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<blockquote data-quote="Cheiromancer" data-source="post: 3422865" data-attributes="member: 141">Hmmm.&nbsp; Bursts do normal damage even against undead and constructs, don't they?&nbsp; I can't remember where it says that, but your question wouldn't make sense unless that were the case.Suppose a fighter 9 attacks a Cloud Giant Skeleton (AC 13, DR 5/bludgeoning) with a +2 flaming longspear wielded two-handed.&nbsp; The fighter has a 22 Strength (16 base, +2 level up, +4 belt) and Improved Critical but no weapon focus feats.&nbsp; He power attacks for 5 so he misses only on a 1 (BAB 9 + 6 strength + 2 enhancement - 5 = +12 vs AC 13) and does (1d8 + 9 strength + 10 PA + 2 enhancement + 1d6 fire = 1d8 + 21 +1d6 fire = 29 points).&nbsp; Oh, DR counts, so it is only 1d8 + 16 + 1d6 fire = 24 points.&nbsp; Times 95% is 22.8 damage.With a +1 flaming burst longspear he'll use one less point of power attack, so the damage from non-crits (attack rolls of 2 to 18) will be (1d8 + 14 + 1d6 = 22). (I subtracted the DR this time)&nbsp; He misses on a 1.&nbsp; On a roll of 19-20 there will be a critical (average damage 1d8 + 14 + 1d6 + 2d10 = 33 ) 95% of the time; the other 5% of the time the critical won't be confirmed at the damage will only be 22.&nbsp; So 0.85 x 22 + 0.10 x (0.95 x 33 + 0.05 x 22) = 18.7 + 0.10 x (31.35 + 1.1) = 18.7 + 3.245 = 21.945So nope.&nbsp; Against a crit-immune creature with DR, the +2 flaming longspear is still better. There is probably some case where flaming burst is better, but not in this case.Unless I've screwed up the math somehow?</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Cheiromancer, post: 3422865, member: 141"] Hmmm. Bursts do normal damage even against undead and constructs, don't they? I can't remember where it says that, but your question wouldn't make sense unless that were the case. Suppose a fighter 9 attacks a Cloud Giant Skeleton (AC 13, DR 5/bludgeoning) with a +2 flaming longspear wielded two-handed. The fighter has a 22 Strength (16 base, +2 level up, +4 belt) and Improved Critical but no weapon focus feats. He power attacks for 5 so he misses only on a 1 (BAB 9 + 6 strength + 2 enhancement - 5 = +12 vs AC 13) and does (1d8 + 9 strength + 10 PA + 2 enhancement + 1d6 fire = 1d8 + 21 +1d6 fire = 29 points). Oh, DR counts, so it is only 1d8 + 16 + 1d6 fire = 24 points. Times 95% is 22.8 damage. With a +1 flaming burst longspear he'll use one less point of power attack, so the damage from non-crits (attack rolls of 2 to 18) will be (1d8 + 14 + 1d6 = 22). (I subtracted the DR this time) He misses on a 1. On a roll of 19-20 there will be a critical (average damage 1d8 + 14 + 1d6 + 2d10 = 33 ) 95% of the time; the other 5% of the time the critical won't be confirmed at the damage will only be 22. So 0.85 x 22 + 0.10 x (0.95 x 33 + 0.05 x 22) = 18.7 + 0.10 x (31.35 + 1.1) = 18.7 + 3.245 = 21.945 So nope. Against a crit-immune creature with DR, the +2 flaming longspear is still better. There is probably some case where flaming burst is better, but not in this case. Unless I've screwed up the math somehow? [/QUOTE]

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