Zhnov
First Post
Looking for critical feedback on attached below Crit & Called Shot houserules.
Do you see any obvious exploits that make these rules broken? Recommend improvements?
thx, O.P.
Edit: replaced attachment with included text below...
==
Critical Damage
These rules replace the Critical Damage system shown in official 3E rulebooks.
Attacks resulting in a threat. When an attacker exceeds the AC of an opponent by 6 or more points on a successful attack (or rolls a natural 20), a threat of critical damage exists. Remember how much the roll exceeded the AC—this may be used later to determine Special Effects.
Checking if a threat is a critical. Once a threat condition exists, the attacker rolls an additional d20 (not an attack roll, but a "critical roll"), to determine if the threat is actually a Critical (an attack resulting in critical damage). The attacker's Base Attack Bonus and all magical, skill, feat, and attribute attack modifiers are applied to the die roll; if this second die roll exceeds the threatened character's AC, then a critical has indeed occurred. If not, only normal damage is dealt. (This aspect is unchanged from the official rules.)
Note: Requiring an additional d20 roll helps bring some balance to the game system by ensuring that any low-level character can get a critical attack by rolling two successive 'natural 20s' (unlikely), while significantly increasing the possibility of scoring critical damage as characters rise in levels.
Determining Critical Damage. Roll damage dice, applying normal Strength, magic, and feat modifiers (save the critical multiplier for now). Refer to PHB weapon table for the critical damage multiplier. This multiplier is incremented by one category (x2 to x3, etc) if the attacker has the Improved Critical feat, and by two categories (x2 to x4, etc) if they have learned the Epic feat Overwhelming Critical. (These feats are modified from the official definition by this house rule). Multiply weapon damage by this multiplier to find the total critical damage for the attack.
Example of a Critical Attack: Joad is a 12th level Fighter, +16 attack with scimitar, with the Improved Critical (Scimitar) feat. During an encounter, Joad strikes the Orc Lord (10HD, 55hp, AC 26) with his weapon. Rolling 18 on d20, his total attack roll is 34, 8 beyond the AC required to hit, resulting in a threat. Joad rolls 11 on an additional d20 roll for critical determination, resulting in 27 (11 + 16 with scimitar), confirming the threat as a critical strike (the modified roll was greater than the opponent's AC of 26.) Joad's scimitar damage is rolled at 6 on d8, modified for ability scores, feats, and magic to 14. The scimitar normally does x2 damage on critical strikes, but Joad has learned the Improved Critical feat, increasing his multiplier to x3. Applying this x3 modifier to his damage roll of 14, Joad scores 42 points of damage--the Orc Lord has taken a serious blow.
Devastating Critical. The Epic feat Devastating Critical is changed little from its official definition (note that the Epic feat Overwhelming Critical is a prerequisite, and the previously mentioned one-category multiplier increase still applies). A weapon normally having an x2 multiplier gets +1d6 damage, etc. The only change: Fort save DC 10 + 1/2 attacker Base Attack Bonus (instead of attacker level) + attacker Strength modifier.
The total base damage of the attack (including ability score, skill, feat, class, magical, and other modifiers) is multiplied by the critical multiplier. Special additional damage delivered by specific magic weapons (sonic damage, etc) or Sneak Attack is not multiplied—but added after base damage is multiplied.
Special Effects. When an attack roll exceeds the number needed for a threat by at least one, and actually is confirmed as a critical strike, it may also have a special effect against the opponent. Refer back to the critical attack roll, determine how much the attack roll exceeded the number required to result in a threat (which was subsequently confirmed to be a critical). Look this number up on the Special Effect table to determine the result. Fortitude save is allowed.
Saving throw. To negate a Special Effect, the victim must save vs. Fortitude DC 10, + 1/2 the attacker's Base Attack Bonus, + the attacker's Strength modifier.
Special Effect Table
# beyond Crit...Piercing Weapon.........Bludgeoning Weapon......Slashing Weapon
1 ..............n/a.....................n/a.....................n/a
2 ..............Internal bleeding,......Confused, d3 rds........Bleed 1 hp/round
................lose 1hp/round d3 rds
3 ..............Bleed 1hp/round.........Dazed, d3 rds...........Bleed 2 hp/round
4 ..............Internal bleeding,......Knockdown, d2 rnd.......Bleed 2 hp/round
................lose 1hp/round d6 rds
5 ..............Stunned, d3 rds.........Staggered, d4 rds.......Bleed 3 hp/round
6 ..............Bleed 2hp/round.........Stunned, d6 rds.........Crippled
7 ..............Internal bleeding,......Unconscious, 2d4 min....Bleed 4 hp/round
................lose 1hp/round 2d6 rds
8 ..............Vital pierced,..........Crippled................Severed limb,
................perm loss 1 pt Con..............................bleed d6+2 hp/round
9 [---------------------- Very serious wound - Crippled, (Fort save -2) ------------]
10+ [-------------------------------- Devastating Critical -------------------------]
Bleed: Additional damage done each round until the wound is healed via magic or successful use of Heal skill. Stacks with other types of bleeding damage (such as that caused by Swords of Wounding, etc).
Internal Bleeding: Bleeding cannot be stopped by Heal skill, only by magic healing.
Knockdown: Defender knocked down, fights as "prone." (Attacks -4, AC -4 penalty).
Confused: see p. 276, PHB.
Dazed: Unable to act normally. Can take no actions, but can defend normally.
Staggered: Can only take partial actions.
Stunned: Can't take action, loses Dex AC bonus, opponents +2 to hit, drops anything they hold.
Unconscious: Knocked out and helpless (subject to "coup de grace" from nearby opponents while unconscious).
Crippled: Permanent wound effect. -2 to one random ability score.
Devastating Critical: Instant death; Fort save DC 10 + 1/2 attacker Base Attack Bonus + attacker Strength modifier.
Coup de grace: A killing blow against helpless opponent; automatic "hit" and "crit", Fort save or die (DC 10 + damage).
Example: Looking back to Joad fighting the Orc Lord, we saw that he rolled 8 pts past what he needed to hit, or 2 pts past that needed for a threat (critical). Looking up "2" on the Special Effects table, we see that the strike from his slashing weapon causes a bleeding wound of 1hp damage each round until healed (in addition to the 42 hp of damage previously determined).
Called Shots
Replaces Called Shot system from 2E House Rules.
1. A character wishing to strike an opponent at a precise location to inflict serious damage or special effect damage (blindness, disable a limb, etc) may do so by first calling such action before an attack (stating the special effect desired), and then taking a –6 penalty on the attack roll. If, after the –6 penalty is applied, a character can only successfully strike on a natural 20, then a called shot cannot be made.
2. If the called shot attack is successful, double damage is inflicted on the specific body part, and some special effect may take place (the DM should determine the extent or severity of the effect, based on the damage inflicted and other conditions). Only double damage is dealt, even if the weapon used has a x3 or higher critical damage multiplier, or if the character has one or more feats improving critical damage.
3. If the called shot misses, no damage is inflicted on the opponent—the strike was a total miss.
4. Called shots are never considered critical attacks (even if the modified attack roll is 6 or more points beyond the number needed to hit). Generally, called shots do less damage than a critical attack with the same die roll (because the character is selecting a very specific location and desired result).
Do you see any obvious exploits that make these rules broken? Recommend improvements?
thx, O.P.
Edit: replaced attachment with included text below...
==
Critical Damage
These rules replace the Critical Damage system shown in official 3E rulebooks.
Attacks resulting in a threat. When an attacker exceeds the AC of an opponent by 6 or more points on a successful attack (or rolls a natural 20), a threat of critical damage exists. Remember how much the roll exceeded the AC—this may be used later to determine Special Effects.
Checking if a threat is a critical. Once a threat condition exists, the attacker rolls an additional d20 (not an attack roll, but a "critical roll"), to determine if the threat is actually a Critical (an attack resulting in critical damage). The attacker's Base Attack Bonus and all magical, skill, feat, and attribute attack modifiers are applied to the die roll; if this second die roll exceeds the threatened character's AC, then a critical has indeed occurred. If not, only normal damage is dealt. (This aspect is unchanged from the official rules.)
Note: Requiring an additional d20 roll helps bring some balance to the game system by ensuring that any low-level character can get a critical attack by rolling two successive 'natural 20s' (unlikely), while significantly increasing the possibility of scoring critical damage as characters rise in levels.
Determining Critical Damage. Roll damage dice, applying normal Strength, magic, and feat modifiers (save the critical multiplier for now). Refer to PHB weapon table for the critical damage multiplier. This multiplier is incremented by one category (x2 to x3, etc) if the attacker has the Improved Critical feat, and by two categories (x2 to x4, etc) if they have learned the Epic feat Overwhelming Critical. (These feats are modified from the official definition by this house rule). Multiply weapon damage by this multiplier to find the total critical damage for the attack.
Example of a Critical Attack: Joad is a 12th level Fighter, +16 attack with scimitar, with the Improved Critical (Scimitar) feat. During an encounter, Joad strikes the Orc Lord (10HD, 55hp, AC 26) with his weapon. Rolling 18 on d20, his total attack roll is 34, 8 beyond the AC required to hit, resulting in a threat. Joad rolls 11 on an additional d20 roll for critical determination, resulting in 27 (11 + 16 with scimitar), confirming the threat as a critical strike (the modified roll was greater than the opponent's AC of 26.) Joad's scimitar damage is rolled at 6 on d8, modified for ability scores, feats, and magic to 14. The scimitar normally does x2 damage on critical strikes, but Joad has learned the Improved Critical feat, increasing his multiplier to x3. Applying this x3 modifier to his damage roll of 14, Joad scores 42 points of damage--the Orc Lord has taken a serious blow.
Devastating Critical. The Epic feat Devastating Critical is changed little from its official definition (note that the Epic feat Overwhelming Critical is a prerequisite, and the previously mentioned one-category multiplier increase still applies). A weapon normally having an x2 multiplier gets +1d6 damage, etc. The only change: Fort save DC 10 + 1/2 attacker Base Attack Bonus (instead of attacker level) + attacker Strength modifier.
The total base damage of the attack (including ability score, skill, feat, class, magical, and other modifiers) is multiplied by the critical multiplier. Special additional damage delivered by specific magic weapons (sonic damage, etc) or Sneak Attack is not multiplied—but added after base damage is multiplied.
Special Effects. When an attack roll exceeds the number needed for a threat by at least one, and actually is confirmed as a critical strike, it may also have a special effect against the opponent. Refer back to the critical attack roll, determine how much the attack roll exceeded the number required to result in a threat (which was subsequently confirmed to be a critical). Look this number up on the Special Effect table to determine the result. Fortitude save is allowed.
Saving throw. To negate a Special Effect, the victim must save vs. Fortitude DC 10, + 1/2 the attacker's Base Attack Bonus, + the attacker's Strength modifier.
Special Effect Table
# beyond Crit...Piercing Weapon.........Bludgeoning Weapon......Slashing Weapon
1 ..............n/a.....................n/a.....................n/a
2 ..............Internal bleeding,......Confused, d3 rds........Bleed 1 hp/round
................lose 1hp/round d3 rds
3 ..............Bleed 1hp/round.........Dazed, d3 rds...........Bleed 2 hp/round
4 ..............Internal bleeding,......Knockdown, d2 rnd.......Bleed 2 hp/round
................lose 1hp/round d6 rds
5 ..............Stunned, d3 rds.........Staggered, d4 rds.......Bleed 3 hp/round
6 ..............Bleed 2hp/round.........Stunned, d6 rds.........Crippled
7 ..............Internal bleeding,......Unconscious, 2d4 min....Bleed 4 hp/round
................lose 1hp/round 2d6 rds
8 ..............Vital pierced,..........Crippled................Severed limb,
................perm loss 1 pt Con..............................bleed d6+2 hp/round
9 [---------------------- Very serious wound - Crippled, (Fort save -2) ------------]
10+ [-------------------------------- Devastating Critical -------------------------]
Bleed: Additional damage done each round until the wound is healed via magic or successful use of Heal skill. Stacks with other types of bleeding damage (such as that caused by Swords of Wounding, etc).
Internal Bleeding: Bleeding cannot be stopped by Heal skill, only by magic healing.
Knockdown: Defender knocked down, fights as "prone." (Attacks -4, AC -4 penalty).
Confused: see p. 276, PHB.
Dazed: Unable to act normally. Can take no actions, but can defend normally.
Staggered: Can only take partial actions.
Stunned: Can't take action, loses Dex AC bonus, opponents +2 to hit, drops anything they hold.
Unconscious: Knocked out and helpless (subject to "coup de grace" from nearby opponents while unconscious).
Crippled: Permanent wound effect. -2 to one random ability score.
Devastating Critical: Instant death; Fort save DC 10 + 1/2 attacker Base Attack Bonus + attacker Strength modifier.
Coup de grace: A killing blow against helpless opponent; automatic "hit" and "crit", Fort save or die (DC 10 + damage).
Example: Looking back to Joad fighting the Orc Lord, we saw that he rolled 8 pts past what he needed to hit, or 2 pts past that needed for a threat (critical). Looking up "2" on the Special Effects table, we see that the strike from his slashing weapon causes a bleeding wound of 1hp damage each round until healed (in addition to the 42 hp of damage previously determined).
Called Shots
Replaces Called Shot system from 2E House Rules.
1. A character wishing to strike an opponent at a precise location to inflict serious damage or special effect damage (blindness, disable a limb, etc) may do so by first calling such action before an attack (stating the special effect desired), and then taking a –6 penalty on the attack roll. If, after the –6 penalty is applied, a character can only successfully strike on a natural 20, then a called shot cannot be made.
2. If the called shot attack is successful, double damage is inflicted on the specific body part, and some special effect may take place (the DM should determine the extent or severity of the effect, based on the damage inflicted and other conditions). Only double damage is dealt, even if the weapon used has a x3 or higher critical damage multiplier, or if the character has one or more feats improving critical damage.
3. If the called shot misses, no damage is inflicted on the opponent—the strike was a total miss.
4. Called shots are never considered critical attacks (even if the modified attack roll is 6 or more points beyond the number needed to hit). Generally, called shots do less damage than a critical attack with the same die roll (because the character is selecting a very specific location and desired result).
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