Crit. with Meteor Swarm?

[wuyanei]

A very stupid question, if I may.

Meteor Swarm

If you aim a sphere at a specific creature, you may make a ranged touch attack to strike the target with the meteor. Any creature struck by one of these spheres takes 2d6 points of bludgeoning damage (no save) and receives no saving throw against the sphere’s fire damage (see below). If a targeted sphere misses its target, it simply explodes at the nearest corner of the target’s space. You may aim more than one meteor at the same target.

Our game has never progressed to this level, but I would like to be sure: Is it possible to score a critical hit with the 'ranged touch attack' version of a meteor swarm spell? If it is possible, how much bunus damage would it deal? 2d6 x2 plus fire? (2d6 plus fire) x2?

And in that case, what about fireball?

A glowing, pea-sized bead streaks from the pointing digit and, unless it impacts upon a material body or solid barrier prior to attaining the prescribed range, blossoms into the fireball at that point. (An early impact results in an early detonation.) If you attempt to send the bead through a narrow passage, such as through an arrow slit, you must “hit” the opening with a ranged touch attack, or else the bead strikes the barrier and detonates prematurely.

... with the 'opening' in question being the eye-slits of a fighter's armor...

Mind you, I do believe that, even if it is possible, it would probably hurt the PCs more than help them in the long run...

Thank you for you time and trouble!

 

[dcollins]

Yes. If it has a to-hit roll, then it can critical. Quote from SRD:

Spells and Critical Hits: A spell that requires an attack roll can score a critical hit. A spell attack that requires no attack roll cannot score a critical hit.

Edit: Original poster added the second part about fireball in a late edit. To that the answer is "no". Fireball does not require a roll to hit a target (only to potentially get through holes in cover).

 

[Infiniti2000]

Re: meteor swarm
The crit would be for 2d6x2 + fire.

Re: fireball
The attack roll produces no damage and just allows the fireball to go through the slit. No crit, just goes through dead-center.

 

[IcyCool]

Re: meteor swarm
The crit would be for 2d6x2 + fire.

Re: fireball
The attack roll produces no damage and just allows the fireball to go through the slit. No crit, just goes through dead-center.

I'm pretty sure that this is correct.

 

[wuyanei]

Thank you for your quick reply!

However, I'd still like a bit of advice on how the handle the additional damage for a critical meteor swarm, or (if it is legal, which highly I doubt) a critical fireball.

Again, thank you for your trouble!

Edit: Ah! Thank you. I understand now.

 

[TheGogmagog]

I assume you mean it would hurt the PC's when it's cast against you? Damage spells arn't as bad as death effects. It can be a DC 10 effect, but that time you roll a 1 on your save....

 

[TheGogmagog]

Thank you for your quick reply!

However, I'd still like a bit of advice on how the handle the additional damage for a critical meteor swarm, or (if it is legal, which highly I doubt) a critical fireball.

Again, thank you for your trouble!

Edit: Ah! Thank you. I understand now.

For the additional damage, I like to roll double the damage dice, but some prefer to just roll normal damage and double it.

Since Fireball doesn't have an attack, no critical. But there is a save so there is a potental for a critical fail. The DMG lists the effects for a failed save, a chance of equipment being destroyed (roll D4 for Armor, Shield, cloak, weapon, and soforth in the event there is no armor, shield, or it's not logically going to be affected.)

 

[wuyanei]

I've always believed that rolling a huge amount of dice is a large part of the fun. 2d6 x2 +6d6 per sphere is not as ridiculous as the (2d6 +6d6) x2 x4 which I first took a 'critical meteor swarm' to be, though 40d6 damage will still smart.

No critical for fireball is reasonable. I was just wondering how to explain it by the RAW.

Thank you for taking time to answer may question! Thanks a lot!

 

[glass]

Re: meteor swarm
The crit would be for 2d6x2 + fire.

I believe it would be 4d6, rather than 2d6 x 2 for the physical damage.

Also, I haven't to checked the spell description yet, but I'm not sure that the fire damage is not also doubled. 'Extra damage' in the form of dice is not doubled, but I'm not sure that the fire damage in the case of a meteor swarm qualifies as 'extra damage', any more than the fire damage from a scorching ray would.


glass.

 

[Infiniti2000]

I believe it would be 4d6, rather than 2d6 x 2 for the physical damage.

Sure, that's the way I would do it, too. I only implied the crit multiplier with the x2, not that I would actually roll 2d6 and multiply it by 2.