fatal

Chapter 10: Combat
Fumbles
A fumble is an extreme failure regarding a
skill check. This section, however, is a guide to
fumbles regarding attack skill checks, although the
concept generally applies to other skills as well. Anytime
a skill check is made and the result is 6 or less
before any modifications occur, a Fumble has occurred.
Roll 1d100 and consult the table below to
determine the General Cause of the Fumble. Note
that these results must be applied with good judgment.
For instance, an unarmored chambermaid
may Fumble while attacking a character, and the result
indicates that the Fumble is due to an armor
anomaly, though this particular chambermaid does
not wear armor or fallible equipment. In such nonsensical
cases, reroll as necessary.
Roll
Fumbles
Result
01
Punished by the Gods
02-17
Over-extension
18-33
Under-extension
34-49
Loss of grip upon the weapon
50-65
Loss of balance
66-84
Environmental cause
85-100
Armor anomaly
Interpretive Guide
Punished by the Gods: Whenever somethings
go terribly wrong, many characters blame the
gods.
• The ceiling collapses on the unfortunate
character.
• A building topples onto the character.
• Lightning strikes, as per the spell.
• A magical gate from ages past has been triggered.
• A random god has been watching the character,
and is or has been greatly offended. The god
kills the character.
Over-extension: This is the misfortune of
a character misjudging their blow or foe and forcing
themselves or their weapon too far. Examples include
the following:
• Maul: Angered at their foe, the fumbler
swings their maul wildly, too wildly. The weight of
the weapon forces the fumbler to take a compensating
step forward and still another in the direction
of the follow-through to regain control of the
weapon. During this unfortunate fumble, the foe
gains a free attack, the opportunity to plunge their
weapon into the exposed back of the fumbler.
• Polearm, Awl Pike: Counting on the distance
between the fumbler and their foe for safety, the
worst mistake the fumbler can make is overshooting
their foe with the tip of this polearm. The foe
rushes the fumbler for an additional attack with glee.
• Scourge: While the leather connects, the
barbs of the fumbler’s scourge overshoot their target
so the fumbler does no lasting damage at all.
Meanwhile, if possible the foe gains an additional
attack.
• Sword, Short: While attacking a foe, the fumbler
thrusts too far with their short sword, temporarily
over-extending themselves before their foe.
Seizing the opportunity, the foe gains a free attack
attempt at the extended arm of the fumbler.
• Sword, Zweihander: As this heavy blade is
slow to swing, the fumbler misjudges their foe’s perceived
position. As the blade swings, the fumbler
wrongly steps closer to compensate and with the
majority of the blade behind them, connects so awkwardly
and slowly that no lasting damage is done.
The foe, however, gains an additional attack on the
fumbler now.
• Warhammer: This bludgeoner is swung too
far forward, effectively hitting the foe only with the
pole portion for no lasting damage. The foe gains
an additional attack on the fumbler as they realize
what just happened.
• Whip: Temporarily the fumbler’s timing is
off in their technique as the snap of the whip occurs
too late, not harming the foe at all. If possible,
the foe gains an additional attack.
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