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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Technik4" data-source="post: 1007369" data-attributes="member: 7211">Ok, slight rant here about energy protection vs immune to criticals.-Most monsters of CR 5 or higher have some kind of elemental protection, be it racial, magical, from an item they are wearing, whatever.-There are races with inherent energy protection for as little as ECL +1. Additionally there are feats which grant Energy Protection 5 as long as you have a high fortitude.-Almost all the elemental energy damage from a weapon can be countered by a first level spell which lasts 24 hours.-While certain types of monsters inherently have an immunity to criticals, it is never a class ability, nor a racial ability. Additionally, the magic items that give critical protection do so in percentages, and it is far more expensive than elemental protections.-There is no spell which grants immunity to critical hits, certainly not one at 1st level.By and large, energy protection is easier to come by than immunity (or even partial immunity) to critical hits. Especially since it only takes 5 points of energy protection to shut down an energy weapon.Furthermore, according to Mike Sullivan:So, the rapier will come out ahead in 3.5 when you have +9 bonus to damage.Speaking of the rogue, his position is at its worst when he is fighting against creatures with critical hit immunity. I don't think there are any agruemnets so far. Lets say a 9th level rogue has taken dodge, weapon finesse, mobility, and spring attack. What phb feat is better for his 12th level - Imp Crit, Expertise, or "other"?Since we're talking about a rogue, they dont have access to the longsword, the biggest weapon they can use is in fact a rapier. This may be why you see a lot of rogues with rapiers, why rogues with rapiers eventually get keen rapiers, and why high level rogues with keen rapiers used to take Imp Crit. Granted, I know this hasn't been *your* experience, and I'm positive my math and logic are horribly skewed, but this has been mine.Now that we've proven that rogue + rapier + higher crit range = good, lets talk about the finesse fighter. A character with at least a few levels in fighter (so getting some feats is no biggie)  who took weapon finesse and is trying to make a strong PC. Since he has weapon finesse and the rapier is the best weapon to be finessed (short of taking exotic weapon proficiency) will this character eventually take Imp Crit and acquire a Keen Rapier? Bing. Yes, he most probably would.If I wanted to make a disarm fighter I would use a flail, a trip fighter I might also go for a flail or a reach weapon, if I'm going sword and board Im taking the best 1-hander I can wield, if I'm going 2-handed the best 2-hander I can wield, and "if I'm going for crits" I will always take the rapier. These are no-brainers.Technik</blockquote>

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