- When a character suffers damage and (after the damage is applied) is not bloodied, say how that character (choose one most appropriate to the fiction):
- Stumbles back
- Gets shoved down
- Drops his weapon
- Drops his guard
- Exposes a weakness in his armor
- Screams out in pain
- Backs off, breathing heavily
- Has something he carries break/shatter/fall off
- Loses track of something/someone
- Gets grappled/trapped/cornered
- When a character suffers damage and (after the damage is applied) is bloodied, say how that character (choose one most appropriate to the fiction):
- Has something happen off the unbloodied list
- Retreats post haste
- Screams out in pain
- Crumples to his knees
- Clutches his wound
- Eyes you like an animal (or, if an animal, a human)
- Has blood:
- Trickle down
- Stain clothes
- Get in eyes
- Flow down hair
- Spurt like a geyser
- Seep like molasses
- Spurt like water from a garden hose with you thumb stuck in the end
- Has bits fall off
- Cries for mercy
- Cries for mommy
- Crawls away from/toward source of pain
- Thousand yard stare
- Yammer/stammer/gibber
- Suicidal rage mode: activate
- When a character suffers damage and (after the damage is applied) is at or below 0 hp, say how that character (choose one most appropriate to the fiction):
- Suffers a grievous wound
- Gets knocked unconscious
- Passes out from blood loss
- Dies immediately and horrifically on the spot
- Does whatever the player says he does
- Surrenders and offers the PCs something he thinks will save him
- Retreats post haste
- Starts to die, not quickly
- Confesses to you
(I have no idea why WordPress is making my bullet points not align correctly.)
Anyway, this is intended to tie the mechanics more securely to the fiction. Some but not necessarily all of these selections could be accompanied by a +2/-2 circumstantial penalty to make them stick. Like, “he staggers back; he can’t take an opportunity attack against you.” Or “you bang his shield so hard, he can’t hold it in place; he’s got -2 AC if anyone attacks him right now.”
These choices also cover morale. Many of the bloodied choices imply giving up or otherwise becoming a non-present threat.
These should apply to PCs and NPCs alike, although, to maintain a heroic feel, you should use the softer bloodied and 0 hp options.
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