Coup de Grace and Power Attack

[Li Shenron]

A related question. Do you guys still roll for the CDG? I do... in case the BBEG rolls a natural 1.

I don't think there is any attack roll in a CdG.

 

[Hypersmurf]

A related question. Do you guys still roll for the CDG? I do... in case the BBEG rolls a natural 1.

"au-to-ma-tic-al-ly".

-Hyp.

 

[Darklone]

"au-to-ma-tic-al-ly".

I know I know... Next time I start a houserule thread

Just wanted to know ... ok

 

[Kemrain]

Readying a Coup de Grace... And using power attack on it, too. Wow... But, if it automatically hits, what's to keep me from power attacking for a ghazillion points, since there's no penalty to a roll I don't make, and deal so much damage that nothing could make that fort save? Or, is that the point entirely? Man, I need to take Power Attack!

Oh, I don't have my book handy, so, maybe you can answer me this.. Can I make a sneak attack with a CdG?

- Kemrain the Stabbity

 

[The Souljourner]

Coup de grace is taking six seconds to set up the perfect attack against your foe. Basically, you plunge your sword right into his heart/neck/whatever. Yes, you get sneak attack on a coup degrace, and yes, you can power attack for up to your base attack bonus (can't do a ghazillion points unless you have a ghazillion BAB) with no ill effects, and yes, that pretty much assures that whatever you're attacking is going to die, but that's the point!

Anyone you're attacking who is helpless, will die pretty easily.

-The Souljourner

 

[Magic Slim]

Readying a Coup de Grace... And using power attack on it, too. Wow... But, if it automatically hits, what's to keep me from power attacking for a ghazillion points, since there's no penalty to a roll I don't make, and deal so much damage that nothing could make that fort save? Or, is that the point entirely? Man, I need to take Power Attack!

Oh, I don't have my book handy, so, maybe you can answer me this.. Can I make a sneak attack with a CdG?

- Kemrain the Stabbity

1) you can only power attack to your max BAB
2) Yes you can sneak attack during a CdG. It says (said in 3.0) so in the PHB and is considered "overkill"

Slim

 

[Darklone]

Sneak attacks for CDG are not as bad as Power Attacking with a *4 crit multiplier weapon since the sneak attack damage is as usual not multiplied.

 

[Kemrain]

Forgot all about that BAB cap. Right... Wow.. Even without, CdG is nasty as all hell. Thanks for the info, heheh. My GM must never hear of this.

- Kemrain the Sneaky

 

[ruleslawyer]

CdG is meant to be nasty; being helpless in combat is tantamount to being dead.

That said, I'm not so fond of the Death Blow feat. It has limited applicability, but when it's used (especially in combination with the Ready action), it has high potential to be a PC-hoser when combined with hold person or bands of Bilarro.

 

[Al]

Yeah, obviously - CDG is a single precise blow that takes an entire round to execute - eg slitting a sleeper's throat. Power Attack is an imprecise smashing blow with a to-hit penalty.

Edit: re Power Attack not Death Blow.

Not necessarily. A CDG is simply a death-dealing blow against a helpless opponent. This might well range from slitting a sleeper's throat to a classic execution with a mighty axe swing: I'm fairly sure that an executioner's swing would count as a 'Power Attack' under normal circumstances.