Kenku private parts

[Andre]

I post this mainly for nydhog's benefit (he runs Eolaer in the dragonlance game).. he jokingly made a comment on skype one time that darkalloy got to conveniently avoid certain male inconveniences, such as not being able to do a called groin shot on kenku bird-men, due to darkalloy getting to "make up" certain unspecified details about the various races found in the d and d world, such as kenku ... as it turns out there is in fact scientific basis for darkalloy's claim ! And sure enough as darkalloy states it is, in fact, quite long ... see

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penis

but here's a quote from the relevant part of it :

" A bird penis is different in structure from mammal penises, being an erectile expansion of the cloacal wall and being erected by lymph, not blood. It is usually partially feathered and in some species features spines and brush-like filaments, and in flaccid state curls up inside the cloaca. The Argentine Blue-bill has the largest penis in relation to body size of all vertebrates; while usually about half the body size (20 cm), a specimen with a penis 42.5 cm long is documented. "

So if anyone was REALLY wondering about that now you know ...

[darkalloy]

Lol can't believe you.... no wait I can. Anywho see I knew what I was doing and this solves all arguments about who has the biggest now too.

[casdegere]

Though this may be true, consider that each organic race in D&D (except like Warforged/golums etc) has "vitals". A critical hit of a vital area would connect as stated by the rules no matter where they were located upon the race. It may be however that the attacker may not know where this vital area is. But the dice can be mean and a critical is a critical even though one was not aimed at.

[Andre]

Interesting way to look at it Casdegere good observation ... but yeah I already told Rin that kenku aren't subject to groin shots so now I have to stick with my official DM ruling ...

[casdegere]

I think your ruling is appropriate so a "groin" shot as a called shot would be ineffective for specially harming a Kenku. However, if a critical is obtained on a straight die roll, would the DM still deny the critical? Even a Kenku has a vital area, it may just be no one knows where exactly it is and only a lucky shot would hit them.

Or, being a Bard he might simply plead..."Not in the face...not in the face!!"

[Andre]

This is the one and only case where we'd have to worry about groin shots or lack therein, just for kenku ... pretty much every foe you're going to fight (even dragons) has a groin you can target if you choose to ....

To clarify a bit further... Rin IS vunerable to critical hits and critical damage, same as any other PC, NPC, creatures that are vunerable to crit hits et cetera (undead golems et al retain their usual invunerability to crit hits) ... what we're referring to here is the "called shot" option from the "torn asunder critical hits" sourcebook (sorry should have clarified that to begin with for the newer players ! ) Normally you can target the groin for specific "special effects" if you will that handicap your opponent in combat due to the excruciating pain , kenku are immune to groin shots but you can certainly target their arms, legs, chest, head, mouth, eyes, ears .... in the case of a dragon targeting the wings might also be an idea to cut off it's ability to fly ... There was one FG game session where poor Rin got BOTH arms slashed with called shots by his foes, made it REALLY tough for him to fight since he had a -8 to most actions with either arm ! (and a DC 17 strength check to hold on to anything in either arm ) ....

If you haven't already read over pages 3-8 and the "called shots" and "critical fumbles" part of the critical hits torn asunder book ...

[darkalloy]

Even a mouth shot would be a bit hard to get on a kenku as they have a beak. Not impossible mind you. Theoretically you could aim for the side of his face and hope to hit some of his beak muscles, It's kinda like hittingh a kenku wiht an ear shot not impossible but really freaking tough consideriing it's an ear hole.