A couple of posts back I mentioned that I was keen to use a narration style when it came to describing the various effects of attacks and posted some examples.  I've now put together a comprehensive list of Slash and Stab damage narrative examples (see below).  Over the next couple of days, I will post up Blunt Trauma and Chop damage narratives (which pretty much covers every conceivable weapon type used in DnD).  Please remember that everything posted here is merely suggestion.  If you're more comfortable saying that your character simply missed then that's just as cool as describing in a full paragraph the entire attack which misses.<br/><br/>The only thing I don't want to see is something like: "Bob does 7HP of damage to Harry".<br/><br/><span class="bbc_u"><strong>Stab and Slash Injuries</strong></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_u">Critical Failures:</span>If you roll an unmodified 1 it's considered a critical failure – and critical failures should have consequences (some bad, some not so bad and some very bad).  I've got a very simply way of working out how bad…simply find the difference between the target number and 1 and that is the result that should be referred to.  This applies to NPC's as well as characters, so you may find yourself delivering a killing blow out-of-turn, but hey, such is the chaotic nature of a swirling melee right? (Swirling Melee = the time immemorial way that GM's have described fights to get around tricky and ingenious PC's during combat scenes.)<br/><br/><strong>20:</strong>Rolling inside [insert attacker's name] lunge, [insert defender's name] uses his/her momentum to deliver a short heart stopping stab between the ribs.  Death is immediate.<br/><br/><strong>19:</strong>With great skill and timing [insert defender's name] parries an incoming thrust inwards, whilst simultaneously moving in and hooking a vicious thrust around [insert attacker's name] extended weapon arm, and then driving it through the windpipe in an upward and outward motion out the back of the neck, carving a path of carnage.  Death is pretty much immediate and very messy.<br/><br/><strong>18:</strong>Moving into [insert attacker’s name] thrust, [insert defender's name] hooks the weapon arm trapping it at the elbow close into his/her side.  [Insert defender's name] then closes the hug with a roundhouse stab to [insert attacker's name] kidneys and back of head.  {Roll damage and triple for weapon type}<br/><br/><strong>17:</strong>Moving into [insert attacker’s name] thrust, [insert defender's name] hooks the weapon arm trapping it at the elbow close to his/her side. The defender then drives the blade deep into [insert attacker's name] guts and with a violent yank rips it through the attacker’s intestines. {roll damage and double for weapon type; -2 HP per round}<br/><br/><strong>16:</strong>[Insert defender's name] gracefully pivots away from an attack and comes back at [insert attacker's name] with a spinning backhand slash that cuts deeply into the side of [insert attacker’s name] neck severing the jugular and pumping blood in all directions.  {Roll damage and double for weapon type; -1 HP per round}<br/><br/><strong>15:</strong>[Insert defender's name] spectacularly drops under [insert attacker’s name] thrust and grabbing his/her outstretched arm while simultaneously performing a short penetrating stab to [insert attacker's name] groin that cuts the femoral artery spraying all within a couple of meters with blood. {Roll damage for weapon type; -2 HP per round}<br/><br/><strong>14:</strong>Ducking under a slow high thrust [insert defender's name] punches his/her blade deep into [insert attacker's name] guts. {Roll damage for weapon type; -1HP per round}<br/><br/><strong>13:</strong>A downward stab is blocked at the wrist by the blade of [insert defender's name] weapon, cutting through tendons, and following through with a nasty downward slash to the neck.  {Roll damage for weapon type; attacker's weapon dropped; on-arm unusable}<br/><br/><strong>12:</strong>[Insert attacker's name} recklessly dives in to stab [insert defender's name] who manages to deflect the blow upwards and into [insert attacker's name] eye, skewering it on the tip of the blade. {Roll damage for weapon type, attacker partially blinded until healed; -2 to all vision based tests}<br/><br/><strong>11:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] grabs [insert defender's name] by the chest to set [insert defender's name] up for a strike, however the strike is deflected and [insert attacker's name] stabs himself/herself through his/her forearm, tearing muscle and hitting the bone. {Roll damage for weapon type}<br/><br/><strong>10:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] wrong foots himself/herself and stumbles into [insert defender's name] hitting him with his/her fist and deflecting the blade back to impale himself/herself through the cheek.  {Roll damage for weapon type -1}<br/><br/><strong>9:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] wildly misses and follows through too far stabbing himself/herself deeply in the thigh. {Roll damage for weapon type -2}<br/><br/><strong>8:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] signposts a lunge and [insert defender's name] pivots like a matador to the right of the attack and sticks [insert attacker's name] quickly in the hamstring muscle.  {Roll damage for weapon type -3}<br/><br/><strong>7:</strong>[Insert defender's name] is grabbed by the hair to pull him/her onto a neck stab but he/she adeptly slashes [insert attacker's name] forearm to break free. {Roll damage for weapon type -4}<br/><br/><strong>6:</strong>[Insert defender's name] skilfully parries a lunging attack by spearing [insert attacker's name] weapon hand between the knuckles.  {Roll damage for weapon type -5, attacker's weapon dropped.}<br/><br/><strong>5:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] over-extends, slips and falls to his knees.  {Must fight from a kneeling position of spend a move equivalent action to regain their feet}.<br/><br/><strong>4:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] lunges forward like a fencer and strains a groin muscle.  {-1 to any Balance, Climb or Swimming skill check for 1 full day}.<br/><br/><strong>3:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] over-extends and strains a shoulder muscle. {-1 to all attack rolls and any STR based checks for 1 full day}.<br/><br/><strong>2:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] follows through too far on a wild attack and leaves himself side on and vulnerable to [insert defender's name, if a group use 'the guards', 'the orcs', etc.].   {+1 to next attack against this character}<br/><br/><strong>1:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] stumbles badly and almost falls over.  {Successful REF check negates a -1 attack penalty for next attack}<br/><br/><span class="bbc_u">Failure to Hit:</span>If you failure to roll higher than the target's AC but don't roll a one, then at most you'll be embarrassed.  See below for some ideas on how this situation may be described without resorting to the simplistic: [character's name] misses the Orc.  Of course these are written from the perspective of someone who uses a sword, so some modification may be necessary if the attacker's weapons was an axe or mace.<br/><br/>[Insert attacker's name] is frustrated by [insert defender's name] skilled defensive posture and aborts the attack half way through.<br/><br/>[Insert attacker's name] makes a wild swipe at [insert defender's name], that only hits air.<br/><br/>[Insert defender's name] confuses [insert attacker's name] into missing his opportunity to attack.<br/><br/>[Insert defender's name] feigns an attack that puts [insert attacker's name] off his stride.<br/><br/>[Insert defender's name] ducks to the side as [insert attacker's name] blade narrowly misses nicking his/her ear.<br/><br/>[Insert defender's name] is hit on the arm [or anywhere else if you choose] by the flat of [insert attacker's name] blade.<br/><br/>A stabbing attack by [insert attacker's name] spears and tears the pocket of [insert defender's name] trousers.<br/><br/>The tip of [insert attacker's name] blade digs less than half a centimeter into the blocking palm of [insert defender's name], barely hurting his/her glove/gauntlet let alone [insert defender's name] flesh.<br/><br/><span class="bbc_u">Successfully Hit:</span>If you do successfully roll higher than the defender's AC you have hit them and caused some degree of damage.  Below are a series of narrations for sword based degrees of damage.  The amount of HP damage that I've assigned to each description is really only relevant to low to mid-level characters.  Of course if you should be fortunate and score 30HP of damage vs. a 1st level Orc warrior, then the narration would need to be changed to reflect that the Orc is killed rather than just wounded with a triple kidney shot.<br/><br/>As with everything written here, these are merely guides on what could be written as damage narration.  I suspect that as the game progresses, that if you aren't already, you'll all become more proficient in damage narration.<br/><br/><strong>1 point:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] closes in on [insert defender's name] with a backhand slash aimed for the face. [Insert defender's name] is unable to pull back in time takes a deep defensive wound to the palm of the shielding free hand.<br/><br/><strong>2 points:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] launches a thrusting type slash, catching [insert defender's name] in the nostril as he/she is pulling away from the attack. The nostril is painfully ripped open in an eruption of blood.<br/><br/><strong>3 points:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] stabs through the thumb of [insert defender's name] shielding hand damaging the tendon.<br/><br/><strong>4 points:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] executes a slash attack opening a 3 inch long cut across [insert defender's name] forehead that weeps blood into [insert defender's name] eyes.<br/><br/><strong>5 points:</strong>A stab to [insert defender's name] upper arm penetrates the muscle.<br/><br/><strong>6 points:</strong>A downward slash cuts [insert defender's name] left nipple in half in a 5 inch long laceration wound.<br/><br/><strong>7 points:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] gets in close and low delivering two short stabs to [insert defender's name] thigh and side that cut into only muscle and flesh causing a series of minor wounds.<br/><br/><strong>8 points:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] strike punctures [insert defender's name] through the cheek slicing his/her tongue open.<br/><br/><strong>9 points:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] downward slash cuts a good portion of [insert defender's name] ear off and carries through splitting the trapezium muscle open.<br/><br/><strong>10 points:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] stabs straight through [insert defender's name] forearm chipping the bone and cutting through muscle as it is yanked free.<br/><br/><strong>11 points:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] crouches his/her way in and delivers a short 1 inch stab wound to [insert defender's name] abdomen that punctures the stomach wall.<br/><br/><strong>12 points:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] lunges in with two long jabbing type stabs that dig nearly an inch deep into [insert defender's name] pectoral muscle and shoulder.<br/><br/><strong>13 points:</strong>[insert attacker's name] and [insert defender's name] collide during their attacks with [insert attacker's name] turning [insert defender's name] to the side with his/her free hand and driving the blade into the side of the exposed thigh right up to the hilt.<br/><br/><strong>14 points:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] audaciously hooks [insert defender's name] weapon arm to his/her side with his/her free hand as s/he comes in low and gets [insert defender's name] with three short stabs to the thigh.<br/><br/><strong>15 points:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] darts in with two tightly delivered forehand and backhand slashes to [insert defender’s name] abdomen that leave gaping and copiously bleeding wounds.<br/><br/><strong>16 points:</strong>In a determined attack [insert attacker's name] stabs [insert defender's name] through the bicep cutting the brachial artery and through the side narrowly missing the liver.<br/><br/><strong>17 points:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] launches a downward stab resulting in [insert defender's name] being skewered through the shoulder to the hilt causing considerably muscle bone and circulatory damage.<br/><br/><strong>18 points:</strong>In a daring move [insert attacker's name] lunges over the guard of [insert defender’s name] weapon arm and gashes him/her the length of his/her forearm before continuing with a deep wound through the elbow that cuts the brachial artery.  A savage stab to the abdomen finishes a good attack.<br/><br/><strong>19 points:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] executes a savage downward stab to the thigh just above [insert defender's name] knee which almost severs the leg from the vicious ripping action in which it is removed from inside the leg.  [insert defender's name] collapses, squealing like a stuck pig.<br/><br/><strong>20 points:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] unleashes two fast downward stabs that slice into [insert defender’s name] shoulder and neck.<br/><br/><strong>21 points:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] delivers a powerful downward stab that pierces [insert defender's name] chest muscles and punctures a lung and as [insert attacker's name] withdraws the blade he pushes [insert defender's name] off balance.  {REF check negates -1 to next attack due to being unbalanced}<br/><br/><strong>22 points:</strong>An arcing slash attack by [insert attacker's name] cuts [insert defender's name]  left eye out of its socket.<br/><br/><strong>23 points:</strong>A deep devastating stab by [insert attacker's name] to [insert defender's name] abdomen doubles [insert defender's name] and inflicts serious intestinal damage and blood loss.<br/><br/><strong>24 points:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] unleashes a powerful thrust attack that embeds his/her blade dangerously deep into [insert defender’s name] side causing serious internal injuries to the liver and lower intestines.<br/><br/><strong>25 points:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] swiftly grabs [insert defender's name] by the throat, who is pushed upward and back and stabbed three times in the stomach and chest by [insert attacker's name] attack, inflicting substantial internal injuries.<br/><br/><strong>26 points:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] delivers an upward slash that cuts through [insert defender's name] groin and severs the femoral artery.<br/><br/><strong>27 points:</strong>The [insert defender's name] has the back of his head yanked down exposing his throat to three short and furious stabs that cut the carotid artery in a gush of blood.<br/><br/><strong>28 points:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] executes an upward backhand slash that cuts through [insert defender's name] groin and severs the femoral artery, then the blade with a deft turn of [insert attacker's name] wrist is seamlessly driven deep into the sternum.<br/><br/><strong>29 points:</strong>A vicious thrust pierces a vulnerable area just underneath [insert defender's name] jaw and allows the blade to travel easily to the base of the brain.  Besides heavy blood loss, there is severe mental damage as well.<br/><br/><strong>30 points:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] manoeuvres himself around to the side of [insert defender's name] and stabs him three times in the kidneys.<br/><br/><span class="bbc_u">Dead Right There Attacks:</span>Sometimes your attacks are so powerful that you kill your opponent outright.  This is what I call a Dead Right There Attack.  I always try and make the Dead Right There attacks as dramatic (or sometimes totally counter-dramatic if I think that'll work better) as possible.  If your HP damage is more than the target's remaining HP+10 then I'll certainly let you know so that you can post your damage narrative appropriately.  Below are a few examples:<br/><br/><strong>A:</strong>[Insert defender's name] head is dragged down in preparation for a downward stab that goes right through the base of the head severing the spinal column.  [Insert defender's name] collapses, twitches and is now about as much use as a pile of boiled cabbage.<br/><br/><strong>B:</strong>An awesome attack splits the skull and embeds the blade too deep into [insert defender's name] brain for him/her to live.  [Insert defender's name] dodders, falls and twitches for a few rounds before expiring.<br/><br/><strong>C:</strong>A powerful downward thrust cuts through the muscle and sinew of the chest and finds [insert defender's name] heart.  Death is immediate.<br/><br/><strong>D:</strong>An upward driving thrust into [insert defender's name] chest separates two ribs and pierces the heart.  Death is immediate.<br/><br/><span class="bbc_u">And Something A little Different!</span>If the narrative has your character on their back, knees, prone or whatever (well this is an RP on a sex-themed site after all!), a possible attack could be described in the following manner which adds a certain Errol Flynn flavour to the narrative which is always entertaining.  The amount of HP damage and other possible miscellaneous effects can be determined at a later date.  The following are only examples (from a weak 2HP attack to a Dead Right There attack), feel free to modify as you wish:<br/><br/><strong>A:</strong>[Insert defender's name] is grabbed by the hair to pull him/her onto a neck stab but adeptly slashes [insert attacker's name] forearm to break free.<br/><br/><strong>B:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] spins around in a full-circle on his/her knees and slashes the [insert defender's name] across the cheek inflicting a long deep cut.<br/><br/><strong>C:</strong>From a prone position [insert attacker's name] dives forward and skewers [insert defender's name] Achilles tendon before ripping the blade out in a spurt of blood.<br/><br/><strong>D:</strong>Facing away from [insert defender's name], [insert attacker's name] looks back and stabs behind him driving the blade deep into the muscle of the [insert defender's name] right thigh.<br/><br/><strong>E:</strong>From a prone position [insert attacker's name] lunges upward and hugs [insert defender's name] around the waist whilst simultaneously plunging the blade into the lower abdomen, where it is ripped upwards and across inflicting internal carnage. [Insert defender's name] recoils away from [insert attacker's name] holding onto his spilling entrails.<br/><br/><strong>F:</strong>[Insert attacker's name] delivers a vicious backhand slash that slices [insert defender's name] throat wide open in a fountain of blood.  [Insert defender's name] gurgles helplessly as copious amounts of the red stuff pumps through his/her desperately clawing hands.<br/>