View source for FixThePowerCombatRules/Smashfist

== Official Rule ==

Smashfist: Spd -3, Acc +1, Dmg +5L, Def +3, Rate 7, Str **, Artifact *

== [[Toram]]'s version ==

Smashfists should do piercing damage, like fighting gauntlets.

== [[David.]]'s version ==

Speed +0, Accuracy +1, Damage +5L, Defense +3, Rate 6, Str **, Artifact *, Commit 5 motes for a pair, 3 motes individually

===== Vote Tally =====

== Official version ==
#[[Killed]]

== [[Toram]]'s version ==
#[[Toram]]
#[[MetalFatigue]]

== [[David.]]'s version ==
#[[David.]]
#Andrew02

===== Comments =====

If you read the description of a smash fist its based off Cesti rather than fighting gauntlets. -[[Killed]]
:Fie on that, I say. :P Besides that, though, it's absurd for a magical fist weapon to have <i>less reach</i> than a fist. That's one of many examples of Speed ratings that fly in the face of the stated description of the stat. - [[David.]]

Both cesti and fighting gauntlets should do piercing damage. And so should fists. Here's why I think this. Armor is made to protect from weapon blows. Because people stab or swing maces at vital parts of the body, they do lots of damage. However, people punch to the face, to the kidneys, and to other places that people don't protect so much with armor. Just thinking about it, it seems like, although a sword has an accuracy bonus, it'd be easier to punch a person in the face than hit them in the face with a sword. So, I think that fists and other fist-gear should be piercing, and just not do much damage. After all, I'm tired of amored fighters being nearly immune to unarmed attack. Anyone, even anyone in armor, can get punched in the face. - [[Morpheus]]

... unless they're wearing a helmet with a face guard.  Remember, Exalted assumes that people who don't wear helmets have the same protection as those who do.  And what makes you say that kidneys tend to be left unprotected?  Most of the torso is generally very heavily armored - that's where people keep most of their vital organs, after all.  -[[Everyl]]

Keep in mind that if I were swordfighting in Creation, I'd be going for the face too.  Or anywhere else that isn't armored.  I'd take hitting an armored section as a close second to that, followed by not hitting at all.  The idea that I can somehow punch someone in the face and bypass armor, while stupidly swinging my deadly cutting edge only where they have metal, doesn't sound too clever on my part. -- [[BillGarrett]]

While I like the reason for what Morpheus suggests, I just can't agree with the method to implement it. There is an explanation in the book why called shots don't do more damage. It just assumes everyone is, by default, trying to hit someone where the strike would do the most damage. You get one success, you ding the guy on his shoulder pad; you get ten successes, and you smacked him on the face and bust him open (or some other similarly efficacious hit). The problem is something good charms should solve, not mundane weapons. ~ Andrew02