Stun Effect and how to run? (concept wise)

[WhipShire]

Stunned A stunned creature drops everything held, can't take actions, takes a -2 penalty to AC and loses its Dexterity bonus to AC (if any).

I understand how stun works mechanically, my problem is how to visualize a group of PC's standing around a stunned creature for (let's say 3 rounds) hacking at it and if the creature has enough hit points it survives to fight on....

---How is stun not an instant kill?
---What would stun look like (visual) to describe to a group why this creature is still standing (not helpless) but allowing PC's to beat on it for 3 rounds (or whatever amount of stunned rounds it has)?

[Cheapy]

Stun is an instakill. You can coup de grace 'em.

[WhipShire]

Don't they have to be helpless to coup de grace?

[WhipShire]

Helpless - is someone who is bound, sleeping, paralysed, unconscious or otherwise at your mercy. The description of of penalties to a helpless character do not match that of a stunned. Pg.197 of core rule book.

[DM_aka_Dudemeister]

Cheapy wrote:

Stun is an instakill. You can coup de grace 'em.

You can't coup-de-grace a stunned foe as they aren't helpless.

Imagine being stunned as being winded, or dizzy after a particularly hard smack. You aren't completely helpless, but definitely aren't in good condition.

[WhipShire]

DM_aka_Dudemeister wrote:

Cheapy wrote:

Stun is an instakill. You can coup de grace 'em.

You can't coup-de-grace a stunned foe as they aren't helpless.

Imagine being stunned as being winded, or dizzy after a particularly hard smack. You aren't completely helpless, but definitely aren't in good condition.

I can see that. I imagine them going prone as they are being hit by heavy melee weapons, but not in the description... guess their is always house rules but I like to stay core. I know at some point its a.game and game dynamics kick in...

[Cheapy]

Well that's lame.

*throws another thing on the houserule pile*

[Anonymous Visitor 163 576]

I always saw this as "So disoriented all they can do is defend themselves".

I imagine a boxer with his arms up around his head, taking blow after blow. Taking a beating, certainly, but able to go on the offensive again if allowed to regain momentum.

[WhipShire]

rkraus2 wrote:

I always saw this as "So disoriented all they can do is defend themselves".

I imagine a boxer with his arms up around his head, taking blow after blow. Taking a beating, certainly, but able to go on the offensive again if allowed to regain momentum.

I like that... I can see that.

[Trainwreck]

I always think of this scene when someone gets stunned...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqiioPd-34Q

[Interzone]

You can do a coup de grace on a stunned target with a feat (potentially):

Dastardly Finish (Combat)

You can take advantage of an enemy's debilitated state to attempt a coup de grace.

Prerequisite: Sneak attack +5d6.

Benefit: You can deliver a coup de grace to cowering or stunned targets.

Normal: You can only coup de grace helpless targets.

[STR Ranger]

That's powerful but a high level trick.

Earliest fighter gets stun is 16 (Stunning assault) or 17 (Stunning Critical), Then the rogue can Coupe de Grace.