'd have a con of 18, still very high.
It seems unrealistic because the 6 second round is too short. Most fights are over in less than 30 seconds game time. 2E minute rounds were much more accurate.
I agree with Sempai. Holding your breath for another of rounds equal to your constitution score is really long, ESPECIALLY if you're engaged in a demanding activity like combat. Yes, I know that's what the rules say but I think it's very unrealistic.
*Holds tongue and waits for the inevitable*
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I'd love to see strangulation and garrotes rules developed.
Feats! Improved Throttle! Vice-like Grip! Death Grip!
:D :D :D