threshold systems

DAMAGE THRESHOLDS
For D&D 4e

To provide a bit more variety in combat aside from "you hit" and "you miss", Thresholds for combat are intended to emulate the Storyteller System's rolling system.

If an attack roll is up to 3 under the target defence, it counts as a 'Glance' blow. No secondary effects of the attack are activated and it inflicts 1d4 minor damage of whatever type the attack would have done. If it's equal to the defence, it inflicts regular damage. If it is 5 over the target defence, inflict 1d4 extra damage. Optionally, if the attack roll is 10 or more over the target defence, it may inflict Catastrophic Damage and either be counted as a critical hit, or inflict 2d6 extra damage, at the DM's discretion.

If the target defence is especially low, for example 13 or less, the lower threshold is omitted and instead meeting the defence is treated as a Glance, and the rest as normal. Especially high defences may have these thresholds broadened at DM discretion. Natural 1 and Natural 20 rolls function as normal.