How to get critical high. [Archive] - Wizards Community

How to get critical high. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
albinomonkeyking
11-06-06, 05:09 PM I am just curious if there are any ways to raise critical not counting the ones I am aware of. I am speaking of an armed melee character by the way.

I can only think of keen, improved critical(which don't stack), and weapon master from sword and fist....Is that it?
On_the_wings_of_TPK
11-06-06, 05:17 PM how to get critical high?

there is also favour critical, and taking a weapon with a higher critical threat range.
inthesto
11-06-06, 06:09 PM There's also the Disciple of Dispater PrC in Vile Darkness, but good luck getting your DM to approve that.
Ogmug
11-06-06, 07:03 PM additionally, look into ways of improving the damage done without random dice rolls.

weapon specializations, power attacks, spell bonus, enhancement bonus, rage, increased str, all that adds up to a higher bonus.

IE: if you have a falchion, with +5, keen, a str of 22 (+6) a BAB of at least +5) and use +5 power attack, enter into a rage (+2 dam), with Bull's strength, and prayer (or bard song) your bonus would look like this:

15-20/x2 at 2d4+(5(weapon) + 15 (strength (2 handed) and bulls str)+rage) +10 (power attack 2 handed)+1 (prayer or bard)+weapon spec (falch) +2)*2=33*2=66+2d4

hmm. i think i need to make a powerattacking ftr4/barb1 half-orc..........

Someone please feel free to check my math, and my logic. My brain is fried. (course a +5 keen is outside of a 5th level wealth levels...i believe)
Rafe_113
11-07-06, 07:53 AM Looks right to me, but will Rage and Bulls strength stack with a bard buffing spell? I think it will but not for sure.
Borris
11-07-06, 09:46 AM Bull's strength gives an enhancement bonus to strength. A barbarian's rage gives an unnamed +4 bonus to Strength. A bard's inspire courage ability gives a +1 morale bonus on attack and damage rolls, which will stack with the weapon's +5 enhancement bonus on attack and damage. Prayer would stack as well since it gives luck bonuses.

And Ogmug, a critical would double the base weapon damage as well, so total damage should be 4d4+66.
Ogmug
11-07-06, 11:19 AM :doh:

now, if you can find a sacred/profane bonus (non random) to add, ....
Jherid
11-07-06, 11:20 AM Psychic Weapon Master (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040827d)
Cifer
11-07-06, 02:03 PM and weapon master from sword and fist...
Sword and Fist is 3rd edition, which operated under decidedly different ideas about crits. Meaning it's outdated.

One might want to take a look at incarnum. The soulmeld Necrocarnum Weapon (evil only) provides a bonus to confirmation rolls, though I'm unaware what type it is.
RevIron
11-07-06, 02:15 PM The soulmeld Necrocarnum Weapon (evil only) provides a bonus to confirmation rolls, though I'm unaware what type it is.

Profane is implied - but it depends on how used.
albinomonkeyking
11-07-06, 02:39 PM Yeah the mention of sword and fist was just to see if I had missed any bases, seeing as how 3.0 isn't that far a stretch from 3.5, as opposed to say, 2.0 at least.

By the way, where did the Psychic Weapon Master come from? I am curious because I thought I was pretty well versed with most books and the class isn't familiar at all.
Jherid
11-07-06, 03:14 PM It came from the Mind's Eye, the article I linked to.
Romtos
11-08-06, 11:14 AM There's also the Disciple of Dispater PrC in Vile Darkness, but good luck getting your DM to approve that.
If I understand it right:
You have a 18-20/x2 weapon.
It becomes 15-20/x2 (not unusual) and later 12-20/x2 (that's huge).
It does stack with improved critical feat, so it becomes 9-20/x2? :eek:
Toloran
11-08-06, 12:50 PM If I understand it right:
You have a 18-20/x2 weapon.
It becomes 15-20/x2 (not unusual) and later 12-20/x2 (that's huge).
It does stack with improved critical feat, so it becomes 9-20/x2? :eek:

I seem to recall that something there doesn't stack. I forget what though.
Romtos
11-08-06, 01:24 PM I seem to recall that something there doesn't stack. I forget what though.
The text states explicit that the Class Ability DOES NOT stack with 'Keen' weapons but it DOES stack with the Improved Critical feat. :)
Toloran
11-08-06, 01:26 PM The text states explicit that the Class Ability DOES NOT stack with 'Keen' weapons but it DOES stack with the Improved Critical feat. :)

Ooh, nice :)
Cifer
11-08-06, 01:31 PM Which basically means it's as 3.0 as it can get...
Romtos
11-08-06, 01:40 PM Which basically means it's as 3.0 as it can get...
There never was an update for BoVD. Also, it's still something unique (12-20/x2) if your DM refuses to accept the RAW and ignores the line about 'Improved Critical'.:)
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi
11-08-06, 02:11 PM I don't know of any other tips for getting a high critical, but I do know of something to do once you get there:

1) Lightning Mace fighting style
2) Blood in the Water stance

Lightning Mace is for two-weapon fighting with two light maces. Whenever you threaten a critical, you get an extra attack.

Blood in the Water is a stance from the Tiger Claw school in Tome of Battle. Whenever you threaten a critical, you get a bonus to damage (or was it attack? I gotta check).

Anyway, I can say the Warblade class gives you a bonus to critical confirmation rolls equal to your intelligence modifier.
High Octane
11-08-06, 02:57 PM Theres a feat called "Power Critical" which I think gives you a +4 on confirming criticals, which helps in your crit build.

In 3.5 Improved critical and keen do NOT stack. In my opinion this is good because it can lead to horrible abuse. On the other hand, the pre-reqs for Improved critical are I think too high, since by the time you can get it keen oil is easy and a keen weapon is not hard to have.

But I digress.
Nathreet
11-08-06, 03:03 PM so total damage should be 4d4+66.
Enemy: "I hope he roles ones!"

4d4, hehe.
deathbane
11-08-06, 09:53 PM I am just curious if there are any ways to raise critical not counting the ones I am aware of. I am speaking of an armed melee character by the way.

I can only think of keen, improved critical(which don't stack), and weapon master from sword and fist....Is that it?
There is Weapon Master in either the rokugan or oriental setting books. If I were you I'd try to get my DM to change some of the feat requirements to useful feats or make it take less feats. What it does is at certain levels you get a plus 2 to any crit range that you have on including improved crit, and you eventuall get to add 1 to your crit multiplier a certain number of times per day and a certain number of times per day you get to say you did max damage without even rolling the damage dice.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
albinomonkeyking 11-06-06, 05:09 PM	I am just curious if there are any ways to raise critical not counting the ones I am aware of. I am speaking of an armed melee character by the way. I can only think of keen, improved critical(which don't stack), and weapon master from sword and fist....Is that it?
On_the_wings_of_TPK 11-06-06, 05:17 PM	how to get critical high? there is also favour critical, and taking a weapon with a higher critical threat range.
inthesto 11-06-06, 06:09 PM	There's also the Disciple of Dispater PrC in Vile Darkness, but good luck getting your DM to approve that.
Ogmug 11-06-06, 07:03 PM	additionally, look into ways of improving the damage done without random dice rolls. weapon specializations, power attacks, spell bonus, enhancement bonus, rage, increased str, all that adds up to a higher bonus. IE: if you have a falchion, with +5, keen, a str of 22 (+6) a BAB of at least +5) and use +5 power attack, enter into a rage (+2 dam), with Bull's strength, and prayer (or bard song) your bonus would look like this: 15-20/x2 at 2d4+(5(weapon) + 15 (strength (2 handed) and bulls str)+rage) +10 (power attack 2 handed)+1 (prayer or bard)+weapon spec (falch) +2)2=332=66+2d4 hmm. i think i need to make a powerattacking ftr4/barb1 half-orc.......... Someone please feel free to check my math, and my logic. My brain is fried. (course a +5 keen is outside of a 5th level wealth levels...i believe)
Rafe_113 11-07-06, 07:53 AM	Looks right to me, but will Rage and Bulls strength stack with a bard buffing spell? I think it will but not for sure.
Borris 11-07-06, 09:46 AM	Bull's strength gives an enhancement bonus to strength. A barbarian's rage gives an unnamed +4 bonus to Strength. A bard's inspire courage ability gives a +1 morale bonus on attack and damage rolls, which will stack with the weapon's +5 enhancement bonus on attack and damage. Prayer would stack as well since it gives luck bonuses. And Ogmug, a critical would double the base weapon damage as well, so total damage should be 4d4+66.
Ogmug 11-07-06, 11:19 AM	:doh: now, if you can find a sacred/profane bonus (non random) to add, ....
Jherid 11-07-06, 11:20 AM	Psychic Weapon Master (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040827d)
Cifer 11-07-06, 02:03 PM	and weapon master from sword and fist... Sword and Fist is 3rd edition, which operated under decidedly different ideas about crits. Meaning it's outdated. One might want to take a look at incarnum. The soulmeld Necrocarnum Weapon (evil only) provides a bonus to confirmation rolls, though I'm unaware what type it is.
RevIron 11-07-06, 02:15 PM	The soulmeld Necrocarnum Weapon (evil only) provides a bonus to confirmation rolls, though I'm unaware what type it is. Profane is implied - but it depends on how used.
albinomonkeyking 11-07-06, 02:39 PM	Yeah the mention of sword and fist was just to see if I had missed any bases, seeing as how 3.0 isn't that far a stretch from 3.5, as opposed to say, 2.0 at least. By the way, where did the Psychic Weapon Master come from? I am curious because I thought I was pretty well versed with most books and the class isn't familiar at all.
Jherid 11-07-06, 03:14 PM	It came from the Mind's Eye, the article I linked to.
Romtos 11-08-06, 11:14 AM	There's also the Disciple of Dispater PrC in Vile Darkness, but good luck getting your DM to approve that. If I understand it right: You have a 18-20/x2 weapon. It becomes 15-20/x2 (not unusual) and later 12-20/x2 (that's huge). It does stack with improved critical feat, so it becomes 9-20/x2? :eek:
Toloran 11-08-06, 12:50 PM	If I understand it right: You have a 18-20/x2 weapon. It becomes 15-20/x2 (not unusual) and later 12-20/x2 (that's huge). It does stack with improved critical feat, so it becomes 9-20/x2? :eek: I seem to recall that something there doesn't stack. I forget what though.
Romtos 11-08-06, 01:24 PM	I seem to recall that something there doesn't stack. I forget what though. The text states explicit that the Class Ability DOES NOT stack with 'Keen' weapons but it DOES stack with the Improved Critical feat. :)
Toloran 11-08-06, 01:26 PM	The text states explicit that the Class Ability DOES NOT stack with 'Keen' weapons but it DOES stack with the Improved Critical feat. :) Ooh, nice :)
Cifer 11-08-06, 01:31 PM	Which basically means it's as 3.0 as it can get...
Romtos 11-08-06, 01:40 PM	Which basically means it's as 3.0 as it can get... There never was an update for BoVD. Also, it's still something unique (12-20/x2) if your DM refuses to accept the RAW and ignores the line about 'Improved Critical'.:)
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 11-08-06, 02:11 PM	I don't know of any other tips for getting a high critical, but I do know of something to do once you get there: 1) Lightning Mace fighting style 2) Blood in the Water stance Lightning Mace is for two-weapon fighting with two light maces. Whenever you threaten a critical, you get an extra attack. Blood in the Water is a stance from the Tiger Claw school in Tome of Battle. Whenever you threaten a critical, you get a bonus to damage (or was it attack? I gotta check). Anyway, I can say the Warblade class gives you a bonus to critical confirmation rolls equal to your intelligence modifier.
High Octane 11-08-06, 02:57 PM	Theres a feat called "Power Critical" which I think gives you a +4 on confirming criticals, which helps in your crit build. In 3.5 Improved critical and keen do NOT stack. In my opinion this is good because it can lead to horrible abuse. On the other hand, the pre-reqs for Improved critical are I think too high, since by the time you can get it keen oil is easy and a keen weapon is not hard to have. But I digress.
Nathreet 11-08-06, 03:03 PM	so total damage should be 4d4+66. Enemy: "I hope he roles ones!" 4d4, hehe.
deathbane 11-08-06, 09:53 PM	I am just curious if there are any ways to raise critical not counting the ones I am aware of. I am speaking of an armed melee character by the way. I can only think of keen, improved critical(which don't stack), and weapon master from sword and fist....Is that it? There is Weapon Master in either the rokugan or oriental setting books. If I were you I'd try to get my DM to change some of the feat requirements to useful feats or make it take less feats. What it does is at certain levels you get a plus 2 to any crit range that you have on including improved crit, and you eventuall get to add 1 to your crit multiplier a certain number of times per day and a certain number of times per day you get to say you did max damage without even rolling the damage dice.