Edge: Sunder

[Daniel]

From pg 8 Savage Worlds Edition of Freeport Companion. I think it is also in the Shaintar books somewhere?


Sunder (Combat Edge)
Requirements: Seasoned, Fighting d8+
Effect: Any melee weapon wielded by you gains AP 1 or has its existing AP value increased by 1.

Improved Sunder
Requirements: Veteran, Fighting d10+
Effect: As Sunder, except your melee weapons gain AP 2 or have their existing AP value increased by 2.

[Pender Lumkiss]

Any thought to upping the AP but limiting it to breaking things?

[High Command]

I would argue that Sunder should instead cause a Technical Difficulties check on any item it hits (with armor losing armor points instead of penalties), and should carry a called shot penalty. Improved would eliminate the penalty.

[Ndreare]

I like it, clean and simple.


@High Command, I think for causing a TD roll, could just be a called shot and if a wound is inflicted it causes an issue with the item.


PS: Poll added.

[Freemage]

Once again, I'm compelled to point out that in Savage Rifts, AP and Damage are virtually always at a point-for-point value--that is to say, in 90% of cases where it matters, this Edge is "+1 to damage with all Fighting attacks", which is fairly potent especially when it stacks with Trademark Weapon and other existing Edges. Furthermore, Pender, your suggestion doesn't really mesh well with RAW, because objects-as-such don't even have Armor; they just have a Toughness score. And while I like HC's idea in theory, items (including weapons) are actually already pretty easy to destroy outright (swords have Toughness 10; if you hit a sword for 11 points of damage, it's destroyed). Adding a layer of complexity for causing TD seems a bit extraneous.

To me, this is a solution in search of a problem.

[Pender Lumkiss]

Gotcha Freemage, what about letting damage ace vs objects?

[Freemage]

Gotcha Freemage, what about letting damage ace vs objects?

A bit weak for an Edge. I'd say make it a normal attack--so you get a bonus d6 on a Fighting Raise, AND damage dice can explode.

[Ndreare]

"+1 to damage with all Fighting attacks" is not quite equal to +1 die type to strength.

• No lifting/throwing capacity increase
  Does not Ace
  Does not affect Strength rolls

Balancing the small loss by allowing it to be taken as two edges before being legendary does not feel broken or bad.

[Pender Lumkiss]

Gotcha Freemage, what about letting damage ace vs objects?

A bit weak for an Edge. I'd say make it a normal attack--so you get a bonus d6 on a Fighting Raise, AND damage dice can explode.

Call it item killer

[Freemage]

"+1 to damage with all Fighting attacks" is not quite equal to +1 die type to strength.

• No lifting/throwing capacity increase
  Does not Ace
  Does not affect Strength rolls

Balancing the small loss by allowing it to be taken as two edges before being legendary does not feel broken or bad.

Directly adding to damage exists only two edges--Brawler (which barely makes unarmed attacks viable), and Fervor (which only works on Extras). Even Trademark Weapon doesn't give you more damage, just more skill. That leads me to believe this is a deliberate design decision. I much prefer the flavor of "I break items" to "I do even more damage".

[Ndreare]

"+1 to damage with all Fighting attacks" is not quite equal to +1 die type to strength.

• No lifting/throwing capacity increase
  Does not Ace
  Does not affect Strength rolls

Balancing the small loss by allowing it to be taken as two edges before being legendary does not feel broken or bad.

Directly adding to damage exists only two edges--Brawler (which barely makes unarmed attacks viable), and Fervor (which only works on Extras). Even Trademark Weapon doesn't give you more damage, just more skill. That leads me to believe this is a deliberate design decision. I much prefer the flavor of "I break items" to "I do even more damage".

Like most things in the book there are multiple ways to get better at damage.

• Berserk
  Brawler
  Bruiser (raises die type when a raise is rolled)
  Martial Arts (adds d4 damage)
  Improved Martial Arts (adds die type)
  Expert (Raises Strength +1 which affects damage)
  Professional (Raises strength +1 again which affects damage)
  Arcane Backgrounds which allow Smite and Boost Trait (Boost trait happens to be endless), also including other abilities.
  Overrun (adds +2 damage when combined with running)
  Many other edges add bonuses to hit, which can in turn be used for called shots which add to damage.

Overall I would say adding to damage is not a big deal.

[High Command]

Any further comment/Vote on this?