A crossbow against your head

[Traziun]

In situations like this, the threat of death is very real; certainly, a crossbow bolt right through the head would likely kill you, and when you're so close there's little chance of missing.

But then, this doesn't really translate to game mechanics. The most it could do is a critical hit, and when you've got enough HP that there's no chance of that killing you, why act like there's a threat? Personally, I think that in this kind of situation, one should act like they could very well die. Well, provided they aren't covered in spell protections or have some other way out.

[DM Richard (Retired)]

If it is pressed right up against their head you lose.

You only have one shot and if you don't immediately take it you have given up your advantage. By pressing it to their head and not immediately killing them you are now having to react to what they do. At that range you are messed.

[Munroe]

Reloading a light crossbow is a move action, reloading a heavy crossbow is a full-round action. So if you miss that first shot (say the person quickly moves their head to the side) you're pretty much out of luck. If you're going to put something to someone's head, a dagger or other light bladed weapon to the throat is probably your best choice. For light slashing weapons, even if they move away they could still inflict slashing damage on themselves.

[shimmerxxx]

I think what Traziun is trying to say is that even high level PCs should consider a crossbow to the head or a knife at the throat a life threatening situation rather than doing a quick damage calculation and acting like Superman.

Traziun, I think most of us would act as if it were a serious threat, to do otherwise could be considered metagaming. And besides, you never know when a DM may decide that a 1st level rogue slitting the throat of a nonchalant 20th level paladin counts as a coup de grace.

[Mythinite]

The threat of a weapon pointed at your throat/head/other vitals should be very real regardless of whether you have 10 or 100 hit points, the game mechanics of NWN just can't handle such a situation. If you are not helpless (asleep/paralyzed/?) you can react to such danger without any fear of it hurting any more than normal combat would.

A bandit sneaks up on you from behind unnoticed and point their weapon at you. "Don't move or I'll kill you!". In PnP you would most likely be subject to a readied attack against you flatfooted AC, including any sneak attack dice, if you moved. In NWN you can react and engage in normal combat with no special risk.

You try to talk calmly to your attacker. You converse for a minute or two and he finally lowers his weapon, combat is over and initiate ends. Suddenly you make your move, hoping to take the bandit by surprise. In PnP new initiatives would be rolled and depending on the outcome the bandit might still get the drop on you, sneak attacks and everything. He sees your body tensing and strikes before you can move. In NWN the bandit doesn't act automatically out of combat but has to rely on the reflexes of his controller. In other words, the player must notice whatever it is you're trying to do and complete his counter action before you complete yours. That is not bloody likely is it?

Even worse yet, you wake up as you feel a sting on your throat. The bandit has pierced your skin with the tip of his dagger, a drop of blood slowly trickling from the wound, and tells you to lay still. In PnP you'd be more or less entangled in your bedroll, groggy from the sleep, probably not wearing any armor and also be prone on the ground. You may not be helpless in the strictest sense but I'm pretty sure that I as DM would allow an automatic critical hit regardless! In NWN you can't wake up people short of attacking them and the window in which to do this is mere seconds. If you don't damage them during rest then they will stand up next to you automatically, have a full arsenal of prepared spells and otherwise be ready to defend themselves. They could put on their armor, draw their sword and board and whack you on the head before you even completed your next sentence.

I think my point was that NWN is very poor at simulating these non-combat but very real threat situations, I hope I made it a clear one. I would recommend that if you are in a situation like this then instead of acting all cocky then work out the situation OOC. Explain what it is that you intend to do, how you want to do it and what you think would be an appropriate test to make it work. Reach an agreement then use the dice roller. If you try to escape the bandit who's got you at knife point and fail your initiative then let them stab you before you start acting, if that is what their intentions are. Two overconfident/cocky/almighty characters are unlikely to be able to solve such a situation using just emotes and combat rules.

Thank you for reading.

[TermaForever]

It doesn't matter how powerful you are, something simple like a knife to the throat will kill you short of being some divine creature and the knife breaks (or they miss the vessel...)

Honestly if you pull this stunt on me, I'll be listening to what you have to say very keenly...

[DM Grizwald]

i dont know how much a crossbow or dagger would do to someone with premonition or greater stoneskin. those might have to be taken into account as well.

[SlothfulCat]

clarkgrizwald said:

i dont know how much a crossbow or dagger would do to someone with premonition or greater stoneskin. those might have to be taken into account as well.

I'd think it would be like normal combat then, even a coup-de-grace wont count unless it can beat the damage reduction... unless I'm totally mistaken.

[Mythinite]

avieupator said:

clarkgrizwald said:

i dont know how much a crossbow or dagger would do to someone with premonition or greater stoneskin. those might have to be taken into account as well.

I'd think it would be like normal combat then, even a coup-de-grace wont count unless it can beat the damage reduction... unless I'm totally mistaken.

I looked it up and damage reduction does not prevent a coup-de-grace although the damage and save DC obviously will be lower. Immunity to critical hits will prevent a coup-de-grace but I doubt very many run around with that.

Comment for kasin: Your post describes exactly what I interpret initiative to be: An opposed test of reaction. You could argue that acting should carry a bonus compared to reacting but I think that's more trouble than it's worth, especially if the combatants are mutually aware.