I'm afraid that I'm once more missing a chart or paragraph, but:
When the damage tables for a hand wound indicate you might drop anything held, how do you figure out if you do?
E.g., Bludgeoning, Zone VII, Location Roll 1 (Hand), Level Two:
"...May drop hand-held items (roll at -3)."
What am I rolling, against what Target Number?
Gene Ha
Any of the following stats would apply: Strength, Agility or Knockdown ((ST+AG)/2). I would use Knockdown.
Your target number should be reasonably difficult, but not impossibly so. I've found that anything in the range of 7 to 9 isn't unreasonable. Also, the -3 is a -3 dice penalty, not a TN bonus. Very important.
Thanks, Lance. Makes a lot of sense. Also, I don't think I understood the Knockout and Knockdown penalty system before.
I'm posting a response from Brian Leybourne, through old fashioned e-mail:
"Actually, I have no idea (I don't recall it being in the book, although I don't have it handy to check). Jake can most likely answer you though. . ."
". . . Gut reaction? I would say roll Reflex vs weapon ATN. I don't know if that's "right" or "official" but it's what I would do in a pinch."
Perhaps there isn't really an official answer. Yet. Guess we all have to buy TFoB when it comes out.
Gene
OK, just got the historical lowdown from Mr. Jake:
"In the original draft of TROS there was a 'Grip' stat that's now gone. The damage tables, so long and tedious in the making, seem to have escaped with some vestiges of that. I would use the knockdown rules stat for those rolls, using the same TNs and everything."
So that would be a roll of Knockdown/TN Shock.
Gene Ha