Verb:AMBUSH

The AMBUSH verb is used to aim melee attacks at specific parts of a target's body, in contrast to the ATTACK (or KILL) verb, which attacks a randomly determined part of the target. Note that the AMBUSH verb is different from the Ambush skill. It is not necessary to use the AMBUSH verb in order to get the stance pushdown and critical weighting benefits provided by the Ambush skill, it is only necessary to attack from hiding.

Syntax

• AMBUSH {target} {location} attempts to attack the target in the specified location
• AMBUSH {target} attempts to attack the target in the default aiming location specified by the AIM verb (and attacks normally if no default aiming location is set)

Roundtime

Main article: Base weapon speed

Whether one is attacking from hiding or in the open, using the AMBUSH verb adds three seconds to an attacker's weapon BASE roundtime. This additional roundtime may be mitigated in the normal way via agility and dexterity bonuses down to the minimum ambush roundtime of the particular weapon used. The minimum ambush roundtime of a weapon differs from the normal minimum roundtime of that weapon as follows:

Weapon base speed	Normal Min. RT	Min. Ambush RT
1	3	4
2, 3	4	5
4+	5	6

Success and Failure (melee weapons)

The factors that influence the chance of successfully attacking the body part aimed for include:

• difficulty of the particular body part targeted (smaller and more critical parts of the body are harder to aim for)
• the difficulty modifier for the weapon used (larger weapons are harder to aim)
• difference in attacker and target level
• the attacker's Ambush skill
• the attacker's Combat Maneuvers skill (when aiming from the open, as opposed to from hiding)
• any eye or bleeding head wounds the attacker may have

Failure to hit the desired body part will result in attacking a different part of the target's body, or, at low skill levels, may result in the attacker being unable to find an opening for an attack yet still incurring roundtime.

Other Limitations

Any condition that prevents a character from attacking normally will prevent this verb from working, as will attempting to aim at a nonexistent (e.g., the legs of a worm) or already severed body part.

Size disparity can also prevent aiming at specific body parts. Large characters will not be able to aim at specific parts of small critters (e.g., a human cannot aim at specific parts of a spiked cavern urchin). Furthermore, no character can aim at a part of a creature that, because of size limitations, is out of his or her reach (e.g., a dwarf cannot aim at the head or neck of a giant that is standing up). The use of longer weapons can somewhat mitigate this.

Aiming success chance

An initial d100 is made. If you roll <= 5, you auto fumble. If you do not auto fumble, a skill check made:

MIN(95, (Skill + Stats + Weapon Modifier)/2) + Area modifier + Target Status + d100 = Result

Note: Level is not taken into account for aiming success chance. A comparison between Target size and attacker size is included in the area modifier.

Result

> 100: Success
<100 and >66: you miss the location but still find an opening to attack
<=66: You fail to find an opening

Skill

Aiming from hidden = Ambush Bonus

Open aiming = TRUNC((CM Bonus + Ambush Bonus + 1) / 2)

Stats

Dex Bonus + TRUNC(Int Bonus + 1) / 2))

Weapon Modifier

Varies based on weapon. Large/slow weapons have more penalty. Small and maneuverable weapons have a bonus.

Table added at the bottom of the page

Area Modifier

Head: -10
Neck: -15
Arms: +10
Legs: +15
Hands: +5
Eyes: -25
Other: 0

• Predator's Eye adds into the calculation as part of the location modifier.
• The area modifier is also modified by attacker/target size. Attacking a target bigger than attacker is easier, a target smaller than attacker is more difficult.

Target Status

Sitting/Prone: +10 if head/neck/eyes, +25 otherwise.

Example

202 CM + Lance (-50 aim) aiming at the head,

 d100 = 84
 Skill = ((302 + 0 + 1) / 2) = 151
 Stats = (20 + (22 + 1) / 2) = 31
 Attacker modifier = 0 
 Weapon Modifier = -50

Result = MIN(95, (Skill + Stats + Weapon Modifier)/2) + Area + Target Status + d100 = MIN(95, (151 + 31 - 50)/2) - 10 + 0 + 84 = 140
140 > 100 = Success

Related Articles

• Ambush
• AIM (verb)
• ATTACK (verb)
• Research:Open ambushing
• Ambush saved post (outdated)

Weapon Modifier Table

Weapon	Aim Modifier	Reach (ft)
dagger	25	0ft
falchion	-5	1ft
handaxe	0	1ft
main gauche	5	0ft
Scimitar	5	1ft
rapier	15	1ft
broadsword	0	1ft
short sword	10	0ft
longsword	0	1ft
fist	10	0ft
tiger claw	25	0ft
club	10	1ft
war hammer	10	1ft
mace	5	1ft
morning star	-5	1ft
whip	-25	2ft
battle axe	-25	2ft
flail	-40	2ft
war mattock	-20	2ft
quarterstaff	-5	2ft
Runestaff	-10	2ft
two-handed sword	-30	2ft
javelin	-50	2ft
lance	-50	3ft
spear	-10	2ft
spear (2h)	-20	3ft
military pick	-25	2ft
awl pike	-55	3ft
claidhmore	-30	2ft
backsword	0	1ft
estoc	0	1ft
bastard sword (1h)	-15	2ft
bastard sword (2h)	-5	2ft
crowbill	5	1ft
flamberge	-10	2ft
hammer of kai	-35	3ft
jeddart-axe	-35	3ft
ball & chain	-35	2ft
pilum	0	2ft
naginata	-25	3ft
cestus	10	0ft
paingrip	10	0ft
razorpaw	10	0ft
knuckle-duster	10	0ft
hook-knife	25	0ft
blackjack	15	0ft
knuckle-blade	10	0ft
yierka-spur	20	0ft
troll-claw	5	0ft
fist-scythe	10	0ft
jack-blade	10	0ft
katar	10	0ft
katana (1h)	-10	2ft
katana (2h)	-5	2ft
maul	-20	2ft
sai	10	0ft
trident	-10	2ft
trident (2h)	-20	3ft
whip-blade	10	1ft

Resources

• https://www.play.net/gs4/info/combat_guide/tools.asp
• https://www.play.net/gs4/info/combat_guide/factors.asp