D&D 5E (2024) DM's no longer getting crits on PC's

[dave2008]

TBH, I fully expect them to redesign the monsters in order to sell new monsters manuals.

They have already started, see the MotM. However, I hope they go a bit further than that book did.

 

[dave2008]

I feel like they’re making the gameplay too static. We’re getting to the point where we might as well not have dice.

That is not a reasonable ready of the changes, IMO.

 

[dave2008]

The sound of versimilitude being broken is typically drowned out by the sound of how awesome rolling a crit is.

It is awesome for players, as a DM I don't find it awesome (and neither do my players).

Edit: And I also already explained I don't mind breaking verisimilitude for fun. But DM crits, IME, are not fun.

 

[DND_Reborn]

FWIW, as DM most of the time, I love crits. It reminds players this game can be scary!

 

[Guest 7034872]

FWIW, as DM most of the time, I love crits. It reminds players this game can be scary!

Unpredictability is one of the big things tempering humans' inclination to fight IRL. Whatever else I decide, I don't expect I'll ever eliminate crits.

 

[dave2008]

FWIW, as DM most of the time, I love crits. It reminds players this game can be scary!

I have no problem making the game scary. I just prefer it to be intentional. That being said, crits are well a critical part of our house rules so we use them and will for some time.

However, this discussion has made think of a better way to do crits in our game. I think crits (extra damage) will be based on getting +10 (or some number) over the need to hit. This is reward for a high roll and good skill (to hit bonus). A natural 20 will instead give access to fun extra abilities (like shoves, trips, stuns, disarms, etc.). So #20 are still exciting and more understandable as luck (to me).

 

[Warpiglet-7]

I feel like they’re making the gameplay too static. We’re getting to the point where we might as well not have dice.

I don’t think we are there—-but unchecked and unconsidered we could.

There is both tragedy and triumph with dice.

I had an old 1e barbarian. I had 7 straight 12s for hit points. (We were doing max at level one back then so only six of them rolled in a row) but after the good natured groans and complaining of friends who did not roll that well, it became an event for the group when I rolled hit points, everyone wanted to watch.

What seems clear to me is WOTC sees players as more risk averse than perhaps is good at times.

But I think this is the the whole “did your character get enough spotlight? Did they get to complete their story arc?”

And our group is more like “we survived! That monster (well in 5e those monsters, plural we know how quickly single bosses die) kicked out ass!”

And you can’t guarantee a story arc without more control…

It reminds me of Crawford talking about “telling your story.” Can’t do that is you get crit’d to death I guess. We don’t play with that expectation. We play, events unfold and death is possible.

I will be interested to see what feedback this crit stuff gets!

 

[Micah Sweet]

I like it. I didn't think I would, but after giving it some thought, it makes sense. Why should the rank and file need a moment to shine when they're only appearing for one scene in the heroes story?

Crits are never about character choices or skill anyway. Its just a dice roll. Dice don't play the game.

The reason you like it is the reason I don't. I don't judge a creature's combat ability based on their narrative role in D&D. That is a different kind of game.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Concerning Critical Hits:

For example, an Ogre deals 2d8+4, for a potential of 20 points. The PCs fighting an ogre know such damage is possible and the risk involved.

But a critical that is for 4d8+4 and a potential 36, that is the sort of hit that leads to downing a PC unexpectedly. (I suppose ruining the fun for some...)

The simple solution is to just make criticals maximum damage instead of rolling double dice. A lot of people do use this option. The result is barely less than the average of doubling the dice, after all.

In the above example, double dice averages 22 points, while maximum is 20, so just two points shy.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Is there really a difference between "the default rules say no monster crits" and you play with them anyways, and "everyone can crit" and you play without monster crits?

The usual difference - if you want something that isn't the game's default, you likely have a fight on your hands with the players.