CRIT AND FUMBLE

Category	Game Rules
Type	criticals and fumbles

This is the critical and fumble table used in my campaign. It has changed some over the years, but not by much. These are deadly tables, but they add an element to the game that makes for some interesting encounters. With these tables, even the strongest of players or monsters can be body bagged with one roll, so be merciful when mercy is needed.

In the Bal-Kriav campaigns, a critical is an unmodified natural "20". It is an automatic hit, even if you cannot normally hit the opponent's armor class. For saves, an unmodified "20" means you take no damage. A fumble is a natural "1". You take maximum possible damage from the attack and all your items are required to make item saving throws.

Some rolls allow a HP check to avoid the result. This means if you roll under your current hit points (d100) to avoid the effect.

All creatures are susceptible to a natural "20" - undead, jellies, even those with magical armors of fortification.

Critical Table

Die Roll

Natural 20 Effect

1-5

as the game rules, x2, x3, et. al.

6-7

blinded for encounter – 50% miss, lose dexterity bonus to AC, move at half speed, opponents get +2 to attack (as blinded)

8-9

sharpness hit (HP check):

sharpness
01 - 15	head, death to victim (constructs, slimes unaffected)
16 - 40	body – quadruple normal damage
41 - 55	rt arm – lose 10% of HP
56 - 70	rt Leg – lose 10% of HP, 1/6 movement
71 - 85	lt arm – lose 10% of HP
86 - 97	lt leg – lose 10% of HP, 1/6 movement
98 - 100	neck to groin – quintuple normal damage

triple normal damage, push enemy 1 square

vorpal hit (HP check) – death to most creatures

sweep – hit two adjacent enemies and knock them prone

"Tyson'd" - knocked out enemy (HP check)

Tyson'd
1 - 2	1-4 melee rounds (Heal DC 18 to revive)
3 - 4	encounter (Heal DC 20)
5	coma – 1-4 weeks (Heal DC25)
6	"vegetable" - 1-4 months (Heal DC28)

quadruple normal damage, push enemy 2 squares

"Lukoon Watches You" - all remaining allies roll on crit table if they hit in this round

"Lukoon Curses You" - roll on fumble table instead

double normal damage, shift 2, re-roll personal initiative for you and one opponent

roll d8 and multiple times weapon damage, destroy random piece of enemy gear

weak hit - ½ weapon damage

"Thor Shutters" - roll twice again on this table

Fumble Table

Die Roll	Natural 20 Effect
1	shattered the item you were attacking with, no save (artifacts unaffected)
2	miss and lose minor actions for round
3	"Traitor!" - roll to hit random ally within 5' with a -3 to-hit
4	struck object – DC equals your strength + 3, roll d20 + add dexterity modifier to avoid damage to your weapon
5	struck own body – normal damage
6	fallen prone
7	roll twice again on this table
8	hurled weapon 2-12 feet
9	stumbled into opponent, lose round, enemy must make Reflex DC20 or also lose round
10	"Lukoon's Curse" – you fumble on a 1 or 2 for the rest of the gaming session
11	"Hit Me, I'm Not Defending" - enemy automatically hits you on their attack
12	blundered into ally – Reflex DC 21 for ally or they lose their entire round
13	exposed vital area – enemy crits you if they hit on their attack
14	bull rushed by enemy 2 squares (if they want)
15	dazed
16 - 19	"Clumsy Fool" - lose entire round
20	"Steve Sahgetti" - roll on crit table