High-Powered "Coup de Grace" Rules

These rules are specifically for those interested in running a more high fantasy “Hit Points = Meat Points” style of game, or those who want a little bit more grounded realism over pure meat points mixed with heroic fantasy. You could of course easily convert it into narrative hit points just as well.

High-Powered “Coup de Grace” Rules

When a character is harmed by another character to finish them off, such as a knife to the throat or crossbow pointed at the head, consult the list by their level. This does not apply to hit point damage taken in combat as per normal rules. The “damage roll” of the coup de grace should be the weapon damage die.

Level 1-2 : Death, no save.

Level 3-4 : Character makes a saving throw. On success, dropped to 0 hit points and will die in one round if not immediately given medical attention or healing magic. On fail, death.

Level 5 : Character makes a saving throw. On success, they drop to 1 Hit Point. On a failure, dropped to 0 hit points and will die in one round if not immediately given medical attention or healing magic.

Level 6 : Character makes a saving throw. On success, they take the maximum possible size of the damage die x 5, or 1 Hit Point if this would drop them to zero or less. On a Failure, dropped to 0 hit points and will die in one round if not immediately given medical attention or healing magic.

Level 7 : Character makes a saving throw. On success, they take the maximum possible size of the damage die x 4, or 1 Hit Point if this would drop them to zero or less. On Failure, dropped to 1 Hit Point and will pass out/drop to 0 hit points in a round without healing/completing combat.

Level 8 : Character makes a saving throw. On success, they take the maximum possible size of the damage die x 3, or 1 Hit Point if this would drop them to zero or less. On Failure, drop to 1 HP.

Level 9 : Character makes a saving throw. On success, they take the maximum possible size of the damage die x 2, or 1 Hit Point if this would drop them to zero or less. On Failure, take maximum possible size of the damage die x 3 or drop to 1 Hit Point.

Level 10 : Character makes a saving throw. On success, roll damage die and deal that much damage to the character. On failure, take maximum possible result of the damage die.

Saving Throw Categories + Extra Saving Throw Uses

For ease of use, every character rolls a general saving throw category. Roll d20, higher rolls are better. You're trying to beat a DC; 10 is for “easy” saves, 15 for “moderate” saves, 20 for “difficult”, and 25+ for anything even more extreme. Every character just adds their general bonus to the roll, which is increased at even levels for core classes + wisdom modifier. Certain specific circumstances may add modifiers; if you're wearing heavy leather boots then you might add their AC bonus to avoiding a snakebite. If you're dodging something, then add your dexterity modifier to the roll, add your intelligence to resist the pain of illusion weapons, etc.

However, each class has a specific bonus they get against specific saves. These three categories are not the only saving throws you make in the game, these are just the specific bonuses each class get.

Combat saving throws are done to avoid the combat tricks of opponents and monsters. Getting tripped by an opponent with a whip, avoiding getting disarmed, and so on. Fighters get a bonus.

Hazard saving throws are done to dangerous terrain and environmental hazards. Avoid falls, keep your balance, dodge traps, avoid hazardous environmental threats and so on. Rogues get a bonus.

Spell saving throws are done against the spells and magic of enemy spellcasters. Resist spells that ensorcell your mind or polymorphing you into a harmless animal. Sages/Mages get a bonus.

Sometimes saves overlap or they are counted as a different category. For example, a magic user conjuring tentacles to tie you up would probably be a combat roll to avoid getting entangled. If an enemy throws caltrops at your feet, that would probably be a Hazard to avoid it, instead of combat.

If you use Clerics in your game but what a Manse spin on it; have them get a bonus every odd level as Save vs Death and level drain.

More Saving Throw Uses

Beyond just saving to avoid something; saving throws could be also used as an alternative to ability score rolls or “skill check” rolls. For example, if your Fighter wanted to grab a manticore's poison stinger tail to keep it from striking his friends, you could have him roll a saving throw, add his Combat saving roll bonus, and see what happens. If your magic user wants to control or manipulate a spell he's already got in progress, let him roll a Spell save to try and change it- this will let him open a hole in his own magic wall of fire so he can pass through unharmed. Because saving throws already have stat and class bonuses; this is useful way to include other actions in the games.

50 Sci-Fi Saving Throws

Roll on this list 5-6 times. These are the saves in your game, base your campaign around them.

[1] Save vs Explosive Decompression

[2] Save vs Hostile Atmosphere

[3] Save vs Acidic Humidity

[4] Save vs Sexbot Malfunction

[5] Save vs Tractor Beam

[6] Save vs SPACE MADNESS

[7] Save vs Alien Lungfish (it lives in your lung)

[8] Save vs Security System Autotarget

[9] Save vs Teleporter Accident

[10] Save vs Teleportation Trap

[11] Save vs Alien Probe

[12] Save vs Malevolent Ship AI

[13] Save vs Event Horizon

[14] Save vs Gravity Anomaly

[15] Save vs Alien Cuisine

[16] Save vs Horrible Cosmic Truth

[17] Save vs Death Ray

[18] Save vs Extradimensional Attention

[19] Save vs Prying Eyestalks

[20] Save vs Flying Alien Kung-Fu

[21] Save vs Sonic Weaponry

[22] Save vs Psychic Mind-Control

[23] Save vs Psychic Mutation

[24] Save vs Psychic Backlash

[25] Save vs Suit Malfunction

[26] Save vs Alien Parasite

[27] Save vs Cybernetic Sickness

[28] Save vs Cybernetic Hack

[29] Save vs Irresistible Bug-Alien Mating Dance

[30] Save vs Time Compression

[31] Save vs Nervous System Overload

[32] Save vs Seeker Drones

[33] Save vs Allergic Reaction

[34] Save vs Rapid Heat Loss

[35] Save vs Acid Spit

[36] Save vs Infectious Mushroom Spores

[37] Save vs AI gaining self-awareness

[38] Save vs Reality Tears

[39] Save vs Relativistic Currency Fluctuations

[40] Save vs Space Pirate Roadblocks

[41] Save vs Meteorite

[42] Save vs Cryotube Malfunction

[43] Save vs Evolutionary Dead End

[44] Save vs Nano-Machines

[45] Save vs Galactic Bureaucracy

[46] Save vs Galactic Bureaucracy Taxes

[47] Save vs SICO organ-melting beam

[48] Save vs Plucky Underdog Uprising

[49] Save vs Cosmic Radiation

[50] Save vs Mind Uplink Singularity Nightmare

50 Saving Throw Categories

Save vs Elf Trickery

Roll on this list 5-6 times. These are the saves in your game, base your campaign around them.

[1] Save vs Elf Trickery

[2] Save vs Projectile Volley

[3] Save vs Haunted Wailing

[4] Save vs Unerring Weapon

[5] Save vs Weather

[6] Save vs Insect Swarm

[7] Save vs Potion Side-Effects

[8] Save vs Poison

[9] Save vs Death

[10] Save vs Mutiny

[11] Save vs Stampede

[12] Save vs Origami Shurikens

[13] Save vs Soul-Destroying Humiliation

[14] Save vs Embarrassing Adolescent Memory

[15] Save vs Wands

[16] Save vs Paralysis

[17] Save vs Urge to Dance

[18] Save vs Addiction

[19] Save vs Greed

[20] Save vs Miasma

[21] Save vs Breath Weapon

[22] Save vs Spells

[23] Save vs Volcanic Eruption

[24] Save vs Extraterrestrial Taint

[25] Save vs Carnivorous Plants

[26] Save vs Superstitious Rumors

[27] Save vs Astral Parasite(s)

[28] Save vs Partially-Real Illusion

[29] Save vs Mnemonic Weapon

[30] Save vs Magic-Item Ego

[31] Save vs Elemental's Aura

[32] Save vs Musical Curse

[33] Save vs Getting Lost

[34] Save vs Stalking Predators

[35] Save vs Stubborn Pride

[36] Save vs Cave-In

[37] Save vs Oxygen Deprivation

[38] Save vs Exhaustion

[39] Save vs Poor Equipment

[40] Save vs Feudal Obligation

[41] Save vs Spiteful Deity

[42] Save vs Appearing Delicious

[43] Save vs Pregnancy

[44] Save vs Cannibal Shivers

[45] Save vs Pickpockets

[46] Save vs Overconfidence

[47] Save vs Dreams

[48] Save vs Psychic Backlash

[49] Save vs Glass Chin

[50] Save vs Poverty