Death & Dismemberment Table
This is for my Goddess Blade game (to be folded into it at a later point). In Goddess Blade, magical healing is fairly scarce and low-output. While PCs are hearty (starting at max HD plus positive CON modifiers), even natural recovery is pretty slow too. So what happens when a PC goes down? Roll and find out.
When your HP reaches 0 or less, roll 1d20, apply your CON modifier (+ or -) if physical or CHA if mental, and subtract the amount of damage that exceeded your HP. Use the column that matches what dealt the last blow. On a natural 20, choose only the "20+" result instead. Additional damage prompts additional rolls, with negative HP being accumulative. Single-digit results: Save vs Fortitude or fall unconscious from pain/shock.
Penalties without time limits can be recovered from if the injury is completely healed. Mental injuries and loss of limbs do not heal naturally, however.
sprites by me
Physical and mental sources:
| 1d20 | Sharp | Blunt | Mental |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20+ | Clarity! Roll your Hit Die and gain that much HP. You surge with the will of the living. | <--- | <--- |
| 18-19 | Gash: Bleed out in 2d6 minutes. | Concussion: KO'd for 1d4 turns. | Shaken: Wisdom lowered to 5 (-3) for 1d4 hours. |
| 14-17 | Severed ligament: Cannot use limb. Bleed out in 2d6 minutes. | Cracked bone: Use of limb deals 1d4 damage. | Shock: KO'd for 1d20 hours. |
| 8-13 | Severed limb: Bleed out in 1d4 turns. | Shattered bone: Cannot use limb. | Scoured: Lose 1d4 Intelligence and that many core memories. |
| 4-7 | Gored: Randomly choose: lose 1d6 Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution. Bleed out in 1d4 turns. | Mangled: Lose 1d6 Constitution. Bleed out in 2d6 minutes. | Fragmented: Lose 1d4 Wisdom, Intelligence, and Charisma. |
| 2-3 | Total organ failure: Die in 1d6 rounds. | <--- | Mental collapse: Randomly choose: Wisdom, Intelligence, or Charisma becomes 1. |
| 1- | Instant Death. Prenatal oblivion. | <--- | Husk. No one is home. |
Elemental and environmental sources:
| 1d20 | Heat | Cold | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20+ | Clarity! Roll your Hit Die and gain that much HP. You surge with the will of the living. | <--- | <--- |
| 18-19 | Burned: Take 1.5x physical damage for 1d4 days. | <--- | Numbed: Drop held items. Can't use hands for 1d20 minutes. |
| 14-17 | Seared muscles: Exertion deals 1d6 damage per action/round. | Lost digits: Lose 1d4 random digits. Lose 1 Dexterity. | Palsy: Dexterity lowered to 5 (-3) for 1d6 days. |
| 8-13 | Skinned: Take 2x physical damage for 1d20 days. Bleed out in 1d20 minutes. | Dead limb: Lose 1d4 Strength. | Flayed nerves: Lose 1d4 Dexterity. |
| 4-7 | Blistered: Lose 1d8 Constitution and 1d4 Charisma. | Froststricken: 1d4 limbs die. Lose 1d6 Strength. | Neuroshock: Roll on mental source column with -5. |
| 2-3 | Immolated: Die in 1d6 rounds. | Total shutdown: Die in 1d4 hours. | Burst heart: Die in 1d6 rounds. |
| 1- | Incinerated: Returned to dust. | Glacified: Outwardly preserved, microscopically obliterated. | Incinerated: Returned to dust. |