3E Skylis Rules
Chapter 08: Critical Hits.
If combat always ended in favour of the most effective combatants, there would be no need to stage the outcome. Nor would there ever be any heroes. In mortal combat, skill and guile play important roles, but so do luck and opportunity. Right place and right time can be just as essential as the right weapon and the right thrust.If an attack roll results in a critical hit, the attacker may choose to follow the standard critical hit rules (PH, pg 123) or they may choose to use the following Skylis Rules. Roll 1d20 and consult the following tables;
The monstrous gargoyle had such sheer strength and ferocity that the injured Redstring stood little chance of defeating it. Two powerful swings of its jagged claws were enough to send the bard to the muddy cave ground. The wizard Dann, proved even less useful in the effort, and a mere buffet of the gargoyle's stone wings sent him sprawling. With Drachma still minutes away, the splintered band of heroes faced imminent and lethal defeat. All that was left for the shard-smiling beast was to dispatch the little rhekki who stood protectively over his fallen comrades. The monster thought this to be a simple matter, as the rhekki barely stood taller than the gargoyle's knees. With glee, the stoney terror moved in for the kill.
"Raimond," sputtered the bleeding Redstring, "get outta here. Run!"
"No," responded the rhekki. "Shinesky would not leave you," he drew his tiny sword, pointed it at the gargoyle and said simply, "I will not leave you."
The gargoyle towered above Raimond, claws poised to strike.
CRITICAL HIT RESULTS d20 roll Result 1 Double dmg, but attacker is open to Attacks of Opportunity from target 2 Maximum dmg, +1/die 3-6 Double dmg 7 Roll again twice, ignore results of 7 (treat as no result & no reroll) 8 Double dmg, +1/die 9 Double dmg, +2/die 10 Double dmg, +1d4 Dex dmg (Successful heal to remove) 11 Double dmg, and target open to Attacks of Opportunity from attacker 12 Double dmg, +1d4 Str dmg (Successful heal to remove) 13 Normal dmg (non-critical) 14 Double dmg OR force target to prone. 15 Double dmg OR successfully disarm target
(of 1 held item)16 Double dmg OR dmg armour (worn or natural), AC reduced by 1 17 Double dmg OR severely dmg armour (worn or nat.), AC reduced by 2. 18 Double dmg OR dmg random appendage (useless for battle). Arm or equiv; 1d6 Str dmg. Leg or equiv; 1d6 Dex dmg & land movement reduced by 5. (Successful heal to remove) 19 Triple dmg OR severely dmg random appendage (useless for battle). Arm or equiv; 2d4 Str dmg. Leg or equiv; 2d4 Dex dmg & land movement is halved. (Successful heal to remove) 20 Target must Fort save (DC20) or fall unconscious OR hit at weak spot (DM special) OR roll on Severe Critical Hit Table In an instant, the snarling monster was upon the rhekki, and Raimond's blows seemed feeble and ineffective. The sword rang uselessly off the gargoyle's stone body. As his little friend battled the beast, Dann lay on his side, unmoving. Redstring tried to struggle to his feet, but the pain of his wounds was unbearable. Remaining conscious was a triumph unto itself. A feeling of helplessness and fear washed over him, as he watched, with eyes half-closed, Raimond disappear behind the great grey wings of the gargoyle.
"Run," Redstring said weakly, his voice barely audible above the din of battle. "Run while you still can..."
It was far too late, however. Having had trouble hitting the diminutive rhekki from a standing position, the gargoyle had stooped over and encircled his prey with strong wings. As Raimond struggled with all his fury to keep the creature at bay, the gargoyle reached down with his claws. It was intent on turning this puny man into nothing more than a pile of clothes and flesh and bone. Valour meant nothing to a gargoyle; victory meant everything. The faint magical glow of Raimond's sword gave way to darkness, and all sounds of his efforts ceased. The monster raised up to its full height with terrible claws drenched in blood. Redstring, full of despair and sadness, used what remained of his rage to look at the outcome of the battle.
SEVERE CRITICAL HIT RESULTS d20 roll Result 1 Double dmg, but attacker immediately fumbles 3-6 Triple dmg 7 Roll again twice, include results of 7 (allowing multiple rerolls) 8 Triple dmg, and target immediately fumbles 9 Triple dmg, and critically dmg armour (worn or natural), AC reduced by 3 10 Triple dmg, and destroy armour (worn or nat.), AC bonus drops to +0 11 Triple dmg, and severely damage 1 joint, (useless for battle). 2d4 Dex dmg & land movement halved. (Successful heal to remove) 12 Triple dmg, and target open to Attacks of Opportunity from all enemies 13 Triple dmg, but attacker suffers free critical hit by target 14 Triple dmg, and if target fails Ref Save (DC=dmg.dealt) severely dmg one sensory organ. (Successful heal to remove) 15 Triple dmg, and if target fails Ref Save (DC=dmg.dealt) severe/destroy random appendage (useless until restored). Arm or equiv; 2d4 Str dmg. Leg or equiv; 2d4 Dex dmg & land movement is halved. (Bleed for 1d4 hp/round, successful heal to stop bleeding & remove ability dmg) 16 Triple dmg, and if target fails Fort Save (DC=dmg.dealt) dmg one vital organ. Death in 5d6 days. (Heal DC 20 to save, or 3rd-lvl+ healing spell) 17 Triple dmg, and if target fails Fort Save (DC=dmg.dealt) severely dmg one vital organ. Death in 2d6 days. (Heal DC 25 to save, or 4th-lvl+ healing spell) 18 Triple dmg, and if target fails Fort Save (DC=dmg.dealt) destroy one vital organ. Death in 1d4 days. (Heal DC 30 to save, or Restored) 19 Called shot. Select any result on this table (exc:7/19/20) 20 Triple dmg, and target must make a save (Fort or Ref, target's choice), (DC=dmg.dealt) or die. The gargoyle's eyes were wide, and its grotesque mouth agape. Somehow, the little rhekki scout had managed to plunge his tiny sword deep into the hidden seam of the monster's stony chest. There, it had shattered the gem-like organ which served as the gargoyle's heart. The monster fell to its knees and, though his head still looked down upon Raimond, the sword's hilt was at a reachable height. With great effort, the small rhekki, battered and torn from the monster's brutality, pulled his blade free. The gargoyle fell sideways into the mud, lifeless and still. Raimond trudged toward Redstring and smiled weakly.
"My friend loves you," he said. "As long as she loves you, I am your brother. Raimond will never abandon his brother."