Threat on an AC > 20

[Miginath]

Let's say my character has a longsword. It's threat range is normally 19-20. Now I attack a creature with an AC of 30. My combined result (d20+Base of 6+Str of 2) equals 27. A threat! I roll again and only get a result of 16 so it is not a critical. Now to roll damage...

But wait. I missed the creatures AC by five points. Does that mean that my threat is nullified? Do I have to actually hit its AC in order to do damage?

This question becomes even more confusing for me when you start adding in improved critical and keen edged weapons.

 

[Don21584]

For something to threat crit, you have to roll a natural 20, or a 19 or 20 with a long sword. You don't add your modifiers to that, otherwise a level 20 fighter would crit every single time.

 

[AuraSeer]

You can't get a critical if you miss. If you rolled a natural 19 for your longsword, but your total with bonuses still doesn't hit the monster, then you do no damage.

 

[CRGreathouse]

A natural 19 is not an automatic hit, even with a longsword. If you miss the AC you just miss, except on a natural 20 (only).

 

[Cl1mh4224rd]

A natural 19 is not an automatic hit, even with a longsword. If you miss the AC you just miss, except on a natural 20 (only).

whoa... [ rereads the appropriate section ] you learn something new everyday.

 

[Archer]

And if that natural 20 would not be sufficient to hit then you do not threaten a critical.

 

[CRGreathouse]

And if that natural 20 would not be sufficient to hit then you do not threaten a critical.

Incorrect.

 

[Valicor]

And if that natural 20 would not be sufficient to hit then you do not threaten a critical.

Natural 20's are automatic hits, so they wil always be a critical, provided the second roll is a hit.

 

[kreynolds]

And if that natural 20 would not be sufficient to hit then you do not threaten a critical.

Say what?!? Oh. You must be referring to the variant rule of rolling a nat 20 on an attack. At least I hope that's what you're referring to, for your sake.