Critical Fumble?

[calypso15]

For as long as I've been with them, my group has played it that a confirmed hit on a 20 is a critical hit. This is true. We've also played it that a confirmed miss on a 1 is a critical fumble. I actually tried to find the rules for this recently (I forget why) and couldn't. Is there any such thing as a critical fumble?

Calypso

 

[Infiniti2000]

No, there isn't, and for good reason. Critical fumble rules suck.

 

[calypso15]

Okay, I suspected there wasn't. Thanks. I have a funny feeling that at our next game when I say "So, there's no such thing as a critical fumble." the DM is just gonna say "Well, new house rule."

Calypso

 

[Murrdox]

I don't house-rule critical fumbles, but my friend who is DMing currently does.

Roll a "1" and you need to make a Reflex save DC10. Fail that, and your weapon is dropped. Last session someone rolled a "1" on the Reflex save, and he had the weapon in question break.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

The reason critical fumbles don't work as well as critical hits is that the character who is most likely to make a critical fumble is the high-level fighter.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

he had the weapon in question break.

Which is another reason why critical fumble rules are ... odd.

Especially when it's a +5 adamantine great sword.

 

[CGoat]

My DM's house rule is... if you role a 1 on an attack you then make a reflex save DC 15 to keep you from dropping your weapon. So as you go up in levels the chance of you disarming yourself reduces. Of course my Dwarven fighter "Magnus" would drop a weapon every game session.

 

[Shane_Leahy]

My house rule is a common one I think.

Roll a 1, then roll again, a second miss then confirms the fumble. Fighters may roll more 1s but they shouldnt confirm as many.

I bascially make up what the fumble is depending on the situation, lose dex, lose rest of attacks, trigger and AoO. If its a drop weapon or something, the player gets a save.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Roll a 1, then roll again, a second miss then confirms the fumble. Fighters may roll more 1s but they shouldnt confirm as many.

Except on those dastardly extra attacks when power attacking ...

 

[Rhun]

I use them, but I also use saves to avoid them; thus, the higher level the character gets, the less likely they are to fumble. My current players are levels 10-12, and they rarely, if ever, fumble anymore.

I just have to have them in my game. From the first time I played MERP and pole-vaulted off my horse while charging with a lance, I've just loved those darn fumbles.