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Lariana of the Wood
Acolyte
USA
11 Posts |
 Posted - 30 Jun 2006 : 13:50:50
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I don't know if anyone has asked this question before, but do any of the DM's here use a critical/fumble table? I found one and I'm not really sure how to use it or if it would actually be good to use in a combat situation. Any comments.... thanks.
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Kaladorm
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1176 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2006 : 14:03:18
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We tend to use a roll of 1 is a critical failure in combat. It means you lose your next round action, don't threaten any squares, lose dex bonus to ac etc.
Also we use it for appropriate skill checks, but it generally just means a critical failure (i.e. the trap blows up, the animal becomes aggressive, or that one time when I was dancing with Alustriel and tripped over, oops). Obviously some skill checks aren't appropriate to use critical failures for (e.g. spot, listen) |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2006 : 14:14:01
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We use 1 as a critical failure in that sense as that the opponent the attacker was aiming at gets an attack of opportunity (if he still has one for that round; see PHB for rules on attacks of opportunity) and the attacker looses his Dex bonus to AC.
As for 20 as a critical hit, we use the standard rules.
As for skills, same as Kaladorm.
We used a very detailed list with special critical hits and the like (even from the Candlekeep download page I think) a couple times, but it was a game stoppper and did not add much fun to the game. So we stopped using it.
Ergdusch |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
Edited by - Ergdusch on 30 Jun 2006 14:18:12 |
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Snotlord
Senior Scribe
Norway
476 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2006 : 18:47:12
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The old "Good Hits and Bad Misses" for an ancient Dragon Magazine/Best of Dragon is tons of fun. Funny because one of the players mentioned missing it during the gaming session last night. It was tons of fun!
I believe it was reprinted/updated in the recent Dragon Magazine Hardcover. |
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Arkhaedun
Senior Scribe
869 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2006 : 18:48:56
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| Yes, it can be found, updated for 3.5, in the Dragon Compendium Volume One. |
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Jindael
Senior Scribe
USA
357 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2006 : 18:51:57
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For critical hits, I use the rules as written.
I used to use the fumble rule as your opponent got an attack of opportunity, but it just seemed to bog down gameplay somewhat. I might use it again if I were to find a group more proficient with 3.x rules. The last I played, we had switched to a natural 1 meant you missed that attack no matter what.
For skills, I don’t use criticals or fumbles. At the time, I remember that we had a very compelling reason to not use them anymore, but I can’t really remember it now. I think we were just trying to cut down on houserules.
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"You don't have a Soul. You are a Soul. You have a body."
-- C.S. Lewis |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2006 : 21:39:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Jindael
The last I played, we had switched to a natural 1 meant you missed that attack no matter what.
Isn't this the standard rule anyway?! |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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Wenin
Senior Scribe
585 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2006 : 22:39:12
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For those that have used fumble rules had you considered doing the same with fumbles that are done for critical hits?
If you roll a one, it is a fumble threat. Roll again, if you miss, then it's a fumble. If you hit on the secondary roll, it is just a miss.
Obviously this would bog down combat more than normal, but for an experienced group this wouldn't bog down all that much... especially if your players are already rolling two d20 per swing to quickly determine critical hits. |
Session Reports posted at RPG Geek.
Stem the Tide Takes place in Mistledale.
Dark Curtains - Takes place in the Savage North, starting in Nesmé. I wrapped my campaign into the Hoard of the Dragon Queen, but it takes place in 1372 DR. |
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Dhomal
Senior Scribe
USA
565 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jul 2006 : 03:47:56
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Hello-
I ran a game last week - and this came up. We used what Wenin said - but slightly modified.
When a 1 is rolled - you may fumble - roll another d20. on 1-10 you drop y our weapon, on 11-20 - you don't. IN any case - its a miss. I decided on this as opposed to a second hit/miss because I did not want people hesitating to enter combat with very tough-to-hit monsters - because this could equate to almost a 1-in-20 chance (or kinda close) to dropping your weapon. The 50-50 seems better to me.
Dhomal |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4689 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jul 2006 : 04:13:43
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Well flip a coin is better then many fumble ideas I have seen, including a high level figter cutting their own leg off. f it works for you in your campaign that should be good enough for you. Only other idea I might considered trying would be a save roll against becoming flatfooted (or other combat condition not sure which is te best) that makes to combatantent in less then normal battle condition. Droping a weapon does not strike me as a 50 percent chance because the weapon misses so badly. I would picture a combatent being out of place because expected attacked failed so badly, they are not as perpared to defend parry and effectively counter attack.
Heck, role a 1 (a fumble) a -1 fumble penality to AC, Ref saves, Attack and damage might work as well. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Critical and Fumble Tables
