It doesn't really make sense that subsequent attempts do not hit and especially start combat, when someone has already been weakened by a vital area. It seems to me it should always cause damage and start combat, with the str malediction only applying when it wasn't in place already (actually, I want to say there are other skills that work similarly and should be changed as well, but I can't recall which just now). Currently it's like at the last moment you somehow get second thoughts about hurting your foe and decide to abort...


vital X
You weaken X with a blow to a vital area.
Your blow to a vital area maims X!

(snip fleeing, then trying to re-engage)

vital X
X is already weakened.
(combat doesn't start)


- I.e. the expected behavior would be:

vital X
You weaken X with a blow to a vital area.
Your blow to a vital area maims X!
...
vital X
X is already weakened.
Your blow to a vital area maims X!


(Also while on the subject of vital area, it's hit rate seems way too low for what it does, it's very common to miss several tries in a row)