Question about criticals

[alloowishus]

B electricity

Strike to foe's shield arm. If shield, he is stunned for 4 rnds. If not, foe's arm is useless and foe is stunned and unable to parry for 2 rnds.

Does that mean they arm is permanently useless? Or just for 2 rounds? What kind of injury is it? Thanks.

[Frabby]

For lack of other information I would interpret this as nerve damage. "Useless" translates as -100 to actions using the limb.
So not technically permanent, but will require a competent healer and/or a very long time to heal.

My take on it anyways.

[jdale]

Maybe also look at where it appears on the table. If it's a high roll, it should be more severe; if it's a low row, less so. That might give you some guidance on just how bad it is supposed to be.

[alloowishus]

For lack of other information I would interpret this as nerve damage. "Useless" translates as -100 to actions using the limb.
So not technically permanent, but will require a competent healer and/or a very long time to heal.

My take on it anyways.

Yeah, that's always how I interpreted it, it was a 76-80 roll so it was pretty high.

[rsarres]

Does that mean they arm is permanently useless? Or just for 2 rounds? What kind of injury is it? Thanks.

I would make the damage permanent, only healable by magic or a great healer. The shield arm, in my opinion, is actually dead, dangling around, useless. I would apply -50 to all maneuvers that would use both arms (riding, swimming, climbing, etc.) No maneuver using exclusively the shield arm would be allowed, like using a shield.