Critical issues - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Critical issues

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
rampant
Aug 29, 2010 13:47:46 Ok Looking at the racial attack powers I've noticed they have attack bonuses to compensate for a lack of implement or weapon keywords, but I'm rather unsatisfied when I roll a 20 with dragon breath. Most magical weapons or implements provide a bonus to critical hit damage that racial powers just don't get.

Now I'm too lazy to go back and rewrite all the powers and stuff but would this be a balanced feat to compensate?

Natural Critical (yeah the name needs work)
Prerequisite: One or more powers that require attack rolls, and lacks the weapon or implement keyword
Benefit: Whenever you make an attack for a power that lacks the weapon or implement keywords and score a critical hit you deal 1d8 extra damage, plus an additional d8 per six levels.

#2
Bandikoot
Aug 29, 2010 14:08:00 I don't even make it a feat. "Non-magical" attacks follow the same critical damage progression as a plain old magic weapon, though based off of the character's level.
#3
rampant
Aug 29, 2010 14:56:48 Just to be clear you use that as a house rule right?

There's not a page in some book that covers this and I just missed it.
#4
Bandikoot
Aug 29, 2010 15:31:47 Complete house rule, though it really should be part of their inherent bonus system from DMGII for low magic.
#5
rampant
Aug 29, 2010 18:13:46 I'm not sure...

I mean these attacks are part of a race or feat or whatever that are already balanced right? The reason I made the feat is because I'm worried that if I don't make it cost something I'm essentially handing out something for nothing.
#6
Chameleon-X
Aug 29, 2010 18:26:51
I'm not sure...

I mean these attacks are part of a race or feat or whatever that are already balanced right? The reason I made the feat is because I'm worried that if I don't make it cost something I'm essentially handing out something for nothing.

Yeah, but it's something that should've been there all along. Otherwise it would be like the Expertise feats; making you pay a feat to fix the game's math. =(
#7
Timmeh
Aug 29, 2010 22:35:55 I'd actually make it 1d6 per tier; or in the case of dragon's breath, maybe 5 ongoing damage. These abilities aren't meant to do a lot of damage; and boosting the amount of damage on a critical hit too high seems a bit away from what their original intention is.
#8
sully33
Sep 05, 2010 20:49:08 I say crank up the critical damage. As far as I'm concerned, critical hits should be dramatic game-changers for the players. Heads should roll if the damage is lethal enough. I've always liked the idea of the "exploding die", where a maxed-out die roll gets rolled again for additional damage, and another max roll earns another roll, and so on and so forth.

Here's how I run my criticals:

1: player rolls critical hit
2: player rolls d20 to hit again. If its a miss, normal crit damage. If its a hit, crit damage plus exploding d6. If its another critical hit, (crit damage plus exploding d6) X2

Monsters DO NOT get this mechanic for critical hits. Mostly because I crit my players a little too frequently.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 rampant Aug 29, 2010 13:47:46	Ok Looking at the racial attack powers I've noticed they have attack bonuses to compensate for a lack of implement or weapon keywords, but I'm rather unsatisfied when I roll a 20 with dragon breath. Most magical weapons or implements provide a bonus to critical hit damage that racial powers just don't get. Now I'm too lazy to go back and rewrite all the powers and stuff but would this be a balanced feat to compensate? Natural Critical (yeah the name needs work) Prerequisite: One or more powers that require attack rolls, and lacks the weapon or implement keyword Benefit: Whenever you make an attack for a power that lacks the weapon or implement keywords and score a critical hit you deal 1d8 extra damage, plus an additional d8 per six levels.
#2 Bandikoot Aug 29, 2010 14:08:00	I don't even make it a feat. "Non-magical" attacks follow the same critical damage progression as a plain old magic weapon, though based off of the character's level.
#3 rampant Aug 29, 2010 14:56:48	Just to be clear you use that as a house rule right? There's not a page in some book that covers this and I just missed it.
#4 Bandikoot Aug 29, 2010 15:31:47	Complete house rule, though it really should be part of their inherent bonus system from DMGII for low magic.
#5 rampant Aug 29, 2010 18:13:46	I'm not sure... I mean these attacks are part of a race or feat or whatever that are already balanced right? The reason I made the feat is because I'm worried that if I don't make it cost something I'm essentially handing out something for nothing.
#6 Chameleon-X Aug 29, 2010 18:26:51	I'm not sure... I mean these attacks are part of a race or feat or whatever that are already balanced right? The reason I made the feat is because I'm worried that if I don't make it cost something I'm essentially handing out something for nothing. Yeah, but it's something that should've been there all along. Otherwise it would be like the Expertise feats; making you pay a feat to fix the game's math. =(
#7 Timmeh Aug 29, 2010 22:35:55	I'd actually make it 1d6 per tier; or in the case of dragon's breath, maybe 5 ongoing damage. These abilities aren't meant to do a lot of damage; and boosting the amount of damage on a critical hit too high seems a bit away from what their original intention is.
#8 sully33 Sep 05, 2010 20:49:08	I say crank up the critical damage. As far as I'm concerned, critical hits should be dramatic game-changers for the players. Heads should roll if the damage is lethal enough. I've always liked the idea of the "exploding die", where a maxed-out die roll gets rolled again for additional damage, and another max roll earns another roll, and so on and so forth. Here's how I run my criticals: 1: player rolls critical hit 2: player rolls d20 to hit again. If its a miss, normal crit damage. If its a hit, crit damage plus exploding d6. If its another critical hit, (crit damage plus exploding d6) X2 Monsters DO NOT get this mechanic for critical hits. Mostly because I crit my players a little too frequently.