Called Shots: Ideas and Opinions

[Dimirag]

Thinking about helmets and other "extra" armor parts I came to the idea of called shots and its effects.
For now each piece of "extra" armor or each body part will have its own AC (a couple of points higher than its related AC).
The thing is I can't make my mind regarding any extra or special effect. Taking a Head-Called-Shot:
-Makes extra damage?
-Doubles damage?
-Allows for Stun/Unconsciousness but a ST negates it?
-Can Stun depending on damage caused/damage vs HP/damage vs actual HP?

For now I'm inclined that if the damage suffered is equal or over 1/4 actual HP a special effect can be called, the special effect can be reduced by a successful ST.

Any ideas and thoughts are welcome.

[Steveman]

I tend to allow Called Shots for backstabs to achieve alternate damage effects, but that's about it. The incredibly abstract nature of hit point-based combat and damage does not lend itself to hit location damage. The way I see it, the penalty to hit that would come from targeting weak spots in the armor only offsets the lack of armor in those spots.

And when you have things like the Assassin's Waylay ability to cover buttcapping some bloke to knock them out, you could just open that up to anyone, just with penalty to hit that Assassins's ignore.

Not allowing Called Shots, however, does make having enemies with specific weak spots a la the Zelda series or traditional AD&D-style Hydras turn into "you didn't say you weren't targeting their necks" vs "you've never needed us to say what we were targeting before" arguments/

[Joe the Rat]

If you allow called shots to do added damage, you should probably open up some sort of general "critical strike" ruling - taking a to-hit penalty for added damage.

General combat, you hit whatever opening you can manage. Called shot, you're trying to get a strike in on a specific point - either bypassing other chances to wait, or taking a less opportune moment. penalty to hit being that you don't get your shot.

Rather than focus on the damage effects, I'd use it more for effects than damage - disarms, trips, cripple, stun, blind (temporary or no), etc.

[Dimirag]

After seeing some values (specially for a fully armored fighter w/o helmet) I'm inclined to use called shots for special added effects, besides, doing extra damage to the head will make my Brawler-Class a lot overpowered...
I only need to define any other requirement and special roll needed.