HTHK attacks, Armor Piercing, and STR?

[Territan]

With a bit of experimentation in HD, I found out that if Armor Piercing is added to a HTH Killing Attack, the STR add to damage is reduced. A character with 15 STR only adds 1/2d6 to the damage instead of 1d6.

 

Would someone please point out to me where in the rules this interaction is coded, please?

[Simon]

6E2 100-101

[Territan]

Okay, found it.

 

But here's what I don't get now:

3d6 HKA = 45 points. The one advantage is one level of Armor Piercing (+1/4); the other modifiers are Focus (OAF of convenience, -1/2) and "Real Weapon" (-1/4).

 

On the table on p. 101, a DC3 (STR 15) add to a killing attack with a +1/4 mod would add 1d6-1 to damage, not 1/2d6.

Am I doing the math here wrong?

[Simon]

For Killing Attacks:

    1 DC = +1 pip

    2 DC = 1/2d6

    3 DC = 1d6

 

With a +1/4 Advantage on an HKA, you're looking at 6.25 points of STR per DC.  15 STR will get you 2DC (you'd need to increase to 19 STR before you had enough for 3DC).

[Killer Shrike]

@Territan Both 1d6-1 and 1/2d6 are 2 Damage Classes (DC). 

 

Traditionally Hero used half dies. Somewhere around I think 5th edition the option to instead use 1d6-1 was introduced for people who struggle with or just don't like half dies. But, I believe, 1/2d6 is still the default assumption. At the table when you play, you could chose to treat a 1/2d6 as 1d6-1 however. The trade off of course is that while 1d6-1 has better peak (5) and average (2.5) there is also the chance that it will do 0 damage which some people have a psychological issue with. Mathematically, the 1d6-1 option is more effective overall.

 

 

If it bothers you enough, you can double click the Power text in the listing and type over 3 1/2 d6 with 4d6-1

 

 

One thing I will point out is, you are applying "Real Weapon" to this but very few real weapons do 3d6 damage. Also, if it is a muscle powered HKA you generally should be applying a Strength Minimum...which will also affect the amount of bonus damage you get from STR.