Shock (rule)

Shock is a penalty to DX and IQ (and their skills) as a result of damage. Typically, it is -1 per point of injury, maximum -4.^[1]^[2] Fortunately, this penalty persists through your next turn only.

This penalty doubled by Low Pain Threshold and ignored by High Pain Threshold.

High HP and Shock[]

Those with higher Hit Points require more points of injury to incur a penalty. Use HP/10, dropping all fractions. For instance, at 20 HP, you would only get a shock penalty from attacks doing 2 damage each!

Consideration: Realism vs Cinematic[]

In most videogames and tabletop games, shock simply doesn't exist. As a game consideration, it's a self-unbalancing system--characters who get hit first will be penalized, meaning they're likely to be hit again. Getting hit often means going on the defensive (all out defense in melee, or diving into cover) to clear the penalty. While this works for very gritty adventures, it can tip battles too easily.^[3]

Pyramid[]

http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=19

There was a 1998 suggestion to apply it to ST as well as IQ/DX. While Kromm said this was not part of the rules, he agreed it was realistic.

Martial Arts[]

GURPS Martial Arts 119:

If you wound him, his shock penalty (-1 to -4) lowers his ST as well as his DX if you try to break free

FAQ[]

http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/faq/FAQ4-3.html#SS3.4.5.2 asks two questions and got a twofold answer

3.4.5.2 What rolls are affected by Shock due to injuries? When do the penalty take effect?

Rolls affected[]

Shock lowers DX and IQ, -1 each per point of damage taken (for a maximum of -4). This reduction lasts until the end of the victim's next turn. He can still act during that turn, but at the given penalty.

Shock does not affect:

Any active defense.
Any resistance roll.
DX rolls to remain standing after Knockback, if that wound caused the Knockback.

Shock does affect:

Attack rolls.
Recovery from Mental Stun.
All other DX or IQ rolls.

Penalty duration[]

You take shock penalties the moment you get hurt, and suffer them until the end of your next turn. If you were interrupted during your action by someone Waiting, and get hurt, you do suffer penalties on your current action.

Blocking spells[]

3.4.5.3 Shock penalties do not affect "defensive reactions". Since Blocking spells are used for defense, do they suffer those penalties?

Blocking spells are still spells, and subject to the Distraction and Injury rules on p. B236. They might "count as" a block, dodge, or parry, but that's not the same as saying they give you a Block, Dodge, or Parry score.

Regarding active defenses[]

Originally in Basic Set, active defenses also did not suffer reductions resulting from the -4 to DX a grappled foe suffers.

This was altered in GURPS Martial Arts page 121 called Defense While Grappling which did apply it to them.

DWG however did not change it so Shock could impact them too.

Weapons[]

As this thread points out, B548 under "Ranged Attack Modifiers" under "Attacker's Situation" lists 2 separate points, presumably cumulative with each other:

Damaged weapon: -HP of injury received last turn (maximum -4)
Shock: -HP of injury received last turn (maximum -4)

The Damaged weapon rules appear to work like shock on a weapon. Maybe related to Must Be Wielded. B484 continuation of Damage to Objects relates:

Apply the usual shock penalty to any use of that object.

T-Bone rules[]

see https://www.gamesdiner.com/gurps/GULLIVER/B6damage.htm#AmountShock

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