Critical Failures
Critical failures are controversial. For many the automatic result of rolling a 1 and failing an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw is enough of a punishment. I can’t blame people who feel that way. I don’t use critical failures at my own table for that very reason. Still there are tables who find failing hard (that’s failing with major consequences as opposed to just failing with the normal ones) fun and interesting. That got me thinking about what critical failures would look like at my table. What would be fun and interesting for me and make some sense based on the rules we already have?
Behold! My rules and reasonings for critical failures below. Remember that if you use these rules, 5% of the time your players will be suffering extra for simply being unlucky.
Optional Rule: Critical Failures on Ability Checks
In general if a creature rolls a natural 1 on an ability check, they just fail. However if failure of that ability check means it takes damage (like falling while climbing) the creature takes double the damage dice, just like when an attack roll is a critical hit. If they are using tools to complete the task (such as picking a lock) the tool breaks.
Optional Rule: Critical Failures on Saving Throws
If a creature rolls a natural 1 on a saving throw and as a result takes damage, the creature suffers double the damage dice, just like when an attack roll is a critical hit.
Note: Be really careful with this rule. It can result in instant death for being unlucky.
Optional Rule: Critical Failures on Attack Rolls
When a creature rolls a natural 1 on an attack roll, the attack misses as normal and you can choose to roll for an extra miss effect on the table below. Not all results on the table resolve by taking damage and the harshest and most bizarre results only have a 1% chance of occurring. Read over the chart and if there are any results you feel are unfair or need to be changed, you can just reroll and ignore any results you don’t like or put in some of your own.
Critical Failure Attack Effects
| d100 | Critical miss effect |
| 1 – 3 | You drop your weapon or spellcasting focus and it sticks in the ground or a wall. You must use a bonus action to retrieve it. |
| 4 – 6 | You drop your weapon or spellcasting focus and it gets stuck deep into the ground or a wall. You must use an action to retrieve it. |
| 7 | You drop your weapon or spellcasting focus and it gets stuck very deep in the ground or a wall. You must make a successful DC 15 Strength check as an action to retrieve it. |
| 8 | You drop your weapons or spellcasting focus and if it is nonmagical it breaks. |
| 9 – 12 | A random nonmagical item (determined by the DM) falls from from your backpack or belt pouch. |
| 13 – 14 | A random magical item (determined by the DM) falls from from your backpack or belt pouch. |
| 15 – 16 | A random nonmagical item (determined by the DM) falls from from your backpack or belt pouch and breaks. |
| 17 | A random consumable magical item (determined by the DM) falls from your back or belt pouch and breaks. |
| 18 – 20 | You hurl your weapon or spellcasting focus in a random direction and it lands 5 feet away. |
| 21 – 22 | You hurl your weapon or spellcasting focus in a random direction and it lands 10 feet away. |
| 23 – 24 | You hurl your weapon or spellcasting focus in a random direction and it lands 15 feet away. |
| 25 – 26 | You hurl your weapon or spellcasting focus in a random direction, it lands 15 feet away, and it sticks in the ground or a wall. You must use a bonus action to retrieve it. |
| 27 – 28 | You hurl your weapon or spellcasting focus in a random direction, it lands 15 feet away, and it gets stuck deep into the ground or a wall. You must use an action to retrieve it. |
| 29 | You hurl your weapon or spellcasting focus in a random direction, it lands 15 feet away, and it gets stuck very deep in the ground or a wall. You must make a successful DC 15 Strength check as an action to retrieve it. |
| 30 – 31 | If it is able to do so, your attack hits your closest ally to the intended target. |
| 32 – 34 | If it is able to do so, your attack hits your ally closest to you. |
| 35 – 37 | Your attack hits you. |
| 38 | If it is able to do so, your attack hits your closest ally to the intended target. This attack counts as a critical hit against the new target. |
| 39 | If it is able to do so, your attack hits your ally closest to you. This attack counts as a critical hit against the new target. |
| 40 | Your attack hits you. This attack against you is a critical hit. |
| 41 – 42 | The miss creates an atmospheric disturbance (such as dust or smoke clouds) right in front of your face and you get this in your eyes. You are blinded until the end on your next turn. |
| 43 – 44 | The missed attack connects solidly with an object in front of you and makes a very loud noise. You are deafened until the end of your next turn |
| 45 – 46 | You marvel at how poorly you missed. You are incapacitated until the end of your next turn. |
| 47 – 48 | In the process of executing your attack you hit yourself in the stomach rather hard. You are poisoned until the end of your next turn. |
| 49 – 51 | In the process of executing your attack you trip and fall prone. |
| 52 – 53 | In the process of executing your attack you trip and move forward 5 feet and fall prone. |
| 54 – 55 | In the process of executing your attack you trip and move forward 10 feet and fall prone. |
| 56 – 57 | In the process of executing your attack you trip and move forward 15 feet and fall prone. |
| 58 – 59 | In the process of executing your attack you trip and move back 5 feet and fall prone. |
| 60 – 61 | In the process of executing your attack you trip and move back 10 feet and fall prone. |
| 62 – 63 | In the process of executing your attack you trip and move back 15 feet and fall prone. |
| 64 – 65 | In the process of executing your attack you trip and move back 15 feet and fall prone. |
| 66 – 67 | In the process of executing your attack you trip and move forward 5 feet and fall prone and drop your weapon in the space where you made the attack. |
| 68 – 69 | In the process of executing your attack you trip and move forward 10 feet and fall prone and drop your weapon in the space where you made the attack. |
| 70 – 71 | In the process of executing your attack you trip and move forward 15 feet and fall prone and drop your weapon in the space where you made the attack. |
| 72 – 73 | In the process of executing your attack you trip and move back 5 feet and fall prone and drop your weapon in the space where you made the attack. |
| 74 – 75 | In the process of executing your attack you trip and move back 10 feet and fall prone and drop your weapon in the space where you made the attack. |
| 76 – 77 | In the process of executing your attack you trip and move back 15 feet and fall prone and drop your weapon in the space where you made the attack. |
| 78 – 79 | In the process of executing your attack you launch yourself hard into the ground. You take 1d4 blugeoning damage and are prone. |
| 80 – 81 | In the process of executing your attack you launch yourself very hard into the ground. You take 1d8 blugeoning damage and are prone. |
| 82 – 83 | In the process of executing your attack you launch yourself as hard as you can into the ground. You take 1d12 blugeoning damage and are prone. |
| 84 – 85 | In the process of executing your attack you become restrained in your clothes and armor and must use an action to untangle yourself. |
| 86 – 88 | Your attack is so wild it takes a moment for you to recover. You have disadvantage on your next attack made before the end of your next turn. |
| 89 – 90 | Your attack is very wild and you need more than a moment to recover. You have disadvantage on all attacks you make before the end of your next turn. |
| 91 – 92 | You chip your weapon or arcane focus. You take a -1 penalty to attack rolls until you get it repaired. |
| 93 – 95 | Your attack is wild and allows any enemy in melee range an opening. As a reaction enemies may make an opportunity attack against you. |
| 96 – 97 | Your attack is very wild and allows any enemy in melee range an opening. As a reaction enemies may make an opportunity attack against you with advantage. |
| 98 | If your attack is made with magic weapon or spell, your miss rends a spot where the barrier between planes is weak and accidentally summons an angry minor elemental (CR 1 or lower). This demon’s turn takes place immediately after yours and it is hostile toward you. |
| 99 | If your attack is made with magic weapon or spell, your miss rends a spot where the barrier between planes is weak and accidentally summons an angry minor devil (CR 1 or lower). This demon’s turn takes place immediately after yours and it is hostile toward you. |
| 100 | If your attack is made with magic weapon or spell, your miss rends a spot where the barrier between planes is weak and accidentally summons an angry minor demon (CR 1 or lower). This demon’s turn takes place immediately after yours and it is hostile toward you. |
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August 20, 2015 @ 8:51 am
Instead of doing it at every 1, it could be like a death throw and if you happen to fail 3 times these negative results occur
August 21, 2015 @ 9:17 am
Great idea to reduce the instances of it. Or you could roll again to “confirm” the crit fail like confirming a crit hit in 3.5.
August 25, 2015 @ 7:27 pm
Confirming critical failure rolls kept my players from revolting in my old 3.5 campaign. The higher the enemy AC, the more likely the fumble, and vice-versa.
August 20, 2015 @ 11:49 am
I like to use rules like this for mooks and minions. It delights my players to no end to see a creature of little consequence fall on a pie, or shoot itself in the foot with an arrow. I may use this chart… it could be fun.
August 21, 2015 @ 9:17 am
Always fun to see mooks go a-flying. If you use it, let me know how it goes!
August 21, 2015 @ 10:53 am
Will do. I did use your common wondrous item table, and it went over pretty well. The kids love anything magical, and it has helped them understand the aspect of the rules that the magic item affects.
August 21, 2015 @ 2:18 pm
That’s awesome. Thanks for introducing kids to D&D!
August 20, 2015 @ 2:56 pm
I remember in college I was doing some sparring in martial arts. I was, for a nice change, doing pretty well.
And I went to do a high kick to the target’s unprotected head, and the end of my pant leg got between my foot and the wood floor. Instant nonstick surface. WHOOP!
I fall. I lose
Crits happen, and I think that the various systems used to account for them cropping up randomly are a key part of inserting that element of “you’ll never believe what just happened…”
Heck, on the other side, there was a shootout in a pharmacy within the last year. A guy trying to rob the store was engaged by a store employee, whose first shot hit the tip of the other guy’s gun and lodged the slide back so that it was inoperable. Critical hit – no way that was a called shot, etc.
August 21, 2015 @ 9:18 am
It’s true! In life crits are happening all the time!
August 20, 2015 @ 2:59 pm
I used to love critical hit and fumble tables, and this is a good one. Now I prefer a simpler idea, and prefer not to look up other charts and stuff.
On a fumble, the next attack, save or ability check is made with Disadvantage. On the flip side, instead of extra damage dice on criticals, my table likes to get maximum normal damage (including sneak attacks, smites and the like), and Advantage on their next attack, save or skill check.
August 21, 2015 @ 11:39 am
Thanks, Bupp. Also a great way to do it and keep things simple.
August 21, 2015 @ 4:50 am
There are three problems with the fumbles: they add time and complexity, it is not fun to be a hero and fail like an idiot and they hurt players more over time compared to monsters and npcs. If i am to add complexity to combat I prefer critical hits, which add drama and heroism or grittiness to combat. The crit table we use in my warhammer campaign has added scars and memorable features to the characters.
August 21, 2015 @ 11:43 am
Like I said, not for everyone! Those are the reasons why, but fun is subjective and some people enjoy harsher consequences.