Fair Critical Hits (5e Variant Rule)

Fair Critical Hits

The basic form of 5e critical hits are often criticized for being too boring. Sure, some extra damage is nice, but many players enjoy the viscerality of cleaving a monster's arm off. The problem with lasting systems, however, is that they are invariably skewed against the players. Enter this variant rule.

Stories Favor Heroes

When a player character rolls a critical on an attack roll, the attack counts as a critical. When a monster or NPC rolls a critical, they must "confirm" the critical, rolling an additional d20. If the roll is within twice their critical range (a roll of 19-20 for most creatures), the attack counts as a critical. If the attack has advantage, so does their critical confirm roll.

On a Critical

If a critical would not hit with its roll, it hits with no additional effect. If a player scores a critical hit, the attack deals twice as much damage unless the DM declares the target a "boss", typically a single creature that the entire party fights, in which case their critical hit damages a body part. If a non-player creature scores a critical hit, they damage a body part.

If the attack would hit, it deals an equal amount of damage to a random body part, rolling 1d8 to decide. Every body part has 4 tiers of damage: Hurt, Injured, Wounded, and Destroyed. Each tier has a hit point maximum equal to the creature's Constitution modifier plus their proficiency bonus. The maximum hit points of each tier of a body part is doubled each time the body part is marked in the Sturdy column.

Body part hit points are only regained as part of a rest within their current tier, otherwise they must be regained by the effects of as spell, feature, or piece of equipment that restores hit points. A destroyed body part can only be regained by a casting of greater restoration or a similar effect. If the rolled body part is already at 0, they may reroll or choose to deal twice as much damage to the target instead. Body part damage does not reduce the target's current hit points, and regaining body part hit points does not regain the traget's current hit points. Any instances of gradual blindness, deafness, or numbness gained from losing body part hit points can only be lost by regaining body part hit points. If all three Head (Field) body parts are reduced to 0, the creature is killed instantly as their head is destroyed.

Body Part	Sturdy	Hurt	Injured	Wounded	Destroyed
1 - Right Arm	✓	Any damage from attacks using this hand is halved	The effects of a shield in this hand is halved, partial armor can not be worn on this arm	Any skill checks or attack rolls using this hand have disadvantage	Any skill checks or attack rolls using this hand automatically fail, your arm is lost.
2 - Left Arm	✓	Any damage from attacks using this hand is halved	The effects of a shield in this hand is halved, partial armor can not be worn on this arm	Any skill checks or attack rolls using this hand have disadvantage, the effects of a shield in this hand is halved	Any skill checks or attack rolls using this hand automatically fail, your arm is lost.
3 - Right Leg	✓	Your jumping distances are halved	Your climbing and swimming speeds are reduced by 1/3	Your walking speed is reduced by 1/3, partial armor can not be worn on this leg	Your walking, climbing, and swimming speeds are halved, and you can not jump, your leg is lost.
4 - Left Leg	✓	Your jumping distances are halved	Your climbing and swimming speeds are reduced by 1/3	Your walking speed is reduced by 1/3, partial armor can not be worn on this leg	Your walking, climbing, and swimming speeds are halved, and you can not jump, your leg is lost.
5 - Torso	✓✓	You can hold your breath for half as long	You must succeed a DC 15 Constitution saving throw when you eat at least 1/3 of a day's worth of food within 1 hour to avoid vomiting it	You have disadvantage on any Constitution saving throws, partial armor can not be worn on your torso	You automatically fail Constitution saving throws, and your maximum hit points are halved.
6 - Head (Eyes)	—	You gain +2 levels of gradual blindness	You gain +3 levels of gradual blindness (5 total)	You gain +5 levels of gradual blindness (10 total)	You gain +15 levels of gradual blindness (25 total).
7 - Head (Ears)	—	You gain +2 levels of gradual deafness	You gain +3 levels of gradual deafness (5 total)	You gain +5 levels of gradual deafness (10 total)	You gain +15 levels of gradual deafness (25 total), your ears are lost.
8 - Head (Jaw)	—	You have disadvantage on any Persuasion, Performance, and Intimidation checks	You can hold your breath for half as long	You can not speak	You can not eat solid food, and any eating requires assistance, your jaw is lost.

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