Painting: an ancient lexicon open on a carved lectern in a dark chapel of books, glowing runes and symbols lifting off its pages like fireflies.
TermGeneral term

Critical hit

An exceptional success, typically a natural 20 on the d20, that deals extra damage or produces a spectacular result; its opposite, the fumble or natural 1, is a comic disaster. Crits are among the most celebrated moments in Actual Play shows.

An exceptional success, typically a natural 20 on the d20, that deals extra damage or produces a spectacular result; its opposite, the fumble or natural 1, is a comic disaster. Crits are among the most celebrated moments in Actual Play shows.

Origin

From wargames and early roleplaying; in video games, Dragon Quest (1986) used a fixed critical-hit chance of 1 in 64.

Quick answers

What does "Critical hit" mean?
An exceptional success, typically a natural 20 on the d20, that deals extra damage or produces a spectacular result; its opposite, the fumble or natural 1, is a comic disaster. Crits are among the most celebrated moments in Actual Play shows.
Where does the term "Critical hit" come from?
From wargames and early roleplaying; in video games, Dragon Quest (1986) used a fixed critical-hit chance of 1 in 64.