Post by Storyteller on Dec 16, 2015 5:34:37 GMT
Before it becomes an issue, because most assuredly, someone will eventually stake someone in Pillars of Eternity, here are the rules:
To stake someone, they must be hit and damaged with an appropriate wooden implement (a stake, sometimes an arrow or spear)
Armor must be defeated to stake an individual.
This requires 1-3 points of damage inflicted (depending on the type of armour) before a staking attempt can occur. (The armour must be rendered ineffective, though not necessarily destroyed and this is before Fortitude stages it down)
Shields add defensive traits, not health levels, and do not defend from attacks from the rear.
Armor-piercing weapons ignore this rule.
Surprise may negate the effects of armour depending on circumstances, or it might not.
Staking
If you have a weapon with the staking quality, you can attempt to stake a vampire. Staking requires you to use the Pierce the Heart combat maneuver. It imposes a -3 penalty to your attack test pool, and a successful hit. The attacker must then win or tie two Simple test in order to successfully stake the vampire.
If successful, the target falls into torpor until the stake is removed. Staked vampires automatically awaken when the stake is removed, unless they are also out of health levels.
NOTE: Fortitude may make it so a Vampire can ignore the damage but it does not prevent a stake, spear or arrow from piercing their body.
There may be situations where it is more difficult to stake an active defender (requiring 3 simples for instance), but it is NEVER easier than two simple tests after damaging a cainite to stake someone.
This may appear to make fortitude unbeatable. Not so.
Remember, high potence applies additional levels of damage per blow. There are certain additives and procedures that can also enhance a stake's effectiveness as can high levels of the appropriate skills.
Individuals with non standard equipment are already aware of their uses, those of you with appropriate lores will be informed if you need to know something special.
The bottom line is that staking is difficult enough to allow a certain level of survivability, but easy enough to allow the possibility of taking down someone "alive". We are trying to build a sense of drama and excitement, not engender a bloodfest.
According to certain versions of the Book of Nod, Brujah and even Caine were both victims of staking. No matter how much fortitude a character has, staking is always a possibility...
To stake someone, they must be hit and damaged with an appropriate wooden implement (a stake, sometimes an arrow or spear)
Armor must be defeated to stake an individual.
This requires 1-3 points of damage inflicted (depending on the type of armour) before a staking attempt can occur. (The armour must be rendered ineffective, though not necessarily destroyed and this is before Fortitude stages it down)
Shields add defensive traits, not health levels, and do not defend from attacks from the rear.
Armor-piercing weapons ignore this rule.
Surprise may negate the effects of armour depending on circumstances, or it might not.
Staking
If you have a weapon with the staking quality, you can attempt to stake a vampire. Staking requires you to use the Pierce the Heart combat maneuver. It imposes a -3 penalty to your attack test pool, and a successful hit. The attacker must then win or tie two Simple test in order to successfully stake the vampire.
If successful, the target falls into torpor until the stake is removed. Staked vampires automatically awaken when the stake is removed, unless they are also out of health levels.
NOTE: Fortitude may make it so a Vampire can ignore the damage but it does not prevent a stake, spear or arrow from piercing their body.
There may be situations where it is more difficult to stake an active defender (requiring 3 simples for instance), but it is NEVER easier than two simple tests after damaging a cainite to stake someone.
This may appear to make fortitude unbeatable. Not so.
Remember, high potence applies additional levels of damage per blow. There are certain additives and procedures that can also enhance a stake's effectiveness as can high levels of the appropriate skills.
Individuals with non standard equipment are already aware of their uses, those of you with appropriate lores will be informed if you need to know something special.
The bottom line is that staking is difficult enough to allow a certain level of survivability, but easy enough to allow the possibility of taking down someone "alive". We are trying to build a sense of drama and excitement, not engender a bloodfest.
According to certain versions of the Book of Nod, Brujah and even Caine were both victims of staking. No matter how much fortitude a character has, staking is always a possibility...
