Ballistic Impact
The critical table for bullets stopped by body armor — blunt trauma instead of holes: bruises, fractures, knockdowns, and very few funerals. This is what wearing the vest buys. Converted from Weapon Law: Firearms 6.3 (book p. 121) into the RMU core Puncture table's location-band layout (RMU p. 233), with the old stun mechanics adapted to RMU conditions. Roll d100 (not open-ended) and cross-index with the critical's severity. When the ballistic body armor rules on Combat swap a critical here, keep the same roll — do not roll again.
| Roll | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head1 | AFoe’s ear is now a little flatter. Foe hears at -10.+2H | BThe slug flattens against foe’s brow ridge — a mean bruise.+2H, 1 stun [-50] | CBullet breaks foe’s cheek. Foe has trouble talking and suffers -5 to his Appearance.+4H, 2 stun [-50], -5 inj | DBullet glances off foe’s skull.+3H, 3 stun [-50] | EBullet to the side of foe’s head. Temporary (2 days) loss of hearing in that ear.+6H, 2 stun [-50], -10 inj |
| Chest2 - 3 | AShot to the side leaves foe slightly off-balance.+3H, 2 staggered | BChest hit causes minor muscle bruising.+3H, staggered | CCenter abdomen hit causes minor muscle bruising high on the ribs.+3H, staggered | DBullet impacts high on foe’s chest. Foe loses initiative for three rounds.+4H, 1 stun [-50], -5 inj | ESide hit breaks two ribs.+4H, 2 stun [-50], -10 inj |
| Abdomen4 - 5 | ARight in the gut; except for that armor.+1H | BBullet impacts foe’s abdomen causing minor muscle bruising.+2H, staggered, -5 inj | CShot punches foe in the waist.+2H, staggered | DBullet strikes foe’s hip causing a minor fracture.+4H, 1 stun [-50], -5 inj | EAbdomen hit causes minor muscle and organ damage.+4H, 2 stun [-50], 1 bleed, -10 inj |
| Leg6 - 10 | AHo. Hum.+0H | BLower leg hit results in just a minor scratch.+1H | CAlmost a great hit on the knee.+1H, staggered | DHard hit to the calf. Foe must make a Medium maneuver or fall down.+1H, staggered | EHard hit to the thigh. Foe must make a Medium maneuver or fall down.+4H, -5 inj |
| Arm11 - 15 | ABlast to foe’s hand. If he was holding an item, he might drop it.+0H | BAh, well. Maybe next time.+0H | CYou shot foe’s hand. He must make a Light maneuver to hold onto his item.+0H, staggered | DForearm wound causes foe to flinch and bruise. You gain initiative next round.+2H, staggered | EShot hits whatever foe was holding. The item flies out of his grasp.+1H, 2 staggered |
| Head16 - 20 | AThe impact boxes foe’s ear — ringing until tomorrow.+5H, 1 stun [-50] | BBullet breaks foe’s jaw. Foe cannot talk until healed and suffers -15 to his Appearance.+6H, 2 stun [-50], 1 stun [-75], 2 bleed, -10 inj | CThe slug clips foe’s throat — windpipe bruised, not crushed. He fights for every breath.+6H, 3 stun [-75], -10 inj | DBullet hits foe smack dab in the forehead. Foe is unconscious for three hours.Foe is out of the fight. +12H | EWild shot bounces off foe’s armor, hits a rock, then comes right back to foe’s head. Foe is unconscious for 3d10 hours. You gain +25 on your next attack.Foe is out of the fight. +10H |
| Chest21 - 25 | AThe vest catches it whole — a fist-sized bruise blooming beneath.+5H, staggered | BBullet glances off two ribs, breaking them in the process.+8H, 3 stun [-50], -10 inj | CChest hit breaks a rib. Major muscle and tendon damage.+8H, 2 stun [-50], 1 bleed, -10 inj | DBullet breaks three ribs.+10H, 4 stun [-50], -10 inj | EBullet breaks a rib, which punctures a lung.+8H, 3 stun [-75], 3 bleed, -15 inj |
| Abdomen26 - 35 | AUpper abdominal hit bruises some internal organs.+6H, 2 stun [-50], -10 inj | BHip strike causes much bruising and a small fracture.+8H, 2 stun [-50], staggered, -10 inj | CLower abdominal shot leaves a large bruise and causes some bleeding.+5H, 3 stun [-75], 2 bleed, -10 inj | DHip strike fractures pelvis. He tries not to shimmy.+12H, 3 stun [-75], -20 inj | EThe slug hammers the liver through the weave. Foe vomits bile and folds.+8H, 3 stun [-75], 2 bleed, -15 inj |
| Leg36 - 45 | AFoe is lucky he has quick feet.+1H | BFoe has a crushed toe.+4H, staggered, -5 inj | CHard hit to the calf. Foe must make a Hard maneuver or fall down.+4H, staggered, -5 inj | DHard hit to the thigh. Foe must make a Hard maneuver or fall down.+6H, staggered, -5 inj | EBullet fractures foe’s knee and bruises the tendons.+7H, 2 stun [-50], -10 inj |
| Arm46 - 55 | ANot even a bruise.+0H | BNick foe’s biceps causing minor bruising damage.+2H, staggered, -5 inj | CForearm wound bruises and tears tendons. If foe is carrying an item, he must make a Medium maneuver to hold onto it.+2H, staggered, -5 inj | DBiceps hit causes major bruising damage.+4H, 2 stun [-50], -10 inj | EForearm shot fractures the wrist. Foe drops any items he was carrying with this arm.+4H, 2 stun [-50], -10 inj |
| Arm56 - 65 | AA bruise on the shoulder.+1H | BShoulder hit. Minor bruising damage.+1H, staggered, -5 inj | CBullet bruises foe’s clavicle.+4H, 2 staggered, -5 inj | DBullet solidly impacts the shoulder — foe spins and falls down.+5H, 2 stun [-50], staggered, -10 inj, prone | EBullet breaks foe’s clavicle.+10H, 3 stun [-50], -15 inj |
| Abdomen66 | ABullet to his seat causes foe to jump. He loses initiative next round.+8H, 2 stun [-50] | BThe shot rides the vest’s edge into the love handles — deep bruise, wounded pride.+7H, staggered, -5 inj | CSolar plexus. The armor spreads the blow; the diaphragm folds anyway. Foe doubles over, wheezing.+6H, 2 stun [-50], -5 inj | DFoe’s hip joint shattered.+20H, 5 stun [-75], -50 inj | EFunny, you never thought your opponent could hit a note that high. You are stunned for 1 round in sympathy.+30H, 12 stun [-75], 2 bleed, -75 inj |
| Leg67 - 75 | AFoot hit breaks several small bones.+8H, 2 staggered, -10 inj | BHard hit to the thigh. Foe must make a Very Hard maneuver or fall down. That’ll leave a mark.+8H, 2 stun [-50], -10 inj | CBullet strikes the calf. Tibia fractured — foe must make a Very Hard maneuver or fall down.+10H, 2 stun [-50], staggered, -15 inj | DBullet breaks the kneecap and causes minor tendon damage.+12H, 4 stun [-75], -20 inj | EAnkle strike fractures bone. Foe falls.+10H, 3 stun [-50], 1 stun [-75], -15 inj, prone |
| Chest76 - 80 | ABullet hits foe in the back causing major bruising. Foe is at -20 until a chiropractor looks at it.+15H, 2 stun [-50], -10 inj | BChest strike breaks a rib and collapses a lung.+8H, 3 stun [-75], 3 bleed, -15 inj | CFoe has two ribs and his spleen crushed by the impact.+12H, 3 stun [-75], 5 bleed, -20 inj | DChest hit breaks several ribs, which cause internal bleeding.+20H, 4 stun [-75], 4 bleed, -30 inj | EThe ribs stave in around the plate — every breath grates bone on bone.+14H, 3 stun [-75], 2 bleed, -25 inj |
| Head81 - 85 | ABullet crushes foe’s carotid artery. Foe will die in six minutes without surgery.Foe is dying. +3H, 3 stun [-75], -15 inj | BBullet breaks foe’s neck. Foe is paralyzed.Foe is out of the fight. +8H | CAnd you thought this sort of shot was a myth… Foe takes it right between the eyes. His skull is cracked; he’s down for the count. You gain +25 on your next attack.Foe is out of the fight. +20H | DBullet crushes foe’s eye. Permanent vision loss in that eye. You gain +20 on your next attack.+5H, 2 stun [-75], -10 inj | EBullet caves in the front of foe’s skull. Death is instantaneous. You gain +20 on your next attack.Foe is dead. |
| Arm86 - 90 | AThe item in foe’s hand is hit. Make a breakage check for it — it flies 10’ behind foe.+2H, 2 staggered, -5 inj | BForearm shot crushes bone and tears tendons. Foe drops any items he was carrying and loses initiative for two rounds.+5H, 3 stun [-50], 2 bleed, -15 inj | CElbow hit breaks bone and tears tendons. Arm useless.+3H, 4 stun [-50], 2 staggered, -20 inj | DThe impact pops foe’s arm from his shoulder.+5H, 4 stun [-75], -20 inj | EBiceps hit breaks the bone. Arm useless.+8H, 6 stun [-50], 1 bleed, -25 inj |
| Leg91 - 95 | ACalf strike breaks bone. Foe falls.+8H, 3 stun [-75], -30 inj, prone | BBullet impacts squarely and breaks the femur. Foe falls.+10H, 4 stun [-75], -40 inj, prone | CAnkle strike breaks bone and tears tendon. If the caliber is large enough (hunting class II or greater), the ankle is crushed (+20H). Foe falls.+12H, 4 stun [-75], 2 bleed, -25 inj, prone | DBullet shatters foe’s knee. Severe tendon damage.+18H, 6 stun [-50], 4 stun [-75], -30 inj | EThe femur snaps mid-shaft and the leg folds the wrong way. Foe is down and staying down.+20H, 5 stun [-75], -50 inj, prone |
| Abdomen96 - 97 | AKidney shot. Opponent is bleeding pretty badly — internally.+8H, 4 stun [-75], 5 bleed, -20 inj | BThe pelvis cracks through the armor’s skirt. Wait for the ambulance.+15H, 4 stun [-75], -35 inj | CThe spleen ruptures under an intact vest. Foe folds — dead within the hour without surgery.Foe is dying. +12H, 4 bleed | DThe impact bruises the spine through the back panel. Foe’s legs quit on the spot.Foe is out of the fight. +10H | EMassive internal trauma under an unbroken weave. The armor looks fine; foe is not.Foe is dying. +18H, 6 bleed |
| Chest98 - 99 | AChest hit breaks the sternum.+10H, 3 stun [-75], -30 inj | BHeart strike crushes the sternum and lodges bone shards near foe’s heart. Call a good surgeon.+15H, 4 stun [-75], 4 bleed, -40 inj | CThe plate stops the slug; the shockwave stops the heart — for a beat. Foe drops, out cold.Foe is out of the fight. +20H | DFlail chest — a whole panel of ribs floats free. Foe is dying without an emergency room.Foe is dying. +18H, 3 bleed | EThe impact lands square over the heart, between beats. It does not restart. Foe is dead.Foe is dead. |
| Head100 | AFoe’s ear is crushed and several bones broken in his skull. Not fun… for him. You gain +20 on your next attack.+6H, 3 stun [-75], -10 inj | BShot caves in the side of foe’s head. He’s dead, but you have half a round left to act. You gain +20 on your next attack.Foe is dead. | CThe impact snaps foe’s head back hard enough that the neck gives.Foe is dead. | DFoe gets a strange look on his face as the bullet breaks his nose and drives cartilage into his brain. Foe is in a coma for the next two years. You gain +20 on your next attack.Foe is out of the fight. | EBullet crushes foe’s fore-lobes. Foe dies instantly. Carry on, soldier. You gain +25 on your next attack.Foe is dead. |
| +XH: additional hits · X bleed: X hits per round until healed · X stun [-50/-75]: Stunned X rounds at the given penalty · staggered: loses 1 AP · -X inj: injury penalty until healed · X rnds (-Y): penalty of Y for X rounds · prone: knocked down · dead/dying results are marked as such. Attacker bonuses are given in the text. | |||||