Limb System (5e Variant Rule)

Limb System

Have you ever felt weird that even though you RP your character hitting an specific limb, you still only damage their hit points and nothing really special happens? Well, if you ever went through that than this variant rule is for you!

Limb Attacking

Whenever a creature makes an attack, they can target a specific limb instead of attacking as normal. Taking a to-hit penalty depending on the limb, the damage of the attack, if it still hits the target’s AC, will go to the limb as well as their normal hit point value.

Limb Chosen	Attack Penalty
Legs and arms	-4
Jaw and Hands	-5
Ears and Eyes	-6
Torso	-8
Neck and Skull	-10

Limb Effects

Every limb has an specific amount of hit points which are reduced whenever it is harmed. When a limb's hit points are reduced by 1/4th of their maximum, said limb will become wounded. When said limb's hit points is reduced to half of their maximum, it becomes broken. And when said limb is reduced to 0 hit points, it is removed.

Body Part	Damage Required	Wounded Limb Consequences	Broken Limb Consequences	Lost Limb Consequences
Leg	The creature's Constitution modifier times their maximum hit die(Minimum 2 hit points).	The creature's walking, climbing, and swimming speeds are halved.	The creature has disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws, and they cannot jump.	The creature loses its leg.
Arm	The target's Constitution modifier times their maximum hit die(Minimum 2 hit points).	Any attack rolls using this arm are made with disadvantage.	The creature breaks that arm, making any ability checks or attack rolls with it automatically fail.	The creature loses that arm, rendering any rendering any activities that would require it impossible.
Hand	The creature's Constitution modifier times half their maximum hit die(Minimum 2 hit points).	The creature drops any object they are holding with that hand.	Any attack rolls or ability checks made with that hand automatically fail.	The creatures loses that hand, rendering any activities that would require it impossible.
Torso	The creature's Constitution modifier added twice times their maximum hit die(minimum 3 hit points).	The creature must roll a DC20 Constitution saving throw when digesting anything or puke it all out.	The creature will have disadvantage on all Constitution saving throws, and its hit point maximum are halved.	The creature loses its torso, which means instant death for most creatures.
Neck	The creature's Constitution modifier times their maximum hit die(minimum 2 hit points).	The target can hold it's breath for half as long, and can suffocate for half as long.	The target can hold it's breath for 1/4th as long as it usually could, and can suffocate for 1/4th as long.	The target will lose its neck, which means instant death for most creatures.
Jaw	The creature's Constitution modifier times half their maximum hit die(Minimum 2 hit points).	The creature will have disadvantage in all Charisma checks.	The creature will always fail Charisma checks and cannot eat anything without assistance, it also can't hold it's breath.	The creature's jaw will be destroyed, rendering it useless.
Ear	The creature's Constitution modifier times half their maximum hit die(Minimum 2 hit points).	The creature will receive a -5 on all perception checks involving hearing.	The creature will receive a -7 on all perception checks involving hearing, and if it does any saving throws to avoid being deafened it does so with disadvantage.	The creature's ear is completely destroyed, making the creature deafened on that ear.
Eye	The creature's Constitution modifier times half their maximum hit die(Minimum 2 hit points).	The creature will receive a -5 on all perception checks involving sight.	The creature will receive a -7 on all perception checks involving sight, and if it does any saving throws to avoid being blinded it does so with disadvantage.	The creature's eye is completely destroyed, leaving said creature completely blinded on that eye.
Skull	The creature's Constitution modifier times their maximum hit die(Minimum 2 hit points).	The creature will have disadvantage on all Wisdom, Intelligence and Charisma ability checks and saving throws, and cannot concentrate on anything.	The creature will fall unconscious.	The creature's skull will be destroyed, generally meaning death for most creatures.

Depending on the creature, they may have more than one limb or not pocess said limb at all. In the case of a creature having more than 2 limbs of the same type, you need to reach the wounded condition with at least half of the same limbs(rounded down) to make them reach the wounded condition.

Healing Limbs

Healing limbs is not an easy task, with it generally taking time whenever it is wounded or broken. Whenever a creature regain hit points from any source, they regain an equal number of hit points to all of their limbs. Lost limbs cannot recover hit points, unless if regained by the regenerate spell or similar features.

A creature recovers a number of hit points to it's limbs equal to their Constitution modifier(minimum of 1) on a short rest, and regains an amount of hit points equal to their Constitution modifier times half of their hit die(rounded up) on a long rest.

Battle Superiority

This penalty does not apply if the attacker is much stronger than the target, usually a 5 or greater level difference in the attacker’s favor, but this is at the DM's discretion.

5.00

(4 votes)

---

Back to Main Page → 5e Homebrew → Rules