Yawgmath
October 25th, 2025, 07:41
Hello everyone,
In my D&D 5E campaign we use a house rule that adds an extra effect to the target on a critical hit, so crits have a bit more impact. Over the course of the campaign, drawing these effects started to eat up a lot of table time, so I took a stab at building my first extension for FGU to automate the process. Here’s the forge link:
https://forge.fantasygrounds.com/shop/items/2428/view
And here’s a screenshot of our current crit effects by damage type:
65688
To wrap up, here’s a short README:
CritFX (5E)
Automatic, damage-type–aware critical effects for Fantasy Grounds Unity (5E).
- Attack crits: When an attack is a critical hit, CritFX applies a template effect that matches the detected damage type (slashing, fire, necrotic, …) to the target in the Combat Tracker.
- Save crit-fails (via CRIT value): For saving throws, CritFX evaluates the CRIT value (expanded crit bands, not just natural 1). If the kept d20 for that save is inside the crit-fail band, CritFX flags a save-crit for the origin vs. victim and applies your configured save-crit template in play.
> Ruleset: D&D 5E (Fantasy Grounds Unity)
> Scope: Effect application only (no changes to core crit math, DC math, or advantage/disadvantage).
> Author: Yawgmath
---
Why CritFX?
- Better automated crits: No manual drag-and-drop after crits. Effects are auto-applied.
- Consistency: Your table’s templates, applied at the right moment.
- Lightweight: Focused strictly on when to apply which effect.
---
Features
- Attack crits → damage-type templates
Reads the damage roll’s type tokens (e.g., `fire`, `slashing`) and applies the corresponding template to the target of the crit.
- Save crit-fails using the CRIT value
Computes the crit-fail band from active effects (e.g., `CRIT: 19` ⇒ fail band 1–2). If the kept d20 (after ADV/DIS on the victim) is in that band, a save-crit is registered and your save-crit template is applied.
- Template bootstrap
On first load (or if entries go missing), CritFX seeds a default set of templates you can customize in the Effects window.
- Non-intrusive & compatible
Does not change damage dice, DCs, advantage/disadvantage, or the base roll pipeline; it just applies effects when crit conditions are met.
- Pre-damage effect on critical save-fails (optional)
When a saving throw is detected as a critical fail (via the CRIT band), CritFX can apply a customizable pre-damage effect to the victim before damage is resolved (option: CritEffects for Critical Save-Fails (pre-damage)).
---
Quick Start
1. Enable CritFX (5E) in your 5E campaign.
2. Open Options (gear icon) → CritEffects:
- CritEffects for Attacks: `On`
- CritEffects for Saves: `On` (uses CRIT to determine the crit-fail band)
- CritEffects for Critical Save-Fails (pre-damage): `On`
3. Customize the crit effects.
4. Play as usual.
- On an attack crit, CritFX detects the damage type and applies the matching template effect to the target.
- On a save whose kept d20 falls into the crit-fail band (per CRIT), CritFX registers a save-crit and applies your save-crit template during the resolution.
---
Customization
Use the standard Effects window to edit the CritFX-seeded templates:
- Set durations, and define the actual effect text according to your house rules. (Example: `Crit-Acid;` → `Crit-Acid; AC: -2;` )
- Keep one template per damage type.
- CritFX keys off the seeded template set; keep names clear and recognizable for your table.
- On first load, CritFX seeds a template “Crit-Save-Fail” in the Effects window.
Edit it like any other effect: set duration/units, apply mode, and add your labels (conditions, advantage/disadvantage, penalties, etc.). (Example: `Crit-Save-Fail;` → `Crit-Save-Fail; VULN: all;` )
Example: You want to give a bleeding wound after a critical hit with piercing damage for some rounds?
Customize `Crit-Piercing;` to `Crit-Piercing; DMGO: 1d4;` and set the duration time.
(Works perfectly with other extensions.)
---
How it works in FGU (flow)
Attack Crit Flow
1. Attack roll → Critical (per 5E ruleset).
2. Damage roll contains one or more damage type tokens (e.g., `fire`, `slashing`).
3. CritFX reads the type from the damage clauses and selects the matching template (e.g., `Crit-Fire;`, `Crit-Slashing;`).
4. CritFX applies that template to the target entry in the Combat Tracker.
Save Crit-Fail Flow (CRIT-aware)
1. Saving throw occurs with possible ADV/DIS on the victim.
2. The ruleset determines the kept d20 (after ADV/DIS).
3. CritFX derives the crit-fail band from the CRIT value (e.g., `CRIT: 19` ⇒ band 1–2).
4. If the kept d20 lies in that band, CritFX marks a save-crit for origin → victim.
5. (optional) If the pre-damage option is enabled, CritFX applies the “Crit-Save-Fail” template to the victim now.
6. Damage roll contains one or more damage type tokens (e.g., `fire`, `slashing`).
7. CritFX reads the type from the damage clauses and selects the matching template (e.g., `Crit-Fire;`, `Crit-Slashing;`).
Template bootstrap
Templates seeded by CritFX on first load
- `Crit-Slashing`, `Crit-Piercing`, `Crit-Bludgeoning`
- `Crit-Fire`, `Crit-Cold`, `Crit-Acid`, `Crit-Lightning`, `Crit-Thunder`, `Crit-Poison`, `Crit-Psychic`, `Crit-Necrotic`, `Crit-Radiant`, `Crit-Force`
- `Crit-Save-Fail`
Compatibility
- Designed for: Fantasy Grounds Unity, D&D 5E ruleset.
- Interops: Other extensions that also auto-apply effects on crits may overlap — test in a minimal campaign if combining multiple automation tools.
---
License
Released under the MIT License. See `LICENSE` in the package.
In my D&D 5E campaign we use a house rule that adds an extra effect to the target on a critical hit, so crits have a bit more impact. Over the course of the campaign, drawing these effects started to eat up a lot of table time, so I took a stab at building my first extension for FGU to automate the process. Here’s the forge link:
https://forge.fantasygrounds.com/shop/items/2428/view
And here’s a screenshot of our current crit effects by damage type:
65688
To wrap up, here’s a short README:
CritFX (5E)
Automatic, damage-type–aware critical effects for Fantasy Grounds Unity (5E).
- Attack crits: When an attack is a critical hit, CritFX applies a template effect that matches the detected damage type (slashing, fire, necrotic, …) to the target in the Combat Tracker.
- Save crit-fails (via CRIT value): For saving throws, CritFX evaluates the CRIT value (expanded crit bands, not just natural 1). If the kept d20 for that save is inside the crit-fail band, CritFX flags a save-crit for the origin vs. victim and applies your configured save-crit template in play.
> Ruleset: D&D 5E (Fantasy Grounds Unity)
> Scope: Effect application only (no changes to core crit math, DC math, or advantage/disadvantage).
> Author: Yawgmath
---
Why CritFX?
- Better automated crits: No manual drag-and-drop after crits. Effects are auto-applied.
- Consistency: Your table’s templates, applied at the right moment.
- Lightweight: Focused strictly on when to apply which effect.
---
Features
- Attack crits → damage-type templates
Reads the damage roll’s type tokens (e.g., `fire`, `slashing`) and applies the corresponding template to the target of the crit.
- Save crit-fails using the CRIT value
Computes the crit-fail band from active effects (e.g., `CRIT: 19` ⇒ fail band 1–2). If the kept d20 (after ADV/DIS on the victim) is in that band, a save-crit is registered and your save-crit template is applied.
- Template bootstrap
On first load (or if entries go missing), CritFX seeds a default set of templates you can customize in the Effects window.
- Non-intrusive & compatible
Does not change damage dice, DCs, advantage/disadvantage, or the base roll pipeline; it just applies effects when crit conditions are met.
- Pre-damage effect on critical save-fails (optional)
When a saving throw is detected as a critical fail (via the CRIT band), CritFX can apply a customizable pre-damage effect to the victim before damage is resolved (option: CritEffects for Critical Save-Fails (pre-damage)).
---
Quick Start
1. Enable CritFX (5E) in your 5E campaign.
2. Open Options (gear icon) → CritEffects:
- CritEffects for Attacks: `On`
- CritEffects for Saves: `On` (uses CRIT to determine the crit-fail band)
- CritEffects for Critical Save-Fails (pre-damage): `On`
3. Customize the crit effects.
4. Play as usual.
- On an attack crit, CritFX detects the damage type and applies the matching template effect to the target.
- On a save whose kept d20 falls into the crit-fail band (per CRIT), CritFX registers a save-crit and applies your save-crit template during the resolution.
---
Customization
Use the standard Effects window to edit the CritFX-seeded templates:
- Set durations, and define the actual effect text according to your house rules. (Example: `Crit-Acid;` → `Crit-Acid; AC: -2;` )
- Keep one template per damage type.
- CritFX keys off the seeded template set; keep names clear and recognizable for your table.
- On first load, CritFX seeds a template “Crit-Save-Fail” in the Effects window.
Edit it like any other effect: set duration/units, apply mode, and add your labels (conditions, advantage/disadvantage, penalties, etc.). (Example: `Crit-Save-Fail;` → `Crit-Save-Fail; VULN: all;` )
Example: You want to give a bleeding wound after a critical hit with piercing damage for some rounds?
Customize `Crit-Piercing;` to `Crit-Piercing; DMGO: 1d4;` and set the duration time.
(Works perfectly with other extensions.)
---
How it works in FGU (flow)
Attack Crit Flow
1. Attack roll → Critical (per 5E ruleset).
2. Damage roll contains one or more damage type tokens (e.g., `fire`, `slashing`).
3. CritFX reads the type from the damage clauses and selects the matching template (e.g., `Crit-Fire;`, `Crit-Slashing;`).
4. CritFX applies that template to the target entry in the Combat Tracker.
Save Crit-Fail Flow (CRIT-aware)
1. Saving throw occurs with possible ADV/DIS on the victim.
2. The ruleset determines the kept d20 (after ADV/DIS).
3. CritFX derives the crit-fail band from the CRIT value (e.g., `CRIT: 19` ⇒ band 1–2).
4. If the kept d20 lies in that band, CritFX marks a save-crit for origin → victim.
5. (optional) If the pre-damage option is enabled, CritFX applies the “Crit-Save-Fail” template to the victim now.
6. Damage roll contains one or more damage type tokens (e.g., `fire`, `slashing`).
7. CritFX reads the type from the damage clauses and selects the matching template (e.g., `Crit-Fire;`, `Crit-Slashing;`).
Template bootstrap
Templates seeded by CritFX on first load
- `Crit-Slashing`, `Crit-Piercing`, `Crit-Bludgeoning`
- `Crit-Fire`, `Crit-Cold`, `Crit-Acid`, `Crit-Lightning`, `Crit-Thunder`, `Crit-Poison`, `Crit-Psychic`, `Crit-Necrotic`, `Crit-Radiant`, `Crit-Force`
- `Crit-Save-Fail`
Compatibility
- Designed for: Fantasy Grounds Unity, D&D 5E ruleset.
- Interops: Other extensions that also auto-apply effects on crits may overlap — test in a minimal campaign if combining multiple automation tools.
---
License
Released under the MIT License. See `LICENSE` in the package.