Hero's Epic Fall Damage (5e Variant Rule)

Author: Select Hero Date Created: April 18, 2022 Status: Complete Editing: Clarity edits only please

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Hero's Epic Fall Damage

Finding a Fall Difficulty Class (DC)

There are several factors to consider related to falling, each of which alter the effect of impact.

• Elevation gives space for acceleration; thereby, increasing the speed at impact.
• Mass gives equal acceleration to all falling objects; however, being heavier generates greater impact shock and higher terminal velocity.
• Body position affects the speed, location, and angle of an impact; it can also lengthen the deceleration window and shield your vital organs.
• Location means slope and surface strength that reduce or increase the forces felt at impact.
• Health is the final ingredient, which among other things may increase the risk of injury.
• Combined, these equally important factors are reduced to a simple formula:

Fall DC = (Fall Height × Weight)^1/3

Choosing a Terrain Die

Selected for a range of likely hazards specific to each area, rolled instead of a d6.

Terrain Materials:

(d1)Waterfall: wax, snow, rubber, perlite

(d2)Moorland: sand, gravel, gypsum, balsa

(d3)Tundra: clay, dolomite, ice, cedar

(d4)Forest: travertine, cypress, hickory, elm

(d6)Urbana: sandstone, ironwood, soil-cement

(d8)Cavern: rhyolite, shale, limestone

(d12)Labyrinth: granite, slate, marble, basalt

(d20)Treasury: sapphire, gold, porcelain, coral

Rolling a Fall Save/Check

• Strength/Athletics or Acrobatics

Reduce the Fall DC by an amount equal to your roll.

• Intelligence/Investigation or Survival

Reduce the Terrain die once every 10 points of your roll.

Rule 1 Preparation is rewarded with advantage.

Rule 2 Encountering interference during a fall triggers a new roll, with disadvantage.

Rule 3 One skill may replace another during a multi-round fall but they do not stack. Your chosen skill represents your focus, but not the totality of your effort.

Generating Fall Damage

Roll the Terrain Die a number of times equal to the remaining Fall DC.

Terminal Velocity

Maximal Fall Height = sqrt(weight) × 120

Fall DC will not increase beyond this Fall Height, due to terminal velocity.

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