One of the more amusing action card line results that a monster can trigger is actually doing damage to itself, but I always wonder how to describe this to the players. It trips over its own sword? Regardless, the players are always amused by this kind of result - and a bit surprised.

Has anyone come up with some good descriptive justifications for this kind of monster action result?

Remember that monsters don't suffer Fatigue & Stress. I often use these results to show them overexerting and wearing themselves out, instead of actually injuring themselves. I've also used them to show goblins and undead henchmen getting a bit overzealous or not paying attention to what they're doing.

About the fatigue and Stress for monsters, i'm going with the loss of Agression for Fatigue and Cunning for Stress, turning them to Wounds only when no more A/C. The Exertion symbol of the Reckless dice won't mean self mutilation until the monster gets to 0 aggression. I really like this idea of loosing Aggression with Fatigue on monster before taking Wounds, feels far less stupid

For to auto-mutilation effects from actions, those are usually Bane and Chaos Star lines. If the action is unsuccessful, i'd say the guy triped, missed and got himself scrached on his or someone else weapon / decor, whatever feels fine. If the action is successfull, just some unlucky scratch/bump with decor / opponents if engaged with multiple opponents, that sort of things.

Players can suffer the same things too, some player actions having those 1 Wound misshap

For wounds inflicted on self, if in melee I simply describe this as something like, "the monster's reckless attack lets you inflict a point of damage on it". Just as sometimes a bad result allows target a free basic attack. That's not always applicable, so maybe it trips and stumbles against a sharp broken off branch etc. etc., maybe among monsters one injures the other with the carry through from its swing etc.

Pulled muscle. Torn ligament. Hyperextended elbow or knee. Stubbed toe. Especially if it's just one point, it doesn't have to be as comedic/dramatic as "he stabs himself".

As someone mentioned above they leave themselves open for attack -

So, something like - 'The gobo goes for a massive attack, mistimes its swing, and for the barest moment it's guard drops. Your blade flicks out causing a shallow wound across it's thigh.'

That sort of thing... but I must admit, that often I don't even tell the players this has happened, I just mark it down and keep the combat going (it also means I can ignore it later if I want/need the poor beastie to survive a little longer *evil gm laugh here*)

Cwell2101 said:

I like this idea a lot, is it a house rule or suggested in one of the books/FAQ somewhere?

Do you also amend the cards so that a self inflicted "wound" is treated as fatigue and hence reduces agression (as like Cronevald mentions, i think this is really just FFGs way of making things simpler and these wound results really reflect accumulatuion of fatigue or stress, FFG are just doing the conversion automatically) or do you leave it as a wound?

pumpkin said:

It's a House rule, and i've seen it around more than once.

The "suffer 1 Wound" from Bane or Chaos Star lines should stay as is. They represent something different altogether (accidental style wound). There are already plenty of Bane or Chaos Star lines that give Fatigue or Stress, like the universal double Banes.

I guess you could convert a few of the monster actions that gives "1 Wound" on a single Bane to "1 Fatigue or Stress" (i would do it if i see it). Not for more Banes or Chaos Star though.

Cwell2101 said:

Interesting, cheers.

Since melee is about an ongoing, two sided combat, the chaos star could represent the PC getting in a lucky jab as the creature over-exposes itself.

Illustrious said:

Yeah, this is how I interpret it. Although combat in RPGs has been given structure and an orderly series of rounds/turns, that is just symbolic of the crazed mess of battle.

In other words, this isn't old school Final Fantasy in which the other side waits patiently while the other chooses an Action and striking before striking back.

Those little wounds are the occasional jab, nick, punch in the face or whatever.

My players laugh off enemy monsters and bosses enough as it is. They don't need any more tension dispelling material (the orc STABS HIS OWN FOOT LOL). Heh.