Critical Hits [Archive] - Wizards Community

Critical Hits [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Goblinchaser
02-27-07, 01:23 AM I have been doing a little digging with in regards to Critical Hits, and additional damage. A line out of the SRD, it seems there is some debate in my gaming group.

Exception: Extra damage over and above a weapon’s normal damage is not multiplied when you score a critical hit.

I do understand this as the extra damage from sneak attacks and Flaming weapons is not rolled again. But what of damage from other sources not expressed in Die of damage.

Power attacks, Ranger favored enemy, specialization, and buff spells?

Any input greatly appreciated..
runestar
02-27-07, 01:45 AM Usually, variable damage die is not multiplied, while fixed numbers are.
Power attacks, Ranger favored enemy, specialization, and buff spells?
Yes to all of them.
paladin2019
02-27-07, 02:03 AM What he beat me to saying.
Nom
02-27-07, 07:05 AM Read PH pg 134.

It's exactly like hitting multiple times ("roll damage twice with all modifiers", emphasis mine), except that "extra damage dice are not multiplied".
Oliver D'Argent
02-27-07, 11:09 AM Extra dice of damage (as from sneak attack, skirmish, and the Flaming weapon quality) are not multiplied, but extra damage from Strength, Power Attack, Point Blank Shot, Weapon Specialization, Favored Enemy, Smite Evil, or anything else that adds a fixed amount of damage is.
tarkin
02-27-07, 01:29 PM Also Critical hits may double a spell, even if it does something besides hitpoints. Ability Drain for example.

The requirements for critting are:

1) not immune to crits.

2) Roll a to hit, which threaten to crit, and then confirm the crit.

3) Must be bad things, not good things (no healing, or anything else that could be 'good')
Loki5654
02-27-07, 01:34 PM (no healing, or anything else that could be 'good')
Damage reduces a target’s current hit points.
Various abilities and spells can restore hit points.
I know we're in agreement on this but I thought I'd throw out these SRD quotes to highlight the fact that you cannot crit with a healing spell.
Oliver D'Argent
02-27-07, 01:41 PM Also Critical hits may double a spell, even if it does something besides hitpoints. Ability Drain for example.

The requirements for critting are:

1) not immune to crits.

2) Roll a to hit, which threaten to crit, and then confirm the crit.

3) Must be bad things, not good things (no healing, or anything else that could be 'good')

Just wanted to add:

4) The result of the spell (or spell-like ability) must be damage of some kind - you cannot crit with a spell or spell-like ability that only imposes a penalty.
Zherog
02-27-07, 01:43 PM I know we're in agreement on this but I thought I'd throw out these SRD quotes to highlight the fact that you cannot crit with a healing spell.

You can totally crit with a cure spell - if the target takes damage from positive energy. :P

(yes, I know - this is exactly what Tarkin and Loki meant...)
Loki5654
02-27-07, 01:46 PM You can totally crit with a cure spell - if the target takes damage from positive energy. :P

(yes, I know - this is exactly what Tarkin and Loki meant...)
I have yet to find a creature that is damaged by positive energy that is not also immune to criticals.

Boy, that's an odd looking sentence.
Zherog
02-27-07, 02:27 PM I have yet to find a creature that is damaged by positive energy that is not also immune to criticals.

Boy, that's an odd looking sentence.

There's a feat (in Libris Mortis maybe?) that makes a character heal from negative energy while being damaged by positive energy. I'll look it up later, if nobody else posts it.

In addition to that, isn't there a spell in Complete Adventurer that briefly makes undead suffer crits and sneak attacks? Or does the spell only allow sneaks?
Loki5654
02-27-07, 02:29 PM There's a feat (in Libris Mortis maybe?) that makes a character heal from negative energy while being damaged by positive energy. I'll look it up later, if nobody else posts it.

In addition to that, isn't there a spell in Complete Adventurer that briefly makes undead suffer crits and sneak attacks? Or does the spell only allow sneaks?
But in both those cases, the spell is damaging, not healing.

My point is that it is not possible to crit with a healing spell.
Zherog
02-27-07, 02:32 PM I was mostly being a smart ass. By pointing out that you can crit with heal or cure critical wounds in an odd circumstance.
Loki5654
02-27-07, 02:36 PM I was mostly being a smart ass.
Well, its always better to be a smart one than a dumb one.
By pointing out that you can crit with heal or cure critical wounds in an odd circumstance.
Yep, if you twist enough rules around you can do just about anything. The fine point lies in realizing that just because something can be done doesn't necessarily mean you should allow it in your game.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Goblinchaser 02-27-07, 01:23 AM	I have been doing a little digging with in regards to Critical Hits, and additional damage. A line out of the SRD, it seems there is some debate in my gaming group. Exception: Extra damage over and above a weapon’s normal damage is not multiplied when you score a critical hit. I do understand this as the extra damage from sneak attacks and Flaming weapons is not rolled again. But what of damage from other sources not expressed in Die of damage. Power attacks, Ranger favored enemy, specialization, and buff spells? Any input greatly appreciated..
runestar 02-27-07, 01:45 AM	Usually, variable damage die is not multiplied, while fixed numbers are. Power attacks, Ranger favored enemy, specialization, and buff spells? Yes to all of them.
paladin2019 02-27-07, 02:03 AM	What he beat me to saying.
Nom 02-27-07, 07:05 AM	Read PH pg 134. It's exactly like hitting multiple times ("roll damage twice with all modifiers", emphasis mine), except that "extra damage dice are not multiplied".
Oliver D'Argent 02-27-07, 11:09 AM	Extra dice of damage (as from sneak attack, skirmish, and the Flaming weapon quality) are not multiplied, but extra damage from Strength, Power Attack, Point Blank Shot, Weapon Specialization, Favored Enemy, Smite Evil, or anything else that adds a fixed amount of damage is.
tarkin 02-27-07, 01:29 PM	Also Critical hits may double a spell, even if it does something besides hitpoints. Ability Drain for example. The requirements for critting are: 1) not immune to crits. 2) Roll a to hit, which threaten to crit, and then confirm the crit. 3) Must be bad things, not good things (no healing, or anything else that could be 'good')
Loki5654 02-27-07, 01:34 PM	(no healing, or anything else that could be 'good') Damage reduces a target’s current hit points. Various abilities and spells can restore hit points. I know we're in agreement on this but I thought I'd throw out these SRD quotes to highlight the fact that you cannot crit with a healing spell.
Oliver D'Argent 02-27-07, 01:41 PM	Also Critical hits may double a spell, even if it does something besides hitpoints. Ability Drain for example. The requirements for critting are: 1) not immune to crits. 2) Roll a to hit, which threaten to crit, and then confirm the crit. 3) Must be bad things, not good things (no healing, or anything else that could be 'good') Just wanted to add: 4) The result of the spell (or spell-like ability) must be damage of some kind - you cannot crit with a spell or spell-like ability that only imposes a penalty.
Zherog 02-27-07, 01:43 PM	I know we're in agreement on this but I thought I'd throw out these SRD quotes to highlight the fact that you cannot crit with a healing spell. You can totally crit with a cure spell - if the target takes damage from positive energy. :P (yes, I know - this is exactly what Tarkin and Loki meant...)
Loki5654 02-27-07, 01:46 PM	You can totally crit with a cure spell - if the target takes damage from positive energy. :P (yes, I know - this is exactly what Tarkin and Loki meant...) I have yet to find a creature that is damaged by positive energy that is not also immune to criticals. Boy, that's an odd looking sentence.
Zherog 02-27-07, 02:27 PM	I have yet to find a creature that is damaged by positive energy that is not also immune to criticals. Boy, that's an odd looking sentence. There's a feat (in Libris Mortis maybe?) that makes a character heal from negative energy while being damaged by positive energy. I'll look it up later, if nobody else posts it. In addition to that, isn't there a spell in Complete Adventurer that briefly makes undead suffer crits and sneak attacks? Or does the spell only allow sneaks?
Loki5654 02-27-07, 02:29 PM	There's a feat (in Libris Mortis maybe?) that makes a character heal from negative energy while being damaged by positive energy. I'll look it up later, if nobody else posts it. In addition to that, isn't there a spell in Complete Adventurer that briefly makes undead suffer crits and sneak attacks? Or does the spell only allow sneaks? But in both those cases, the spell is damaging, not healing. My point is that it is not possible to crit with a healing spell.
Zherog 02-27-07, 02:32 PM	I was mostly being a smart ass. By pointing out that you can crit with heal or cure critical wounds in an odd circumstance.
Loki5654 02-27-07, 02:36 PM	I was mostly being a smart ass. Well, its always better to be a smart one than a dumb one. By pointing out that you can crit with heal or cure critical wounds in an odd circumstance. Yep, if you twist enough rules around you can do just about anything. The fine point lies in realizing that just because something can be done doesn't necessarily mean you should allow it in your game.