Criticals and damage reduction [Archive] - Wizards Community

Criticals and damage reduction [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
andrew dunn
04-26-05, 03:14 PM I play 3.0 but I think this could very easily apply to 3.5 as well. If you have a +1 greatsword and score a critical hit against a creature that has DR 20/+2 then the first 20 hitpoints would be ignored however if you did 12 hp on a normal roll then your damage would be 24 resulting in 4 damage to this creature correct?

Shouldn't you need the proper enhancement in order to score a critical hit on a creature?

If not then what would stop you from figting an epic creature with a +1 vorpal scimitar all you need (keep in mind this is 3.0) is true strike and power critical and regardless of this creatures DR it could be 50/+8 but you would sever its head which would kill most creatures, even a creature that regenerated would be immobilized long enough that it wouldnt' be important.
Awesome_Man
04-26-05, 03:19 PM True strike will give who a +20 to hit, some of these ACs are really high.

Plus, don't you have to overcome the damage reduction before any of the other stuff takes place???

That is a similair question I had with the Arrow of Slaying, do you have to overcome a creature's damage reduction with the arrow before it makes a fortitude save?? And if you dont overcome it, nothing happens. Or does the creature always have make the fortitude save?
tarkin
04-26-05, 03:43 PM No, you don't have to overcome DR to get the critical. Neither do you have to overcome DR to activate flaming damage.

Criticals happen first, then DR.

But Arrows of Slaying are different.
They are an example of an item that has magical effects that ONLY work if you hit and do damage.

Not doing any damage because of DR is like firing a weapon, hitting them square in the face, but having it bounce off. The Slaying effect is never activated.
primemover003
04-26-05, 03:52 PM I play 3.0 but I think this could very easily apply to 3.5 as well. If you have a +1 greatsword and score a critical hit against a creature that has DR 20/+2 then the first 20 hitpoints would be ignored however if you did 12 hp on a normal roll then your damage would be 24 resulting in 4 damage to this creature correct?
It looks like you're adding criticals up wrong...

When a greatsword crits you roll 4d6+ 2x all bonuses, not 2(2d6+bonuses)... it does make a difference

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
andrew dunn 04-26-05, 03:14 PM	I play 3.0 but I think this could very easily apply to 3.5 as well. If you have a +1 greatsword and score a critical hit against a creature that has DR 20/+2 then the first 20 hitpoints would be ignored however if you did 12 hp on a normal roll then your damage would be 24 resulting in 4 damage to this creature correct? Shouldn't you need the proper enhancement in order to score a critical hit on a creature? If not then what would stop you from figting an epic creature with a +1 vorpal scimitar all you need (keep in mind this is 3.0) is true strike and power critical and regardless of this creatures DR it could be 50/+8 but you would sever its head which would kill most creatures, even a creature that regenerated would be immobilized long enough that it wouldnt' be important.
Awesome_Man 04-26-05, 03:19 PM	True strike will give who a +20 to hit, some of these ACs are really high. Plus, don't you have to overcome the damage reduction before any of the other stuff takes place??? That is a similair question I had with the Arrow of Slaying, do you have to overcome a creature's damage reduction with the arrow before it makes a fortitude save?? And if you dont overcome it, nothing happens. Or does the creature always have make the fortitude save?
tarkin 04-26-05, 03:43 PM	No, you don't have to overcome DR to get the critical. Neither do you have to overcome DR to activate flaming damage. Criticals happen first, then DR. But Arrows of Slaying are different. They are an example of an item that has magical effects that ONLY work if you hit and do damage. Not doing any damage because of DR is like firing a weapon, hitting them square in the face, but having it bounce off. The Slaying effect is never activated.
primemover003 04-26-05, 03:52 PM	I play 3.0 but I think this could very easily apply to 3.5 as well. If you have a +1 greatsword and score a critical hit against a creature that has DR 20/+2 then the first 20 hitpoints would be ignored however if you did 12 hp on a normal roll then your damage would be 24 resulting in 4 damage to this creature correct? It looks like you're adding criticals up wrong... When a greatsword crits you roll 4d6+ 2x all bonuses, not 2(2d6+bonuses)... it does make a difference