Research: Unbalance Critical Table (incomplete)

[Riltus]

By request

This table is now almost complete. Still missing rank 8 hand messaging.

From what I have been able to determine there are several duplicate messages for the following body locations and crit ranks:

HEAD: ranks 6 and 7
CHEST: ranks 7 and 8
ABDOMEN: ranks 6 and 7
BACK: ranks 6 and 7
LEFT AND RIGHT ARM: ranks 6 and 7
LEFT AND RIGHT HAND: ranks 6 and 7

CS based crit tables are much more difficult to construct than AS tables. With AS based attacks the crit damage is non-variable and is directly tied to the messaging. CS based attacks can have different damage values for the same messaging which complicates correct crit rank assignments. I.e., a rank 5 crit that will usually cause 25 damage vs. critter A, will generally cause 35 damage vs. critter B and 45 damage vs. critter C, even though, the messaging and injury level are the same for each attack.

The criticals are loosely based on endroll success margins and there seems to be some crit randomization within limited endroll ranges.

Any endroll >100 will cause both a crit and knockdown.

The table below contains base damages per crit rank messaging, plus injury levels (R1, R2, R3, F) and stuns. Since the purpose of unbalance is, first and foremost, to knockdown the target, there are very few (R3) injuries and even fewer insta-deaths associated with unbalance crits.

Limbs:
The most severe injury for all limb crits is (R2 - fractured and bleeding). There are no limb loss (R3) injuries or insta-deaths (F).

Torso:
There are no torso (back, chest, abs) insta-death crits, and the only R3 torso injuries (deep gashes and serious bleeding) occur at crit rank 9.

Head, neck, eye:
Only crit rank 9's in this category are fatal, and these are the only insta-death crits for unbalance that I have seen.


UNBALANCE CRIT TABLE** (Spell 110)

**This is an incomplete table which most likely contains several errors in crit messaging placement.

LEGEND:

(F) - fatal (instant death crit)
(S) - stun
(R1,2,3) Injury ranks


critUNBALANCEhead:
rank 1 head 5 Strike to head dizzies the critter. (R1)(S)
rank 2 head 10 Strike to forehead causes the critter momentary dizziness. (R1)(S)
rank 3 head 15 Just like a brick to the head, without the imprint. (R1)
rank 4 head 20 Blow to the side of the critter's head!(R2)(S)
rank 5 head 25 Head strike stuns the critter. (R2)(S)
rank 6 head 30 Control of body lost. The critter falls to the ground stunned. (R2)(S)
rank 7 head 35 Control of body lost. The critter falls to the ground stunned. (R2)(S)
rank 8 head 40 Blow to the head shorts brain. The critter falls as body control is lost. (R3)(S)
rank 9 head 45 Awesome strike to the head! The critter is knocked to the ground dead. (R3)(F)

critUNBALANCEneck:
rank 1 neck 5 Throat strike causes the critter to cough. (R1)
rank 2 neck 10 Strike to voicebox. The critter is speechless! (R1)(S)
rank 3 neck 15 Whiplash! (R1)
rank 4 neck 20 Air supply cut off by sharp strike, the critter's eyes bulge! (R2)(S)
rank 5 neck 25 Neck shot. The critter is knocked onto her back. (R2)(S)
rank 6 neck 30 Strike to neck throws opponent to the ground violently. (R2)(S)
rank 7 neck 35 Control of body lost. The critter falls to the ground stunned. (R2)(S)
rank 8 neck 40 Blow to neck throws the critter to the ground violently. (R3)(S)
rank 9 neck 45 Neck strike throws the critter, snapping its neck in the process. (R3)(F)

critUNBALANCEreye:
rank 1 r eye 5 The critter's right eye swells suddenly, causing great pain. (R1)
rank 2 r eye 10 Eye swells shut momentarily. (R1)(S)
rank 3 r eye 15 Nice shiner to right eye! (R1)
rank 4 r eye 20 Dizzied! The critter spins in circles.(R2)(S)
rank 5 r eye 25 Vision blurred. The critter staggers around blindly. (R2)(S)
rank 6 r eye 30 Blow to the eye dazes the critter. The critter struggles to recover. (R2)(S)
rank 7 r eye 35 Optic nerves scrambled. The critter struggles on the ground to recover. (R2)(S)
rank 8 r eye 40 Optic nerves scrambled. The critter struggles to recover balance but fails. (R3)(S)
rank 9 r eye 45 Eye spins backward into skull. The critter falls to the ground dead. (R3)(F)

critUNBALANCEleye:
rank 1 l eye 5 The critter's left eye swells suddenly, causing great pain. (R1)(K)
rank 2 l eye 10 Eye swells shut momentarily.(R1)(S)
rank 3 l eye 15 Nice shiner to left eye! (R1)
rank 4 l eye 20 Dizzied! The critter spins in circles.(R2)(S)
rank 5 l eye 25 Vision blurred. The critter staggers around blindly. (R2)(S)
rank 6 l eye 30 Blow to the eye dazes the critter. The critter struggles to recover. R2 (S)
rank 7 l eye 35 Optic nerves scrambled. The critter struggles on the ground to recover. (R2)(S)
rank 8 l eye 40 Optic nerves scrambled. The critter struggles to recover balance but fails. (R3)(S)
rank 9 l eye 50 Eye spins backward into skull. The critter falls to the ground dead. (R3)(F)

critUNBALANCEchest:
rank 1 chest 5 Chest hit causes the critter to spin around like a halfling after a fresh tart. (R1)
rank 2 chest 10 Side strike shoves the critter several feet sideways. (R1)
rank 3 chest 15 Oof! Sudden impact knocks the wind out of the critter. (R1)(S)
rank 4 chest 20 The critter hits self trying to recover balance. (R1)(S)
rank 5 chest 25 Chest strike sprawls opponent flat on back. (R2)(S)
rank 6 chest 30 Chest strike. Opponent knocked back and stunned! (R2)(S)
rank 7 chest 35 Chest strike. Opponent knocked down and stunned! (R2)(S)
rank 8 chest 40 Chest strike. Opponent knocked down and stunned! (R2)(S)
rank 9 chest 45 The critter drops to the ground like a sack of potatoes. (R3)(S)

critUNBALANCEabs:
rank 1 abdomen 5 Stomach strike knocks the critter backwards several feet.(R1)
rank 2 abdomen 10 Invisible force gives the critter a rabbit punch. (R1)
rank 3 abdomen 15 Upward thrust lifts the critter several inches off the ground. (R2*)(S)
rank 4 abdomen 20 Vertigo! The critter clutches stomach. (R1)(S)
rank 5 abdomen 25 Waves of nausea spread from stomach, incapacitating the critter. (R2) (S)
rank 6 abdomen 30 Strike to solar plexus stuns the critter. (R2)(S)
rank 7 abdomen 35 Strike to solar plexus stuns the critter. (R2)(S)
rank 8 abdomen 40 Strike to solar plexus drops the critter to the ground, stunned. (R2) (S)
rank 9 abdomen 45 Strike to stomach sends the critter doubling over to the ground. (R3)(S)

critUNBALANCEback:
rank 1 back 5 Strike to back throws the critter off balance momentarily. (R1)
rank 2 back 10 Severe low back pain! The critter gasps. (R1)
rank 3 back 15 The critter stumbles forward, off balance. (R1)(S)
rank 4 back 20 Footing lost! The critter wrenches back trying to stay upright. (R1)(S)
rank 5 back 25 Back strike. Opponent writhes in pain. (R2)(S)
rank 6 back 30 Strike to lower back stuns the critter. (R2)(S)
rank 7 back 35 Strike to lower back stuns the critter. (R2)(S)
rank 8 back 40 Strike to lower back drops the critter to the ground, stunned. (R2)(S)
rank 9 back 45 The critter is thrown to the ground face first!. A very hard landing! (R3)(S)

critUNBALANCErarm:
rank 1 r arm 5 The critter's weapon arm twists oddly but snaps right back. (R1)
rank 2 r arm 10 Jarring blow to the critter's weapon arm. (R1)(S)
rank 3 r arm 15 Elbow wrenched. The critter is knocked to the ground. (R1)(S)
rank 4 r arm 20 Arm jerked painfully upward. (R1)(S)
rank 5 r arm 25 The critter's arm snaps trying to prevent fall. (R1)(S)
rank 6 r arm 30 Strike to arm spins opponent like a top. The critter is stunned. (R2)(S)
rank 7 r arm 35 Strike to arm spins opponent like a top. The critter is stunned. (R2)(S)
rank 8 r arm 40 Shattered the arm below the elbow, leaving only bloody strips of flesh. (R2)(S)
rank 9 r arm 45 Spun clockwise, the critter falls in a heap. R2 (S)



critUNBALANCElarm:
rank 1 l arm 5 The critter's shield arm twists oddly but snaps right back. (R1)
rank 2 l arm 10 Jarring blow to the critter's shield arm. (R1)
rank 3 l arm 15 Elbow wrenched. The critter is knocked to the ground! (R1)(S)
rank 4 l arm 20 Arm jerked painfully upward. (R1)(S)
rank 5 l arm 25 The critter's arm snaps trying to prevent fall. (R1)(S)
rank 6 l arm 30 Strike to arm spins opponent like a top. The critter is stunned. (R2)(S)
rank 7 l arm 35 Strike to arm spins opponent like a top. The critter is stunned. (R2)(S)
rank 8 l arm 40 Shattered the arm below the elbow, leaving only bloody strips of flesh. R2 (S)
rank 9 l arm 45 Spun counterclockwise, the critter falls in a heap. (R2)(S)


critUNBALANCErhand:
rank 1 r hand 5 The critter's wrist twisted slightly. (R1)
rank 2 r hand 10 Finger jams and swells. (R1)
rank 3 r hand 15 Shot to hand spins the critter in circles. (R1)
rank 4 r hand 20 Right hand slammed. Finger broken! (R2?)(S)
rank 5 r hand 25 The critter's hand injured grasping for support. (R2)(S)
rank 6 r hand 30 The critter stunned by strike to hand. (R2)(S)
rank 7 r hand 35 The critter stunned by strike to hand.(R2)(S)
rank 8 r hand 40 ?
rank 9 r hand 45 Hand struck hard! Pain causes the critter to wobble dizzily before falling. (R2)(S)

critUNBALANCElhand:
rank 1 l hand 5 The critter's wrist twisted slightly. (R1)
rank 2 l hand 10 Finger jams and swells. (R1)
rank 3 l hand 15 Shot to hand spins the critter in circles. (R1)
rank 4 l hand 20 Left hand slammed. Finger broken! (R2?)(S)
rank 5 l hand 25 The critter's hand injured grasping for support. (R2)(S)
rank 6 l hand 30 The critter stunned by strike to hand. (R2)(S)
rank 7 l hand 35 The critter stunned by strike to hand. (R2)(S)
rank 8 l hand 40 ?
rank 9 l hand 45 Hand struck hard! Pain causes the critter to wobble dizzily before falling. (R2)(S)


critUNBALANCErleg:
rank 1 r leg 5 The critter's right leg jerks momentarily but snaps right back. (R1)
rank 2 r leg 10 Pop! Kneecap wrenched. (R1)
rank 3 r leg 15 Sprained ankle! The critter won't be running soon. (R1)(S)
rank 4 r leg 20 Strike to foot! The critter hops around dizzily on other foot and falls. (R1)(S)
rank 5 r leg 25 Leg strike sends waves of pain through the critter. (R1)(S)
rank 6 r leg 30 Leg jerked violently. The critter is stunned. (R2)(S)
rank 7 r leg 35 The critter's kneecap shatters sending bone fragments flying. (R2)(S)
rank 8 r leg 40 You shatter the critter's right leg from the knee down. (R2)(S)
rank 9 r leg 45 The critter tries desperately to keep footing, but falls on rear instead. (R2)(S)

critUNBALANCElleg:
rank 1 l leg 5 The critter's left leg jerks momentarily but snaps right back. (R1)
rank 2 l leg 10 Pop! Kneecap wrenched. (R1)
rank 3 l leg 15 Sprained ankle! The critter won't be running soon. (R1)(S)
rank 4 l leg 20 Strike to foot! The critter hops around dizzily on other foot and falls. (R1)(S)
rank 5 l leg 25 Leg strike sends waves of pain through the critter. (R1)(S)
rank 6 l leg 30 Leg jerked violently. The critter is stunned. (R2)(S)
rank 7 l leg 35 The critter's kneecap shatters sending bone fragments flying. (R2)(S)
rank 8 l leg 40 You shatter the critter's left leg from the knee down. (R2)(S)
rank 9 l leg 45 The critter tries desperately to keep footing but falls on rear instead. (R2)(S)

Mark

[Danical]

Awesome! Thxb2u.

Also, use tonis bolt for the unbalance crit table?

[Warriorbird]

Dig up the Rolemaster or MERP Unbalance critical table.

[Latrinsorm]

It's so weird that they would make a different set of damage values for the same messages going from AS to CS.

I assume from the rank injury that you have verified at least that the crit messages are all against the proper body part?

[Danical]

Right.

It's always been like that for flares and CS spells for whatever reason. It makes little sense on the front end whereas it's standardized for AS/DS resolutions.

[Riltus]

It's so weird that they would make a different set of damage values for the same messages going from AS to CS.

I assume from the rank injury that you have verified at least that the crit messages are all against the proper body part?

Crit messaging is correct. I do a LOOK after each cast to verify the injury rank and body location. I'm also careful to eliminate any stacking injuries.

While not typical, the two attacks below demonstrate some of the issues with trying to construct a crit table using CS attacks. Same messaging, same head minor and both critters stunned. What is a bit odd is that the damage for each (40 HP attack A) (20 HP attack B) is within the expected range based on the endroll sucess margins.

The forest troll damage is TOO high for the crit rank but not the endroll. I know this is not unique for all trolls. The 40 HP damage should be ~ a rank 8 crit, but it isn't. One possibility is that certain critters are susceptible to additional damage, but I really don't know.

Attack A:

CS: +151 - TD: +57 + CvA: +19 + d100: +72 == +185
Warding failed!
... 40 points of damage!
Strike to forehead causes the forest troll momentary dizziness. It is knocked to the ground!
The forest troll is stunned!
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.
>l other troll
You see a fairly typical forest troll that is lying down.
He has minor bruises around his head.
He is stunned.
He has some full leather (worn).

Attack B:

You gesture at a dark orc.
CS: +151 - TD: +42 + CvA: 0 + d100: +22 == +131
Warding failed!
... 20 points of damage!
Strike to forehead causes the dark orc momentary dizziness. It is knocked to the ground!
The dark orc is stunned!
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.
>l orc
You see a fairly typical dark orc that is lying down.
He has minor bruises around his head.

Here's another set -

Attack C:

You gesture at a giant marmot.
CS: +151 - TD: +30 + CvA: +25 + d100: +47 == +193
Warding failed!
... 50 points of damage!
Hand struck hard! Pain causes the giant marmot to wobble dizzily before falling.
It is knocked to the ground!
The giant marmot is stunned!
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.
>l marm
You see a fairly typical giant marmot that is lying down.
It has a fractured and bleeding right claw.

Attack D:

You gesture at a dark orc.
CS: +151 - TD: +36 + CvA: +17 + d100: +89 == +221
Warding failed!
... 45 points of damage!
Hand struck hard! Pain causes the dark orc to wobble dizzily before falling.
It is knocked to the ground!
The dark orc is stunned!
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.
>l orc
You see a fairly typical dark orc that is lying down.
She has a fractured and bleeding left claw.
She is stunned.

These are both rank 9 crits, but attack C, with the lower endroll (ER 193), has greater damage (50 HP) than attack D (ER 221) (45 HP) with the higher endroll.

I started with the general assumption that the crit rank will be (damage/5) which works well for bolt attacks. Next, when confronted with different damage values with the same messaging, I look at the injury rank and stun, but it's a real PITA.

Mark

[Asha]

That is some work you've carried out, Mr.
Very interesting to see this at last too. Thanks a lot.

[Latrinsorm]

I see.

When you say "expected range based on the endroll sucess margins.", you seem to have a DF-like mechanic - have you looked at whether there is a raw damage-like mechanic as well? Other things that come to mind are an endroll offset (so that there are never rank 0 crits) and a randomizer (-5 to 5 on a d11, maybe).

[Danical]

Just as an aside, don't forest trolls have crit padding? If they have above somewhat that might account for the difference in damage from exclusively crit damage a la a variety of CS spells.