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Difference between critical hits and automatic hits.
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<blockquote data-quote="Iosue" data-source="post: 6372884" data-attributes="member: 6680772"><p>I agree that auto-hits and critical hits are separate things in 5e (except for natural 20s, which are both). And they may have done that to keep open some design space. But I don't think the Champion's Improved and Superior Criticals are examples of it. The rules seem pretty clear: "Your weapon attacks score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20." Not, "You do critical hit damage on a roll of 19," or "If you hit on a roll of 19, you score a critical hit", either of which would be in line with the "natural language" ethos. If you need to actually hit on a 19, why mention the 20, which is an autohit and critical hit already by the rules? Unless the designers are drawing a comparison: treat 19s as you would 20s. They hit and do critical hit damage. By the description, you attack, you roll 19, you score a critical hit.</p><p></p><p>That said, even if you read it the other way, the effect is for all intent and purposes the same. You get Improved Critical at 3rd level. Even with a Strength of 10, you'd have a proficiency bonus of +2, which means a monster would need an AC of 22 not to be hit on a natural 19. There's no monster like that in the Basic Rules or Hoard of the Dragon Queen supplement. From the previews, an Ancient Red Dragon has 22, and the Tarrasque has a 25. Of course anything can happen in D&D, but let's just say it's highly <em>unlikely</em> that a 3rd level fighter (with no STR bonus, mind) is going to have a chance to take a swing at an ancient red dragon or tarrasque. Much more likely, a fighter's going to have at least a 14 Strength, for a total of +4, which means Improved Critical or not, he's hitting the Ancient Red Dragon, at least, on a natural 18. The Tarrasque is only vulnerable to the criticals of 3rd level fighters with 18 Strength.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Iosue, post: 6372884, member: 6680772"] I agree that auto-hits and critical hits are separate things in 5e (except for natural 20s, which are both). And they may have done that to keep open some design space. But I don't think the Champion's Improved and Superior Criticals are examples of it. The rules seem pretty clear: "Your weapon attacks score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20." Not, "You do critical hit damage on a roll of 19," or "If you hit on a roll of 19, you score a critical hit", either of which would be in line with the "natural language" ethos. If you need to actually hit on a 19, why mention the 20, which is an autohit and critical hit already by the rules? Unless the designers are drawing a comparison: treat 19s as you would 20s. They hit and do critical hit damage. By the description, you attack, you roll 19, you score a critical hit. That said, even if you read it the other way, the effect is for all intent and purposes the same. You get Improved Critical at 3rd level. Even with a Strength of 10, you'd have a proficiency bonus of +2, which means a monster would need an AC of 22 not to be hit on a natural 19. There's no monster like that in the Basic Rules or Hoard of the Dragon Queen supplement. From the previews, an Ancient Red Dragon has 22, and the Tarrasque has a 25. Of course anything can happen in D&D, but let's just say it's highly [i]unlikely[/i] that a 3rd level fighter (with no STR bonus, mind) is going to have a chance to take a swing at an ancient red dragon or tarrasque. Much more likely, a fighter's going to have at least a 14 Strength, for a total of +4, which means Improved Critical or not, he's hitting the Ancient Red Dragon, at least, on a natural 18. The Tarrasque is only vulnerable to the criticals of 3rd level fighters with 18 Strength. [/QUOTE]
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