Azure Trance
First Post
What's a good system to use for a critical chart, when you might like an occasional broken arm or several bruised ribs? Modifying the 2nd Ed seems like common sense, something like 2 20s in a row?
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Critical Hits
- Thread starter Azure Trance
- Start date
Altalazar
First Post
I don't know - the game system really just isn't set up to handle specifics like that.
You could also do what is done for Star Wars - with wound points and then a base set of points based on con.
That way you only get a real injury if you take damage to the core points, not to the wound points. In that system, I think the only way to do damage to those points is either a critical or by running out of wound points.
Then there was the Rune Quest system, which had a whole hit location and armor by location chart - there it was really easy to determine. You lost the use of a limb if it ran out of points. A critical to the limb would damage it without armor subracting from the damage. But as I said, this system isn't really suited for it - because then you have to deal with how the wound heals, how the use of the arm comes back, etc.
You could also do what is done for Star Wars - with wound points and then a base set of points based on con.
That way you only get a real injury if you take damage to the core points, not to the wound points. In that system, I think the only way to do damage to those points is either a critical or by running out of wound points.
Then there was the Rune Quest system, which had a whole hit location and armor by location chart - there it was really easy to determine. You lost the use of a limb if it ran out of points. A critical to the limb would damage it without armor subracting from the damage. But as I said, this system isn't really suited for it - because then you have to deal with how the wound heals, how the use of the arm comes back, etc.
Sulimo
First Post
Altalazar said:
Yeah. I would suggest the MERP or Rolemaster criticals, toned down a bit.
But, the D&D damage/healing system doesn't deal with specifics. So, you dont have spells that heal broken bones, torn ligaments and the like. So, I'm really unsure about whether using specific criticals is worth it.
Last edited:
Quickbeam
Explorer
Our group rotates DMs and campaign worlds, and the fella whose currently running the show MUST have a system for specific wound types inflicted by criticals. We're weaning him off a modified version of the various 2e tables and charts posted all over the internet. But for now, a confirmed critical allows another roll to determine the effects -- two natural 20's in a row allows for a third roll which can result in an instant kill under his system.
I think you'll find, though, that 3e rules aren't designed to accomodate these types of crits. They completely minimize the benefit of taking heavy weapons with x3 or x4 damage in favor of weapons with higher threat ranges. Do you really want your barbarians wielding rapiers
?
I think you'll find, though, that 3e rules aren't designed to accomodate these types of crits. They completely minimize the benefit of taking heavy weapons with x3 or x4 damage in favor of weapons with higher threat ranges. Do you really want your barbarians wielding rapiers
?You could always consider allowing criticals to inflict temporary ability damage to simulate some sort of specific injury.
A hit to the head would inflict INT damage, a hit to the face would inflict CHA damage, a hit to the gut would cause CON damage, a hit to the arm would do STR damage, a hit to a leg would cause DEX damage, a hit to the eyes, nose, ears, or mouth would cause WIS damage.
Or you could use the "damage to specific areas" rule in the DMG, but that's even more complicated.
Just be sure you let the high critical weapons cause more devestating hits.
It still doesn't work very well, but if you MUST use critical charts...
A hit to the head would inflict INT damage, a hit to the face would inflict CHA damage, a hit to the gut would cause CON damage, a hit to the arm would do STR damage, a hit to a leg would cause DEX damage, a hit to the eyes, nose, ears, or mouth would cause WIS damage.
Or you could use the "damage to specific areas" rule in the DMG, but that's even more complicated.
Just be sure you let the high critical weapons cause more devestating hits.
It still doesn't work very well, but if you MUST use critical charts...
Ravellion
serves Gnome Master
Someone on the previous boards said he was going to let all X2 critical weapons instead deal normal damage as well as 1 temporary constitution damage, and X3 critical weapons instead deal normal damage as well as 2 temporary constitution damage IIRC. If you then have a DM with nice descriptive talents, this could wotk out to more lethal criticals.
Rav
Rav
Left-handed Hummingbird
First Post
This is more than just his system. While I don't have the book before me, it sounds a lot like the official optional rule in the DMG.Quickbeam said:
DnDChick
Demon Queen of Templates
Here is the Critical Effects Sytems that Emiricol mentioned I wrote. Its still in the design phase, but so far feedback and results have been good.
Critical Effects
If you want to comment or make suggestions, the feedback thread can be found here:
http://www.enworld.org/messageboards/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1320
Critical Effects
If you want to comment or make suggestions, the feedback thread can be found here:
http://www.enworld.org/messageboards/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1320
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