Friday, April 8, 2016

Death, Revised


I think I've made my death and injury procedure significantly more complex than the previous iteration without actually making it any more complicated for the players, and that makes me feel like a good boy.

INJURY AND DYING
At 0 HP, make a CON/Paralysis save to remain active and roll d100 on the following table. For further successful attacks against you, roll d100 + cumulative damage x 10 on this table. Italics indicate an infection, with an onset of 4d4 turns on a failed CON/Poison save. No infection has the same cure twice. The duration of non-permanent effects is 2d4 weeks or as described.


d100
Effect
1-4
Flesh wound. Looks worse than it is.
5-8
Hideous scar or burn.
9-16
Broken ribs. Disadvantage on all CON rolls.
17-25
Internal bleeding. Disadvantage on DEX rolls.
26-34
Broken arm. Temporary -2 CON and disadvantage on attack rolls.
35-43
Broken leg. Temporary -2 CON and move as if one encumbrance level higher.
44
1: Wound blisters and turns a sickening fuschia color, burning badly. Disadvantage on all rolls.
45
2: Lacrymal glands leak a black mucus that seals eyes shut. DEX halved, disadvantage on all rolls.
46
3: Agonizing convulsions and retching for d4 turns on a failed WIS/Paralysis save during any physical exertion.
47
4: Vomit acidic, boiling blood that corrodes worn equipment.
48
5: Fever, can’t keep down any food or drink. -1 to all abilities each day, death if any reach 0.
49
6: Fetid pus-filled boils cover the skin. Confusion and madness. Too weak to stand after 2d6 days. Death follows d6 days later.
50
7: Lockjaw after d4 days, no speaking. Rest of limbs follow 2d4 days later, and death d4 more.
51-52
Lose an eye. Permanent -4 DEX.
53-59
Lose an eye. Permanent -4 DEX + Infection 1 (53), 2 (54), 3 (55), 4 (56), 5 (57), 6 (58), 7 (59).
60-61
Lose d4 fingers. Permanent -1 CON and DEX.
62-68
Lose d4 fingers. Permanent -1 CON and DEX + Infection 1 (62), 2 (63), 3 (64), 4 (65), 5 (66), 6 (67), 7 (68).
69-70
Lose a hand. Permanent -2 CON and DEX.
71-77
Lose a hand. Permanent -2 CON and DEX + Infection 1 (71), 2 (72), 3 (73), 4 (74), 5 (75), 6 (76), 7 (77).
78-79
Lose an arm. Permanent -4 CON and DEX. Disadvantage on attack rolls.
80-86
Lose an arm. Permanent -4 CON and DEX. Disadvantage on attack rolls + Infection 1 (80), 2 (81), 3 (82), 4 (83), 5 (84), 6 (85), 7 (86).
87-88
Lose a leg. Permanent -4 CON and DEX, always move as if heavily burdened.
89-95
Lose a leg. Permanent -4 CON and DEX, always move as if heavily burdened + Infection 1 (89), 2 (90), 3 (91), 4 (92), 5 (93), 6 (94), 7 (95).
96
Decapitation.
97+
Septic shock and agonizing death.

Why I like this:
  • Consequences kick in at 0 HP. No more negative numbers.
  • Players can remain active, but put themselves at considerable and quickly increasing risk if they don't run. Inspired by Small but Vicious Dog. I love forcing hard choices!
  • Standardized mechanical effects for injuries.
  • Infections! This is a gamey, built-in way for players to get sick. Inspired by Last Gasp. Pull cures from that post if you want.
  • Still only a single roll (per attack) on a single chart.

No comments:

Post a Comment