Called Shots and specific AC

[kirowan]

I have a shattering doubt about Called Shots (from UC) and I can't find any solution to it. When you try to hit a location, ie a Called Shot, what AC do you try to hit? The overall AC or the AC of the aimed location? UC says in p 193: "The smaller or better guarded the area, the more difficult the called shot", but although a penalty when hitting a small location is considered, there's no rule regarding the difficulty to hit a guarded area.

[Ipslore the Red]

Determine the size of the location and apply the appropriate size bonus to AC, possibly after removing previous size penalties.

[blahpers]

The called shot rules already include the adjustment for hitting various areas. If you are shooting an orc in the foot, you are still shooting an orc. Apply the appropriate called shot penalty to the orc's AC. There is no further size adjustment.

[kirowan]

Ok thanks. However, I meant: What's the difference btween hitting an armored location and a non-armored one? If AC is an overall measure, I see a problem with Called Shots...

[Kazaan]

Consider a called shot to the neck. Our unfortunate Orc may not be wearing armor directly on his neck, but that doesn't mean the rest of his armor isn't going to protect his neck at all. He can block with vambraces on his arms or he could be wearing large pauldrons. The rules don't really account for "armor/surface area" considerations. It isn't really a "problem" with called shots, just a result of the abstraction of the whole system. It would be cumbersome and bothersome to need to track AC values for each possible called shot target based on what kind of armor you are wearing so they just say, "scrub it" and a breastplate protects your foot just as well as it does your chest. After all, a quick drop of the knee can easily bring your leg armor down to protect an unguarded foot and leaning back can allow your chest armor to take a blow meant for your head.

[Claxon]

Mechanically the rules are as such:

1) The creature has an overall AC value
2) When making a called shot refer to this table:

Table: Called Shot Locations
Location Type Penalty
Head Tricky –5
Ear Challenging –10
Eye Challenging –10
Neck Challenging –10
Chest Easy –2
Heart Challenging –10
Vitals Tricky –5
Arm Easy –2
Hand Tricky –5
Leg Easy –2

You add this penalty to your attack roll, but still must beat their overall AC

3) There is no mechanical represtation of armored versus unarmoed bits of the person. The mechanics of the rules do not work that way. Otherwise it would become substantially easier to hit certain areas, and there would be no to not do called shots because AC would always be less. Not to mention you would apply penalties by successfully hitting different areas.

So overall, while it might make sense thematically the rules don't allow it. Kazaan also makes a great point that thematically, even though the creature may not have armor covering a specific point that doesn't mean it is protected. The creature will attempt to block it with hands or arms or other armored parts. Dodging out of the way. Whatever they can do.

Mechanically this means no change to the AC for a called shot, thats just how the rules work.