How to Fix Lame Critical Hits in D&D

[@darcyw156]

I also use crits on nat ones for saving throw spells. When a spell is cast that requires a save and the recipient of the spell rolls a nat 1... Spell casters finally get to crit.

[@SevenWondersProd]

I think the problem with any one solution is that it is ONE solution. I treat natural 20s in a number of ways depending on the character and circumstance. Double the dice (paladins & rogues are big fans), offer an additional attack, offer max damage, the attacker can give the next attacker advantage, or whatever else we come up with at the table. By using more than one solution it makes crits unique and real opportunities to change the tide of a battle and avoids rolling on charts. For monsters and NPCs I threaten extra damage but if the player wishes they can allow their armor to become damaged (go down 1 AC until repaired) or sacrifice their shield, to avoid the critical damage. RPGs are about creativity being added to simple procedural rules, not conforming to them.

[@nosotrosloslobosestamosreg4115]

I gave to martial classes full maximum damage with optionally determine how much of that damage they deliver, adding an effect if they want to (roll INT); other classes roll twice keeping whichever they want, or they can roll normal damage + effect (proning, stunning, pushing, etc) but rogues get a second dice to add or a second attack.

[@rangleme]

💯- crits should be consequential and very dangerous. Whatever your method - make it something that will be part of the epic nature of the storytelling. I still like the D100 Arduin Grimoire Crit Table - YMMV

[@kruvken8582]

I'm very close to finishing a 3 year campaign where we used the house rule beefy crit's. My players LOVE it. Not only does it feel amazing to get that crit, but it also ads so much drama the moment a monster crits the players. I will say my players are very competent when it gets to combat tho. Understand this might not be correct for all tables, but for mine it's been perfect. It's also how the rouge in the party managed to do 76 damage on 1 hit. Just be very clear to your players that with this rule monstercrits will be VERY deadly.

[@donaldcrankshaw1627]

Our last game we did something like DC20's damage by 5, as every 5 over the AC you got, the more degrees of success you got, and so the more the damage increased. We did this with a 2d10 system, so while we didn't have a crit, if you rolled a high double (matching dice, both 6 or higher), you added 1 to your degrees of success. On the other hand, low doubles decreased your degrees of success by one. In our case, we didn't roll damage dice, your weapon did fixed damage adjusted by your degrees of success.

[@shallendor]

We use Critical Hit charts/cards, but we also have a luck system! Luck Values: (-7) - 24 -Expenditure 1d4 Luck (Must have at least 1 positive Luck Point): You may use Luck to affect one event brought about by an action you take or one that directly affects you. (Examples: Hjalmar using Luck to make Admiral Blood fail a save against a spell HE cast. Timbo using Luck to disarm Admiral Blood. Slayn using luck to make a save vs Zone of Truth which he was affected by. Combat Rewind a la Rick vs. Pixies) -Expenditure (1d4) x2 Luck (Must have at least 1 positive Luck Point): You may use luck to affect one event brought about by someone else's action which has no direct impact on you. (Examples: Bob using luck to rewind Slayn's fireball thus saving 3/4s of the party, but having no effect on him because of evasion. Using luck to make the Shin ship's guns misfire. They were targeting the ship not one individual.) -Every time you advance a level, roll luck as per the table below. ADD this to your previous total up to the maximum defined below. Hopefully this will prevent Luck dump battles right before you advance. Only work for the last 10 rounds Player Luck Player Level Luck Roll Max Luck 1 1d4 4 2-3 1d6 10 4-7 2d4 16 8-15 3d6 20 16-20 4d6 24

[@IamKavot]

In my opinion problem is that people think getting 20 on a d20 is something SPECTACULAR. It's not and it shouldn't be. Just a nice bonus. If you get it you have no problem with "low crits"

[@ChristopherRoss.]

Okay, but crits being a big deal is fun. Why shouldn't you be able to have fun with them?

[@IamKavot]

@@ChristopherRoss. you may have a lot of fun with them. Everybody has their own experience with DnD. I just say it is not a part of vanilla game and people have exaturated expectactions about "nat 20" and "nat 1" sometimes. It can lead to disappointment and it shouldn't. This is only my opinion and i don't say it is an undisputable fact.

[@bode_sereia]

I use BobTheWorldBuilder's improved crits that are tied to damage type (piercing/bludgeoning/slashing), and they're AWESOME!

[@notsureicare488]

Its fascinating to see what I consider to to be the opposite of how my crits work. I use the max damage plus dice roll crits cause I see it as part of the fun being dixe rolling and big numbers, plus the spike in difficulty when monsters get it. Always fun to see the other options I usually leave on the table. Maybe Ill try some?

[@RIVERSRPGChannel]

We use the max and a roll

[@darcyw156]

Yup have been doing that for years now.

[@Grimlore82]

My critical hits like this: Damage die max + roll damage die + modifiers = total damage.

[@artistpoet5253]

I treat critical hits like getting advantage on damage. Take the higher result(s) and double them. Monsters and NPCs don't ever crit in my games either. The players are here to be heroes and do amazing things. It's not special if the tower guard can crit too.

[@stuartmiller2526]

I like a narrative element, but that needs either tables, or trusting GM judgment, skill, balancing. For damage, what about reroll all 1s and 2s (until 3+), and/or +Proficiency Bonus damage? Or instead of double dice generally, all crit attacks add 1d4/1d6 per PB? Could even add exploding. I also

[@Joshuazx]

My problem with crits is that every GM have different rules for crits. I never know what the crit rules are, I always have to ask, and I can NEVER remember whose crit rules are whose. I have a learning disability. Nothing takes the fun out of rolling a crit like not knowing what to do.

[@mikelazyboy]

So boring... Takes out the fun of rolling