Critical Failure chart

[turnip]

Yeah, I realise that thanks Turnip (cool name).

Perhaps I should do that. Not wanting to threadcap, but why can't Enworld allow docx attachments?

I have no idea!
It's been really, really frustrating for me at school; I have a Mac with Office 2004 on it, so anything that my professors send me I cannot open on my computer (as the entire school has gone to Office 2007 [which, btw, I hate....they really buggered the Office programs and made them less user-friendly and intuitive to use]) unless the professor knows to save in the older format.

On a side note, the Apple programs Pages, Numbers, and Keynote (Apple versions of Word, Excel, and Powerpoint) all open the newer files. Which is weird, that the Apple programs open the MS files, but the MS programs won't...

 

[Janx]

.docx is not backwards compatible with earlier Word programs/programs that recognize .doc files.

Why Microsoft decided to utilize a format that can't be read by its own program just 3 years prior is beyond me.

btw...Word 2007 can save as .doc instead of .docx. Just so you know.

MS has a plug-in for some of the older versions of Office to handle the .docx format.

My Office 2003 prompted me to GET the plug-in and auto-install it for me on the first .docx I had to open.

I agree with Celebrim that crits and fumbles aren't good for PCs.

In actuality, a monster or NPC only fights about 6 rounds in his entire existance (before being killed by a PC). Whereas, a PC fights 13 encounters per level times 6 levels times 20 levels is 1560 rounds of chances of getting a fumble, or being critted against in their 20 level lifespan.

Thats not even counting multiple attacks.

While there are a couple of weapons (like whips and flaily things) that you can hit yourself on, it's not that likely. It is possible to catch a weapon on your clothes, (it happened this weekend to me while I was training with Oskar the weapons master at the TX renfair).

But still, not that likely, not impeding (had it been an actual weapon, I'd have pressed on, rather than worry about it). And ultimately, its demeaning. Nobody wants their character to be incompentent. And having fumbles happen is just that.

From a player's perspective, they initially think it's an opportunity to get the advantage over the enemy. But statistically, it's more likely to be BAD for a PC in the long run. It's all because they're thinking about individual encounters. Fact of the matter is, yesterday's crit on an orc matters little. You were going to kill him slowly or quickly. Today's fumble with a criticl hit to Self is going to kill you in a fight that would have been less likely to be fatal.

 

[Connorsrpg]

OK - saved a copy of our crits as Word 97-2003.

Hope this works

As stated - disc for these and the actual docs are on website in my sig.

They will not please all those number-crunchers that work out, yes, PCs are more likely to suffer, but we have always played with and enjoyed crits.

Cheers, C

 

[Neonchameleon]

Encouraging recklessness? That is most unlike your characters.

They aren't all that reckless... Well... Maybe all the 4e ones. Except Vashtar (who you haven't met).

 

[Lanefan]

OK - saved a copy of our crits as Word 97-2003.

Hope this works

Looks good - there's some interesting ideas in there, I might yoink a few.

Lanefan

 

[Dausuul]

Wow, that's... very elaborate. I like the tens-ones combination system, and the doubles effects are a nice idea for those "one in a hundred" things that you don't want to happen too often.

It's more detailed than I'm generally inclined to go with, but that's obviously a matter of taste. To be fair, I'm not inclined to go with fumble rules at all, so any level of fumble rules is going to seem like a lot to me.

There do seem to be more hit-on-self effects than I'd be happy with. I've always found hit-on-self fumbles very hard to narrate convincingly. On the other hand, the weapon breakage system, with different "levels" of breakage required to destroy weapons of various qualities, is quite good. I also like the random movement effects; 4E players tend to move their characters around the battlemat like chess pieces, analyzing every position to a nicety, so adding a little randomness to shake up their elaborate schemes is always good.

 

[Connorsrpg]

Thanks guys.

RE charts being very detailed, remember to ONLY apply what seems appropriate. There are usually sev effects on one roll. This was intentional, so you don't have to search the chart for an appropriate entry.

@ Darsuul. Actually, there isn't one entry on there where it explicitly says 'you hit yourself'. You could narrate the Struck condition that way if you choose, or come up with a myriad of other of other ways to say you hurt your leg/arm etc. Some ideas at start, but off top my head, tear muscle, jarred in combat, struck by parrying enemy, etc.

Cheers, C

 

[Hand of Evil]

OK - saved a copy of our crits as Word 97-2003.

Hope this works

As stated - disc for these and the actual docs are on website in my sig.

They will not please all those number-crunchers that work out, yes, PCs are more likely to suffer, but we have always played with and enjoyed crits.

Cheers, C

You know there is plug-in for save in Word to PDF...

 

[Haltherrion]

Skip the table. Make the players come up with some interesting failure. It is pretty hard to make a table that really covers all the necessary situations. Plus, the player is probably annoyed enough at rolling the '1' that you don't have to break a prize magic item or break a leg or what not.

Ask yourself, does the pause created by consulting such a table really add much to the game? It can depending on the game and the group but don't create a failure table just cuz it seemed like a fun idea. Make sure it fits with your campaign and players.

 

[Connorsrpg]

Good point Marcq - and yes, the Crit Fumble chart certainly does go with our style of play - we love the 'getting percentage' out.

Also, if using these charts, remember it is up to the DM to come up with a rational explanation for the result. Our charts used to do that, but when the same description comes up a few times, it does sound odd. Now the end result is given, with the description left open.