25 Ways to Say “You Hit It”

When I worked at the student newspaper in college, one sign/reminder on the wall was titled “Other ways to say ‘he said.'”  So in that spirit I thought it would be helpful to brainstorm a list of other ways for GMs to say “you hit it.”  Critical hits & fails as well as severe or killing blows are easy to describe (there is so many visual things one can say) but the more common attack results in between can sometimes get monotonous.  Copy/print the list and put it in a GM’s notebook or on the inside of a GM’s screen.

I’d love to get to 100, but 25 is a good start.  And of course we could do a “you miss it” list as well.  Edit: Here is a first cut of 25 Ways to Say “You Missed.”

Just pick one and if it needs to be massaged because the weapon type doesn’t apply or it isn’t appropriate for the creature, change it on the fly or use the item above or below.  You can also switch a noun or verb from the description above or below. Now on to the list:

1. You pierce the creatures armor/skin/scales.
2. Your attack rings true.
3. The creature winces in pain as your attack strikes.
4. You successfully smash it.
5. Your attack lands.
6. You strike it.
7. It cannot avoid your jab.
8. Your weapon meets flesh.
9. You find a soft spot in your foe’s armor/skin/chitin.
10. Your attack slips past your foe’s parry and draws blood.
11. Your strike tears into your opponent’s flesh.
12. You split the creature’s hide.
13. Your weapon bounces off the creatures parry and lands a blow.
14. You guess the creature’s feint and strike flesh.
15. Your weapon sinks into the creature’s flesh.
16. Your weapon sneaks through the creature’s armor/skin/scales.
17. Your strike glances off your opponents shield but slides into the creature’s flesh.
18. Your weapon lands a heavy blow.
19. Blood flies as your weapon strikes.
20. Your opponent dodges–just as you expected and your weapon draws blood.
21. The creature howls as your weapon leaves its mark.
22. Your opponent begins to wheeze as your attack hits.
23. Flesh falls as your attack lands.
24. The creature stumbles from your latest successful hit.
25. Your weapon finds flesh and bone.