Crit Fumbles...

I thought I would share this story with all the talk of crit tables over in the DM Resources thread.

Last night I introduced a crit table I found online (see attached). I didn't make anything custom; I used this table because it has crit success charts for multiple damage types and a crit fail chart on the same page. I wanted to use Mainprize's cards and make a custom fail deck to match, but we are in major overtime crunch mode at work, so spare time for D&D prep is limited (also, there's Skyrim to consider...).

Brief Background: The PCs have been traveling through a large cave complex beneath the Worldtree. The Tree is a giant, magic tree growing out of the top of a mountain on an island surrounded by a swirling maelstorm. So difficult to get to. The players have been charged by the church of Pelor to bring back a fruit of the Worldtree within a year, or be cursed permanently (this is payment for two resurrections). The PCs have made contact with a tribe of dark elves, the caretakers of the roots of the Worldtree (not evil. druids and rangers mostly, but underground style). This tribe is in trouble. The island is being attacked by a shipload of fire giants and their minions. At the same time, the drow tribe has been decimated by an infestation. This is described to the PCs as an invasion of shapechangers, a plague that causes some drow to change into hideous frog men, and a seemingly related plague that infects the drow with larvae that burst forth from their chests and grow into similar frog men (bonus points if you can Name That Monster!).

Setup: So, after two days in these caves, and some poorly balanced random encounters (get your s%!* together DM!) they have made their way to their goal; a circle of ancient draconic runes that drow legend says is an entrance to the interior of the Worldtree. There the found a "boss fight" in the form of a CR 8 baddie (party is five lvl 4 PCs). They acquitted themselves well (well enough for me to question the balance of CR values in the 5e MM, but that's a topic for another day).

The Crits: As the fight wore on, our PCs were hurtin' for certain. Two had already survived falling to 0 hp, and everyone had taken major damage. The rogue hit the baddie with an arrow tipped with a paralysis poison. Monster failed his save and was paralyzed for the next round. In that round, the fighter lunged at him with his sword. He had advantage on the attack; his opponent was paralyzed. He rolled snake eyes; double 1s. After much shouting and groaning, I had him roll twice on the crit fail chart. He got off fairly light; first roll had him stumble, he made a dex save and kept his feet; second roll had him entangle his weapon in the enemy's arms. As his opponent was paralyzed, this was embarrassing for a proud and seasoned warrior, but no real harm done. The rogue was next. He decided to attack with his shortbow. Again, advantage on the strike.

He rolls double 20s.

More shouting and some cheering. I gave him a choice: roll twice on the crit success table, or take double weapon damage and double sneak attack damage. He chose the double-double, inflicting 6d6 points of damage. This felt like poetic justice after the 8d6 damage that had been dealt to the PCs just minutes ago by this "boss". Here were his rolls: 6,6,6,6,4,5. No kidding. He killed the beast outright; splitting its head in two.

This is the beauty of the rule of dice. The PCs get the same thrill the gambler gets at a craps table. Double or nothing, sink or swim! Simply put: Awesome!ghbm.pdf (37.83 KB)