Good topic.
I've always wanted an END chart for equipment and weapons.
Having the item make an HC based on the stressing/damaging event could work too.
Using an ax to break down an interior door should just be a matter of time. You don't have to work out damage/hit, just take an average and say it takes that many rounds.
Or you could roll per hit.
Since we're on the topic..
Using the same ax to attack a metal "fire door", should take longer. 3x-5x as long.. at least.
Let's say the ax isn't a fireman's style door chopper, but a typical wood ax. Maybe it can't take the stress and after 1-2 heavy metal doors, it has to make a HC. +1 Letter code/door.. or something.
Attacking a fire door with a baseball bat might be a D or E HC or it breaks. The door should be immune anyway. What is the number referenced? Maybe the END of the bat is used.
What is the END of a bat? Club? Rifle stock? 20 END..?
Ball bats shouldn't take damage just hitting baseballs (well, maybe after hitting a lot of them..
www.acs.psu.edu/drussell/bats/abi.html).
But attacking a metal door is another matter.
Maybe the bat would take the same damage as it gives.
How strong do you have to be to break the bat by hitting something?
Along those lines, let's say your Mutant Horror gets +24 damage from her 130 STR. As a GM, I wouldn't give but 1-2 swings before her favorite club/bat/sword just broke off in someone.
This comes up in our game (and other fantasy games we've played).
Can you karate chop an iron golem? (assuming non-magical enhancements..no.)
Or for ME, can you use 10 skill points in Martial Arts to attack a heavy combot?
Why? Why not?
Remember the wise words of Sun Tzu; "Sweep the leg, Johnny."
If we have a discussion about breaking stuff, then we need a discussion about toughness, then we need a discussion about using MA on Robots!
I'm thinking robots, like fire doors, are immune to MA from normal "squishy" human limbs.
What if a robot attacks another robot using MA?