Example of an impressive critical hit

[Griffith Dragonlake]

From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_II_of_France):

On July 1, 1559, during a match to celebrate the Peace Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis with his longtime enemies, the Habsburgs of Austria and to celebrate the marriage of his daughter Elizabeth of Valois to King Philip II of Spain, King Henry was mortally wounded by a sliver from the shattered lance of Gabriel Montgomery, captain of the King's Scottish Guard. It penetrated the closed visor, pierced his left eye, penetrated the brain and came out via his ear. He suffered terribly, and, despite the efforts of royal surgeon Ambroise Paré, died on July 10, 1559 and was buried in a cadaver tomb in Saint Denis Basilica.

How many natural 20s in a row do you suppose that Gabriel Montgomery rolled? And how many natural 1s did King Henry roll in a row? And it was caused by only a sliver of wood, not even a direct lance hit!

I've only seen one comparable event in a D&D game and that was when the paladin rolled 5 or 6 natural 20s in a row on an open-ended crit in a 2nd ed. game.

 

[frankthedm]

Natural 20 on a weapon intended to do subdual by breaking before the victom does. Followed by a natural 1 on confirming the crit in a game where "ones" mean something you did not want to happen DID happen. Gabe just had spirited charge and was showing his leige how well he could fight. When his power attack lance struck the king with a "20" and the threat roll poped up a "1" the Warrior/Aristocrat/ maybe one level of ranger in there king had little chance when the DM ruled the subdual was now leathal and was sent deep into the negatives.

Top that off with a realistic heal skill. Or a wife making sure he remaind in the dying condition using poison or mistreatment...

Prior to his death, Queen Catherine limited access to his bedside and denied his mistress (Diane de Poitiers) access to him, even though he repeatedly asked for her.

Either that or DM Fiat to represent YHWH's unique brand of humor.

 

[Drowbane]

Critical hit? Or normal damage vs low HP?

 

[Nifft]

Just two.

I'm guessing that at least 1:400 of jousts ended in injury.

That's just a great damage roll on top of a crit, overcoming the armor's DR in a really creative way.

-- N

 

[Thanee]

It sounds more like they played Rolemaster.

Bye
Thanee