Best weapon for Criticals? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Best weapon for Criticals? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Moccamaster
05-26-06, 08:23 PM I'm looking for best weapon for criticals.
It has to be finessable.
It has to be 1 handed.
It has to got best critical threat range.
It has to got best critical multiplier.
No enchantments added.

All books allowed, but I need the books name too.

Thank you for advance.
I_LOVE_KATANAS
05-26-06, 08:31 PM well, there is the thinblade, It is an exotic weapon from Savage Species, and has Bastard sword characteristics, except it can be finessed.

There is the mercurial enhacement (non-magical) from A&E from 3.0. It changes the Crit of an weapon to 20/x4, like a scythe. A MW bastard sword would be 1d10 (20/x4)
Nom
05-26-06, 08:44 PM It has to got best critical threat range.
It has to got best critical multiplier.Without magic (ie keen) or feats (ie improved critical), you're not going to get both of these. With the exception of the pre-errata tangrat in the ECS (which is now fixed), weapons either have improved crit range (N-20/x2) or improved crit multiplier (20/xM).
tiercel
05-26-06, 09:45 PM Without Keen-type magic, Improved Critical, or a similar PrC ability, your "best" two critical choices are going to be:

18-20 / x2
20 / x4

Which one you pick depends on your style. The first gives you milder crits more often, but (especially if expanded to 15-20 / x2) on occasion some of your threat range may be "wasted" when a number in your threat range is too low to score a hit against enemy AC (especially on iterative attacks, when you are -5 to second attack, -10 to third attack, etc).

20 always hits, so before Keen or similar every roll in your threat range is an actual threat. The crits come more seldom but are spectacular -- the downside is that you may "waste" crits if they are overkill against your foe's current hit points.

Core, your choices are basically:

Rapier......1d6.....18-20 / x2 (one handed, but finessable)
Kukri........1d4.....18-20 / x2 (light)
Lt. pick.....1d4.........20 / x4 (light)

To do better than that I think you'll want Exotic weaponry from expansion books. I don't have mine with me at the moment but I'm pretty sure the ones you want to check are Complete Adventurer and Races of the Wild.

Ceterum censeo katanam esse disputandum.
Sunrider
05-26-06, 09:48 PM Generally (i.e. not if you can only hit on a 20, but then you only have a 1/400 chance of critting anyway), an increased threat range is far preferable to an increased multiplier. Why? There are so many effects available, both on the weapon itself and from other items/spells, that trigger on a critical hit - any critical hit - with no increased effect from a higher multiplier. An increased multiplier only comes into its own when you have a means of guaranteeing a threat in the first place - after all, if you're going to crit, you may as well do x4 instead of x2. Almost every other time, the increased threat range wins out.
rijeagle
05-26-06, 10:06 PM Elven Thin Blade (Complete Warrior) with Improved Critical feat

15-20 threat range. x2 crit modifier.
MingThing
05-26-06, 10:54 PM not here to belittle treath range or anyones choises or flavor, just giving a mathematic calculation and my own newly developed taste. :teach:
my opinion is that:

finessable weapons are not the best crit weapons. why?

because u can usually not add both hands to it, cannot usually use poweratack on it, and using finesse means u are going for a high dex, meaning low str, meaning less extra damage to crit. of course its the 2 handed courtblade and such, but still, u should get focus on getting a hig fixed number bonus, such as streanght, enchantment bonus.

criting with a x2, and only having 1d10 +2 means its just a flesh wound.

Criting with a goliath great maul, 1d12 x4, 2 handed adding 1,5 str, +duble power attack, + enchantment bonus + any other fixed nymber (not dies) extra dmg = alternative rules, massive damage check.

18 str= +4 str x1,5= +6dmg
-2 atc bon = +4dmg
+1 enchant = +1dmg
x4 goliath great hammer =1d12

11x4 = 44 + 4 <>48 = 48 <> 92 ...
thats with a +1 weapon, sacrifising only 2 atack bonus. you might not always get a crit, but when u do, the dm is going to hide under the table while the blood flies!

Goliath great hammer is in races of stone. exotic 2 handed hammer.

thats my opinion on crits. of course, your char consept might not fit wit a hammer larger than a baby dragon.

im going to hide under a stone waiting for people thinking im being an arrogant ass are done throwing rotten tomatoes and eggs... :gah:
Wonton2006
05-26-06, 11:07 PM Depends. What kind of character do you have? If you're a rogue, I suggest picking up Telling Blow (PHB 2) and getting a rapier, and Improved Critical (or Keen). If you're someone who power attacks and has huge numerical bonuses to damage, I'd suggest a keen light pick, if you score that x4... yeah.
Atirakis
05-26-06, 11:57 PM If your a rogue you are so much better off worrying about GHOST TOUCH.
Moccamaster
05-27-06, 05:10 AM I have Gemini Dancer:
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=598478
with Metaculous Moves.

Meticulous Moves, Lesser [Dance Style]:
When dancing you can find the deadliest place to strike
Prerequisite: Gemini Dance, BAB +3, Spot 6 ranks
Benefit: While dancing, a Gemini Dancer's critical threat range with her current weapon, or weapons, increases by 1. This bonus does not stack with other feats/abilities that increase threat range through addition. This benefit is applied after threat range multipliers such as the improved critical feat, and stack with such effects.

Meticulous Moves, Improved [Dance Style]:
Prerequisite: Improved Gemini Dance, Meticulous Moves(Lesser)
Benefit: While dancing, a Gemini Dancer's treats all weapons she wields as being keen. This bonus stacks with, and is applied before the lesser dance style's benefit

Meticulous moves, Greater [Dance Style]:
Prerequisite: Greater Gemini Dance, Meticulous Moves(Improved)
Benefit: While dancing, a Gemini Dancer's gains a +2 bonus to confirm critical hits. Whenever she scores a critical hit, her foe must make a fortitude save or be dazed for 1d2 rounds

So rapier would be nice, but still I would love some bigger multiplier, and the damage can be raised with enchantments like firy burst or so.
ninjeff
05-27-06, 11:44 AM I have Gemini Dancer:
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=598478
with Metaculous Moves.

Meticulous Moves, Lesser [Dance Style]:
When dancing you can find the deadliest place to strike
Prerequisite: Gemini Dance, BAB +3, Spot 6 ranks
Benefit: While dancing, a Gemini Dancer's critical threat range with her current weapon, or weapons, increases by 1. This bonus does not stack with other feats/abilities that increase threat range through addition. This benefit is applied after threat range multipliers such as the improved critical feat, and stack with such effects.

Meticulous Moves, Improved [Dance Style]:
Prerequisite: Improved Gemini Dance, Meticulous Moves(Lesser)
Benefit: While dancing, a Gemini Dancer's treats all weapons she wields as being keen. This bonus stacks with, and is applied before the lesser dance style's benefitThese two abilities will stack better with a x4 crit weapon (e.g. light pick) than they will with an 18-20/x2 crit weapon.
R99
05-27-06, 11:50 AM (WARNING WARNING: DUMBEST SUGGESTION EVER ALERT)

The Tarrasque's bite attack is 4d8 18-20/x3

Edit: I'm sorry.
Moccamaster
05-27-06, 01:06 PM Keen doubles the threat range, right?
So in 20 / x4 this my "multiplier" would be
(1x2+1)/20 x4 = 0.6 (calculating the benefit of the +1 and keen in threat range)
in 18-20 / x2 it would be
(3x2+1)/20 x2 = 0.7

So basicly which I see from this "multiplier" that it is more usefull to take a weapon with 18-20 threat range and increase with the dance style to 14-20 threat range than just take some weapon with x4 crit and increase the threat range to 18-20.

Comments on this one would be great..

And I am still searching the right weapon..
got to be 1handed (good in 2weapon fighting, in both hands so I can use 2 of them)
got to be finessable (for the dancing reasons)
And from my "multiplier" calculations, should have good threat range, with deacent damage to start with too.
VonRichthofen
05-27-06, 01:32 PM You obviously didn't get it.

18-20/x4 is far better than 14-20/x2

12-20/x2 would be the equal.
Rulebook
05-27-06, 03:32 PM okay first, hide any trace of errata your dm is likely to see.

second, go find an old copy of Sword & Fist for the Bladed Gauntlet (1d6, 17-20 x2)

now find a copy of Torn Asunder: Critical Hits and grab the Marksman prestige class.

by the end of the class you'll be swinging a 5-20 x5 weapon.

critical goodness. this also works for the Ebberon Weapon (giving something like a 10-20 x7)

alll this hinges on your ability to hide errata from your DM though!
Wonton2006
05-27-06, 03:43 PM Yes, so, to hide that errata all you have to do is hire a profesional hacker to completely wipe the errata files of www.wizards.com/dnd every second for the next 50 years, just in case they decide to post it again. :rolleyes:
Kresalak
05-27-06, 04:06 PM A Kaorti Ribbon Scimitar has a crit of 18-20/x4. See Kaorti Resin. (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031014a)
I_LOVE_KATANAS
05-27-06, 10:29 PM A Kaorti Ribbon Scimitar has a crit of 18-20/x4. See Kaorti Resin. (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031014a)
Well, accoring to Feind Folio, it changes the crit to x4. NOT the crit multiplier, the critical multiplier and range. The example given is a dagger, which is 1d4 20/x4. A normal dagger is 19-20/x2. You do gain some, but it isnt as cool as you listed. But, you can go ahread and use it that way.

BTW, the scimitar would cost about 600GP, as listed by you.

makes me want a Kaorti Ribbon KATANA! 1d10 20/x4 one handed.....mmmm tasty!
Wonton2006
05-28-06, 12:52 AM Please, WizO, put this man out of his misery. Can't you see he's trying to get banned??? :rolleyes:
osumacbeth
05-28-06, 10:12 PM Isn't power attack multiplied on a critical, a-la the SRD? If so, my choice of weapon would be the Falchion, for a power attacker.
Voldar_Mecorthio
05-29-06, 10:58 AM Weapons Master (from sword and fist, one of the abilities is increce threat range as improved critical but stacks with feat/keen ability) and improved critical/keen on a rapier.

Crit range: 12-20x2

Put Ilithidwrought from Underdark onto it (kills on crit, fort save allowed) and you've got a weapon that instakills about half the time :D
Voldar_Mecorthio
05-29-06, 10:58 AM Okay I dont know why but it posted my post twice. :confused:
Raymond_Luxury_Yacht
05-29-06, 02:54 PM Generally (i.e. not if you can only hit on a 20, but then you only have a 1/400 chance of critting anyway), an increased threat range is far preferable to an increased multiplier. Why? There are so many effects available, both on the weapon itself and from other items/spells, that trigger on a critical hit - any critical hit - with no increased effect from a higher multiplier. An increased multiplier only comes into its own when you have a means of guaranteeing a threat in the first place - after all, if you're going to crit, you may as well do x4 instead of x2. Almost every other time, the increased threat range wins out.
Uh, no. All effects that deal bonuses on a critical are increased in power for higher multipliers.
Rulebook
05-29-06, 04:23 PM what was that OA weapon that had the 19-29 crit range? keen that sucker!
_super_
06-28-06, 02:06 PM if you talking about general D&D game your choices are:
Ribbon Scmitar,
Blade Gauntlets,
Thinblade Elf,
to crit range.
and:
Katana,
Falchion,
and Mercurial to crit multiple.
If you want 3.5 D&D game version, options are more restrict:
I think who the Falcion is a good choice simple and efficient for all uses
Mentalmegabody
06-28-06, 02:17 PM Gotta post this here:
a level 17 deepwood sniper (PrC from Masters of the Wild) holding a composite longbow:
d8 damage
keen arrows class feat, threat range: 19-20
crit multiplier: x7 (x3 normally, +4x from class feature)

That coupled with a Keen Scimitar (or maybe regular with the Scabbard of Keen Edges) makes up quite an archer, eh?
19-20/ x7 ranged
15-20/ x2 melee (plus some burst effect -enchantment, if you wish, flaming burst, for example)
Tony Vargas
06-28-06, 02:22 PM I'm looking for best weapon for criticals.
It has to be finessable.
It has to be 1 handed. One-handed has a specific meaning, y'know. The only 1-handed finesseable weapon in the PH, for instance, is the rapier.

It has to got best critical threat range.
It has to got best critical multiplier.As has been stated, this isn't ever supposed to happen - the few times it's slipped through it's been erratta'd. You can either have a broad threat range or a high crit multiplier in a weapon, never both. You can use magic or class abilities to further enhance either or both, though.
Krelios
06-28-06, 02:35 PM if you talking about general D&D game your choices are:
Ribbon Scmitar,
Blade Gauntlets,
Thinblade Elf,
to crit range.
and:
Katana,
Falchion,
and Mercurial to crit multiple.
If you want 3.5 D&D game version, options are more restrict:
I think who the Falcion is a good choice simple and efficient for all uses
(Emphasis Mine)How do you wield an elf in one hand?
tarkin
06-28-06, 02:49 PM There have been several people here with POOR math skills that think

18-20/x2 is better than 20/4

They are wrong.

First, there is the crit yes, but miss anyway. Someone said that they should ignore this because it is only a 1/400. They ignored the similar issues. Try it with Keen.

The keen 18-20 x2 is now 15-20 x2.
Compare that with a 20x4 -> 19-20x4

Now assume you need a 16 to hit. Whoops, you have wasted that 15 that WOULD have been a crit. This happens 15% of the time, granted with a decreasing chance of confirming, but still better than 1/100 hundred blows, not the measily 1/400 that he thought occured. A high level fighter can get 4-7 attacks per round, so the that 1/100 becomes about 1/15 rounds = once per game session. Once a game session is significant and worth worrying about.

Second, there is the straight math.

The real comparison is 15-20x2 (keen 18-20x2) and the 19-20x4 (keen 20x4).

Mathematically 19-20x4 is EXACTLY equivelent to a crit range of 15-20 x2. There is NO difference.

------------
There is ONE issue that makes x2 better than x4 and that is death. If you do x2 damage and it is sufficient to kill the creature, then x4 is a waste.

So the question becomes, which do worry about more:

1) Facing creatures with high AC that your 15-20 crit weapon will waste a threaten because it does not hit. (Remember, as you go up on power, you get iterative attacks at lower BAB so your LOWEST bab may need a natural 20 to hit, wasting your entire huge crit range)

2) Facing creatures that you can easily kill.

Me personally, I don't care about over-kill. But I like ALL my attacks, even my 4th attack that round, to have the full chance of hitting and doing a crit.
Venenum
06-28-06, 02:50 PM How do you wield an elf in one hand?

Ok first you play a half giant and then use the expansion power. Just to be a wise guy..... First you place your hand on the elf's ankle and contract the muscles in your fingers. then contracthe your biceps and swing and repeat. :P

Now back to the thread. If you have sandstorm and want high damage, go for great scimitar, of course you do have to burn a feat. but coupled with powerful build it is a great combo.
Sphyre
06-28-06, 05:33 PM How do you wield an elf in one hand?

A different way than Venenum's:

Kill the elf, and then now that the body is an object you cast Shrink Item on him. Now the elf is 4 sizes smaller and easily weildable. If you wish to be proficient with the elf you can either take Exotic weapon proficiency (elf) or you could cast any plethora of additional combat bonuses to have fun with your new elf weapon!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Moccamaster 05-26-06, 08:23 PM	I'm looking for best weapon for criticals. It has to be finessable. It has to be 1 handed. It has to got best critical threat range. It has to got best critical multiplier. No enchantments added. All books allowed, but I need the books name too. Thank you for advance.
I_LOVE_KATANAS 05-26-06, 08:31 PM	well, there is the thinblade, It is an exotic weapon from Savage Species, and has Bastard sword characteristics, except it can be finessed. There is the mercurial enhacement (non-magical) from A&E from 3.0. It changes the Crit of an weapon to 20/x4, like a scythe. A MW bastard sword would be 1d10 (20/x4)
Nom 05-26-06, 08:44 PM	It has to got best critical threat range. It has to got best critical multiplier.Without magic (ie keen) or feats (ie improved critical), you're not going to get both of these. With the exception of the pre-errata tangrat in the ECS (which is now fixed), weapons either have improved crit range (N-20/x2) or improved crit multiplier (20/xM).
tiercel 05-26-06, 09:45 PM	Without Keen-type magic, Improved Critical, or a similar PrC ability, your "best" two critical choices are going to be: 18-20 / x2 20 / x4 Which one you pick depends on your style. The first gives you milder crits more often, but (especially if expanded to 15-20 / x2) on occasion some of your threat range may be "wasted" when a number in your threat range is too low to score a hit against enemy AC (especially on iterative attacks, when you are -5 to second attack, -10 to third attack, etc). 20 always hits, so before Keen or similar every roll in your threat range is an actual threat. The crits come more seldom but are spectacular -- the downside is that you may "waste" crits if they are overkill against your foe's current hit points. Core, your choices are basically: Rapier......1d6.....18-20 / x2 (one handed, but finessable) Kukri........1d4.....18-20 / x2 (light) Lt. pick.....1d4.........20 / x4 (light) To do better than that I think you'll want Exotic weaponry from expansion books. I don't have mine with me at the moment but I'm pretty sure the ones you want to check are Complete Adventurer and Races of the Wild. Ceterum censeo katanam esse disputandum.
Sunrider 05-26-06, 09:48 PM	Generally (i.e. not if you can only hit on a 20, but then you only have a 1/400 chance of critting anyway), an increased threat range is far preferable to an increased multiplier. Why? There are so many effects available, both on the weapon itself and from other items/spells, that trigger on a critical hit - any critical hit - with no increased effect from a higher multiplier. An increased multiplier only comes into its own when you have a means of guaranteeing a threat in the first place - after all, if you're going to crit, you may as well do x4 instead of x2. Almost every other time, the increased threat range wins out.
rijeagle 05-26-06, 10:06 PM	Elven Thin Blade (Complete Warrior) with Improved Critical feat 15-20 threat range. x2 crit modifier.
MingThing 05-26-06, 10:54 PM	not here to belittle treath range or anyones choises or flavor, just giving a mathematic calculation and my own newly developed taste. :teach: my opinion is that: finessable weapons are not the best crit weapons. why? because u can usually not add both hands to it, cannot usually use poweratack on it, and using finesse means u are going for a high dex, meaning low str, meaning less extra damage to crit. of course its the 2 handed courtblade and such, but still, u should get focus on getting a hig fixed number bonus, such as streanght, enchantment bonus. criting with a x2, and only having 1d10 +2 means its just a flesh wound. Criting with a goliath great maul, 1d12 x4, 2 handed adding 1,5 str, +duble power attack, + enchantment bonus + any other fixed nymber (not dies) extra dmg = alternative rules, massive damage check. 18 str= +4 str x1,5= +6dmg -2 atc bon = +4dmg +1 enchant = +1dmg x4 goliath great hammer =1d12 11x4 = 44 + 4 <>48 = 48 <> 92 ... thats with a +1 weapon, sacrifising only 2 atack bonus. you might not always get a crit, but when u do, the dm is going to hide under the table while the blood flies! Goliath great hammer is in races of stone. exotic 2 handed hammer. thats my opinion on crits. of course, your char consept might not fit wit a hammer larger than a baby dragon. im going to hide under a stone waiting for people thinking im being an arrogant ass are done throwing rotten tomatoes and eggs... :gah:
Wonton2006 05-26-06, 11:07 PM	Depends. What kind of character do you have? If you're a rogue, I suggest picking up Telling Blow (PHB 2) and getting a rapier, and Improved Critical (or Keen). If you're someone who power attacks and has huge numerical bonuses to damage, I'd suggest a keen light pick, if you score that x4... yeah.
Atirakis 05-26-06, 11:57 PM	If your a rogue you are so much better off worrying about GHOST TOUCH.
Moccamaster 05-27-06, 05:10 AM	I have Gemini Dancer: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=598478 with Metaculous Moves. Meticulous Moves, Lesser [Dance Style]: When dancing you can find the deadliest place to strike Prerequisite: Gemini Dance, BAB +3, Spot 6 ranks Benefit: While dancing, a Gemini Dancer's critical threat range with her current weapon, or weapons, increases by 1. This bonus does not stack with other feats/abilities that increase threat range through addition. This benefit is applied after threat range multipliers such as the improved critical feat, and stack with such effects. Meticulous Moves, Improved [Dance Style]: Prerequisite: Improved Gemini Dance, Meticulous Moves(Lesser) Benefit: While dancing, a Gemini Dancer's treats all weapons she wields as being keen. This bonus stacks with, and is applied before the lesser dance style's benefit Meticulous moves, Greater [Dance Style]: Prerequisite: Greater Gemini Dance, Meticulous Moves(Improved) Benefit: While dancing, a Gemini Dancer's gains a +2 bonus to confirm critical hits. Whenever she scores a critical hit, her foe must make a fortitude save or be dazed for 1d2 rounds So rapier would be nice, but still I would love some bigger multiplier, and the damage can be raised with enchantments like firy burst or so.
ninjeff 05-27-06, 11:44 AM	I have Gemini Dancer: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=598478 with Metaculous Moves. Meticulous Moves, Lesser [Dance Style]: When dancing you can find the deadliest place to strike Prerequisite: Gemini Dance, BAB +3, Spot 6 ranks Benefit: While dancing, a Gemini Dancer's critical threat range with her current weapon, or weapons, increases by 1. This bonus does not stack with other feats/abilities that increase threat range through addition. This benefit is applied after threat range multipliers such as the improved critical feat, and stack with such effects. Meticulous Moves, Improved [Dance Style]: Prerequisite: Improved Gemini Dance, Meticulous Moves(Lesser) Benefit: While dancing, a Gemini Dancer's treats all weapons she wields as being keen. This bonus stacks with, and is applied before the lesser dance style's benefitThese two abilities will stack better with a x4 crit weapon (e.g. light pick) than they will with an 18-20/x2 crit weapon.
R99 05-27-06, 11:50 AM	(WARNING WARNING: DUMBEST SUGGESTION EVER ALERT) The Tarrasque's bite attack is 4d8 18-20/x3 Edit: I'm sorry.
Moccamaster 05-27-06, 01:06 PM	Keen doubles the threat range, right? So in 20 / x4 this my "multiplier" would be (1x2+1)/20 x4 = 0.6 (calculating the benefit of the +1 and keen in threat range) in 18-20 / x2 it would be (3x2+1)/20 x2 = 0.7 So basicly which I see from this "multiplier" that it is more usefull to take a weapon with 18-20 threat range and increase with the dance style to 14-20 threat range than just take some weapon with x4 crit and increase the threat range to 18-20. Comments on this one would be great.. And I am still searching the right weapon.. got to be 1handed (good in 2weapon fighting, in both hands so I can use 2 of them) got to be finessable (for the dancing reasons) And from my "multiplier" calculations, should have good threat range, with deacent damage to start with too.
VonRichthofen 05-27-06, 01:32 PM	You obviously didn't get it. 18-20/x4 is far better than 14-20/x2 12-20/x2 would be the equal.
Rulebook 05-27-06, 03:32 PM	okay first, hide any trace of errata your dm is likely to see. second, go find an old copy of Sword & Fist for the Bladed Gauntlet (1d6, 17-20 x2) now find a copy of Torn Asunder: Critical Hits and grab the Marksman prestige class. by the end of the class you'll be swinging a 5-20 x5 weapon. critical goodness. this also works for the Ebberon Weapon (giving something like a 10-20 x7) alll this hinges on your ability to hide errata from your DM though!
Wonton2006 05-27-06, 03:43 PM	Yes, so, to hide that errata all you have to do is hire a profesional hacker to completely wipe the errata files of www.wizards.com/dnd every second for the next 50 years, just in case they decide to post it again. :rolleyes:
Kresalak 05-27-06, 04:06 PM	A Kaorti Ribbon Scimitar has a crit of 18-20/x4. See Kaorti Resin. (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031014a)
I_LOVE_KATANAS 05-27-06, 10:29 PM	A Kaorti Ribbon Scimitar has a crit of 18-20/x4. See Kaorti Resin. (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031014a) Well, accoring to Feind Folio, it changes the crit to x4. NOT the crit multiplier, the critical multiplier and range. The example given is a dagger, which is 1d4 20/x4. A normal dagger is 19-20/x2. You do gain some, but it isnt as cool as you listed. But, you can go ahread and use it that way. BTW, the scimitar would cost about 600GP, as listed by you. makes me want a Kaorti Ribbon KATANA! 1d10 20/x4 one handed.....mmmm tasty!
Wonton2006 05-28-06, 12:52 AM	Please, WizO, put this man out of his misery. Can't you see he's trying to get banned??? :rolleyes:
osumacbeth 05-28-06, 10:12 PM	Isn't power attack multiplied on a critical, a-la the SRD? If so, my choice of weapon would be the Falchion, for a power attacker.
Voldar_Mecorthio 05-29-06, 10:58 AM	Weapons Master (from sword and fist, one of the abilities is increce threat range as improved critical but stacks with feat/keen ability) and improved critical/keen on a rapier. Crit range: 12-20x2 Put Ilithidwrought from Underdark onto it (kills on crit, fort save allowed) and you've got a weapon that instakills about half the time :D
Voldar_Mecorthio 05-29-06, 10:58 AM	Okay I dont know why but it posted my post twice. :confused:
Raymond_Luxury_Yacht 05-29-06, 02:54 PM	Generally (i.e. not if you can only hit on a 20, but then you only have a 1/400 chance of critting anyway), an increased threat range is far preferable to an increased multiplier. Why? There are so many effects available, both on the weapon itself and from other items/spells, that trigger on a critical hit - any critical hit - with no increased effect from a higher multiplier. An increased multiplier only comes into its own when you have a means of guaranteeing a threat in the first place - after all, if you're going to crit, you may as well do x4 instead of x2. Almost every other time, the increased threat range wins out. Uh, no. All effects that deal bonuses on a critical are increased in power for higher multipliers.
Rulebook 05-29-06, 04:23 PM	what was that OA weapon that had the 19-29 crit range? keen that sucker!
_super_ 06-28-06, 02:06 PM	if you talking about general D&D game your choices are: Ribbon Scmitar, Blade Gauntlets, Thinblade Elf, to crit range. and: Katana, Falchion, and Mercurial to crit multiple. If you want 3.5 D&D game version, options are more restrict: I think who the Falcion is a good choice simple and efficient for all uses
Mentalmegabody 06-28-06, 02:17 PM	Gotta post this here: a level 17 deepwood sniper (PrC from Masters of the Wild) holding a composite longbow: d8 damage keen arrows class feat, threat range: 19-20 crit multiplier: x7 (x3 normally, +4x from class feature) That coupled with a Keen Scimitar (or maybe regular with the Scabbard of Keen Edges) makes up quite an archer, eh? 19-20/ x7 ranged 15-20/ x2 melee (plus some burst effect -enchantment, if you wish, flaming burst, for example)
Tony Vargas 06-28-06, 02:22 PM	I'm looking for best weapon for criticals. It has to be finessable. It has to be 1 handed. One-handed has a specific meaning, y'know. The only 1-handed finesseable weapon in the PH, for instance, is the rapier. It has to got best critical threat range. It has to got best critical multiplier.As has been stated, this isn't ever supposed to happen - the few times it's slipped through it's been erratta'd. You can either have a broad threat range or a high crit multiplier in a weapon, never both. You can use magic or class abilities to further enhance either or both, though.
Krelios 06-28-06, 02:35 PM	if you talking about general D&D game your choices are: Ribbon Scmitar, Blade Gauntlets, Thinblade Elf, to crit range. and: Katana, Falchion, and Mercurial to crit multiple. If you want 3.5 D&D game version, options are more restrict: I think who the Falcion is a good choice simple and efficient for all uses (Emphasis Mine)How do you wield an elf in one hand?
tarkin 06-28-06, 02:49 PM	There have been several people here with POOR math skills that think 18-20/x2 is better than 20/4 They are wrong. First, there is the crit yes, but miss anyway. Someone said that they should ignore this because it is only a 1/400. They ignored the similar issues. Try it with Keen. The keen 18-20 x2 is now 15-20 x2. Compare that with a 20x4 -> 19-20x4 Now assume you need a 16 to hit. Whoops, you have wasted that 15 that WOULD have been a crit. This happens 15% of the time, granted with a decreasing chance of confirming, but still better than 1/100 hundred blows, not the measily 1/400 that he thought occured. A high level fighter can get 4-7 attacks per round, so the that 1/100 becomes about 1/15 rounds = once per game session. Once a game session is significant and worth worrying about. Second, there is the straight math. The real comparison is 15-20x2 (keen 18-20x2) and the 19-20x4 (keen 20x4). Mathematically 19-20x4 is EXACTLY equivelent to a crit range of 15-20 x2. There is NO difference. ------------ There is ONE issue that makes x2 better than x4 and that is death. If you do x2 damage and it is sufficient to kill the creature, then x4 is a waste. So the question becomes, which do worry about more: 1) Facing creatures with high AC that your 15-20 crit weapon will waste a threaten because it does not hit. (Remember, as you go up on power, you get iterative attacks at lower BAB so your LOWEST bab may need a natural 20 to hit, wasting your entire huge crit range) 2) Facing creatures that you can easily kill. Me personally, I don't care about over-kill. But I like ALL my attacks, even my 4th attack that round, to have the full chance of hitting and doing a crit.
Venenum 06-28-06, 02:50 PM	How do you wield an elf in one hand? Ok first you play a half giant and then use the expansion power. Just to be a wise guy..... First you place your hand on the elf's ankle and contract the muscles in your fingers. then contracthe your biceps and swing and repeat. :P Now back to the thread. If you have sandstorm and want high damage, go for great scimitar, of course you do have to burn a feat. but coupled with powerful build it is a great combo.
Sphyre 06-28-06, 05:33 PM	How do you wield an elf in one hand? A different way than Venenum's: Kill the elf, and then now that the body is an object you cast Shrink Item on him. Now the elf is 4 sizes smaller and easily weildable. If you wish to be proficient with the elf you can either take Exotic weapon proficiency (elf) or you could cast any plethora of additional combat bonuses to have fun with your new elf weapon!