Thinking about NPC damage

[Legbreaker]

Don't forget that NPCs suffer double damage from head wounds. It doesn't take all that much to take a character out of the action (both NPC and PC) - a simple paper cut can keep them occupied for a few moments while others move in to finish them off.

It sort of makes sense really. Hand grenades aren't actually all that lethal by themselves (although I still wouldn't want to be in the blast radius). They mainly stun the lucky recipient (although of course death may still result) long enough so that a follow up by bayonet or bullet finishes the job.
Also, the automatic fire "danger area" rule makes poking one's head up a little problematic. Nobody likes a bullet to the face (especially NPCs with that pesky double damage rule).

I'll admit, the rules are a bit clunky in places, but it doesn't take all that much combat before players start to realise that body armour and helmets are a MUST and damn the action hero image with nothing more than a torn shirt and red bandanna for "protection".

[Adm.Lee]

Originally Posted by Legbreaker

Don't forget that NPCs suffer double damage from head wounds.

Nope, I didn't forget that one!

I'll admit, the rules are a bit clunky in places, but it doesn't take all that much combat before players start to realise that body armour and helmets are a MUST and damn the action hero image with nothing more than a torn shirt and red bandanna for "protection".

Back when I ran Merc, one of my PCs, a South African big-game hunter in his day-job, didn't buy a helmet. "Cape buffalo don't shoot back!" The other players knew better, and teased him mercilessly as he lay on his back and bled. "These aren't Cape buffalo!"