a couple of questions

[meltinbradley]

1.) A vorpal attack can only happen on a critical hit, are creatures who are immune to crits immune to vorpal attacks?

2.) I know of ways of getting around critting contructs and undead, but how do you pass fortification?

Thanks,
MB

 

[DumbPaladin]

I think the answer to #1 is "yes", but there's a little wiggle room so I'll let someone else handle it.

In regards to #2, the only way I can think of to get around a 25%, 75%, or full immunity to critical hits and sneak attacks is to somehow remove the template that grants fortification. There aren't too many ways to do this. The spell spark of life will (SpC) essentially rob an undead creature of most of its benefits, but I can't think of ways to do that against other types of creatures.

 

[Dandu]

Vorpal

This potent and feared ability allows the weapon to sever the heads of those it strikes. Upon a roll of natural 20 (followed by a successful roll to confirm the critical hit), the weapon severs the opponent’s head (if it has one) from its body. Some creatures, such as many aberrations and all oozes, have no heads. Others, such as golems and undead creatures other than vampires, are not affected by the loss of their heads. Most other creatures, however, die when their heads are cut off. A vorpal weapon must be a slashing weapon. (If you roll this property randomly for an inappropriate weapon, reroll.)
Strong necromancy and transmutation; CL 18th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, circle of death, keen edge; Price +5 bonus.

 

[Starbuck_II]

1.) A vorpal attack can only happen on a critical hit, are creatures who are immune to crits immune to vorpal attacks?
Thanks,
MB

No. Vorpal is like a Burst weapon: it still affectds Crit Immune creatures.
Nothing is immune to Vorpal but the race Lumi (Monster Manual 3).
Some are unaffected by losing their head (like a golem) but not immune to losing head.

 

[DumbPaladin]

That was why I didn't really tackle #1 -- while it seems counterintuitive, there's nothing about the rules that say that you have to deal critical hit damage to get a vorpal beheading -- you just have to roll and confirm the critical hit.

 

[akbearfoot]

I'm leaning toward the interpretation that creatures normally immune to crits can still have their heads cut off, as Starbuck says. It even lists undead as an example.

However, I also think the fortification property DOES make one immune(or sometimes immune) to Vorpal.

From the SRD:bold/itallic added for emphasis.
Fortification

This suit of armor or shield produces a magical force that protects vital areas of the wearer more effectively. When a critical hit or sneak attack is scored on the wearer, there is a chance that the critical hit or sneak attack is negated and damage is instead rolled normally.


If you negate something it didn't happen...Which is not the same thing as 'being immune to, or as the SRD puts it, not being subject to critical hits' If the critical hit didn't actually happen, then I don't see how Vorpal could trigger. For instance, a rogue can't apply a sneak-attack related feat effect to a hit that was negated to fortification. Why would Vorpal work any different?

 

[ValhallaGH]

1.) A vorpal attack can only happen on a critical hit, are creatures who are immune to crits immune to vorpal attacks?

Not quite correct.
Vorpal activates on a natural 20, followed by a successful confirmation roll. Vorpal doesn't care what your weapon's threat range is; Vorpal only cares if the attack roll was a natural 20.

2.) I know of ways of getting around critting contructs and undead, but how do you pass fortification?

For Vorpal, critical hit immunity is irrelevant.
All that matters are two questions: 1) Does it have a head? 2) Is the head attached to the body?

If both answers are "Yes" then Vorpal makes the head come off. Some creatures (golems, plants) don't care if they have a head or not, but Vorpal makes their heads come off.
Lumi escape Vorpal by answering "No" to number 2.

Good gaming.

 

[akbearfoot]

In my mind, the logical progression goes something like this....

Normal:
You roll a natural 20, then confirm the critical hit. Vorpal cuts off the head...immunity to critical hits does not protect from this.


Fortification (100%):
You roll a natural 20, then confirm the critical hit...Then the fortification kicks in and negates the critical confirmation. No critical confirmation, no vorpal effect.

The other possibility doesn't make sense to me....
You roll a natural 20, then confirm the critical. Then the fortification turns back time and makes the crit not happen, but somehow vorpal can sense that there was a confirmation in an alternate time line so triggers anyways, even though the confirmation roll was negated.

I'm skeptical that the intent of the rules is different than this.

 

[Particle_Man]

If both answers are "Yes" then Vorpal makes the head come off. Some creatures (golems, plants) don't care if they have a head or not, but Vorpal makes their heads come off.

Wait, so a Treant could be beheaded, but would just keep on fighting (perhaps fighting blind depending on which way that the head was facing?). Or is the head just for decoration and the decapitated treant would see just fine without the head?

 

[ValhallaGH]

Wait, so a Treant could be beheaded, but would just keep on fighting (perhaps fighting blind depending on which way that the head was facing?).

Yes.

If it had a non-visual combat sense (tremorsense, blind sight, etc.) or had eyes on something besides its head then it wouldn't be inconvenienced by decapitation. Those aren't the case for a Treant, so sucks for him.