robus
Lowcountry Low Roller
While true, thats not the question the OP asked.
They wanted to know if it was in the books.
Sure but that question has been answered. We've now moved on to the history and value

While true, thats not the question the OP asked.
They wanted to know if it was in the books.
We're trying to add it, though. Whenever a caster tries something tricky - i.e. casts a Fireball and tries to split it perfectly so it gets one person (i.e. an enemy) and not another (a party member) they have to roll an Intelligence or Arcana check. If they get a 1, they fumble, and something bad happens.
The wizard in my group loves the added challenge. Auto-hit is hiring for many spells so the risk of placing a spell effeçt just so makes more interesting. We've had some exciting moments using that house rule.
Right. And the dozen posters before me clarified the OP's question that fumbles aren't in the rules. As did my first post. So I feel safe expanding on things.While true, thats not the question the OP asked.
They wanted to know if it was in the books.
Depends how fumbles are handled. The ranged warrior might break a bow string instead of hitting an ally, or pull a muscle, or leave themselves open to a counterattack, or spill their quiver on the ground.Which I agreed with.
Personally, I don't like critical fumbles because it penalizes front line fighters over all other classes. Ranged fighter roll a 1? Oh no! You just shot the front line fighter. Wizard? Well, nowadays every once in a blue moon you roll an attack roll but it's the exception to the rule. Rogue and other classes? Well, yes, but at a fraction of the chance of the fighter (especially when you take into account action surges).
As always, I'm not telling you how to run your game. However, the OP was a question on whether or not it's an "official" rule. It's not.
What are the mechanics of your rule? I'm interested in the details (and possibly 'borrowing' them).![]()
Depends how fumbles are handled. The ranged warrior might break a bow string instead of hitting an ally, or pull a muscle, or leave themselves open to a counterattack, or spill their quiver on the ground.
If the effects of the ranged attacker penalize the melee player, that's on the DM and the execution of fumbles, not the rule or the concept of fumbling.
[MENTION=6801845]Oofta[/MENTION], yeah that isn't a great scenario. I think once you get to higher levels treating it more as FFG Star Wars Despair is a better way to go. The heroes don't fumble, but things definitely take a turn got the worse. For example the bridge they're on starts collapsing etc.
Right on man, no one thinks about the monsters! Monsters are people too!