Critical Hits for non-damaging effects.

Zsig

Explorer
Hey, I'm not sure if this "issue" has been brought before, if so, I'd be glad with a link to the appropriate thread.

Anyway, what happens when you achieve a critical hit with a power that's not meant to deal damage? For example Sleep.

When you hit a crit with a damaging effect it get's maximun damage, and possibly additional stuff (like extra dice depending on the enhancement bonus of the weapon implement), but if the effect in question deals no damage, a "critical" is no different than a regular hit.

With that in mind I have a couple ideas I'd like people to comment or even better give your own ideas.

  • If the power have an effect that applies a condition to the target and allows a saving throw (ie "target is slowed (save ends)") on a critical hit the target automatically fails it's first saving throw.

    Alternatively, instead of failing the first save, target gets a penalty to the first (and consecutive rolls) equal to -2 (or -5 dunno) and an additional -1 for each enhancement bonus your weapon/implement has.
  • Effects that produce a condition that lasts until the end of your next turn, or until the start of your next turn, lasts an additional turn.
  • Ongoing damage adds the enhancement bonus of the weapon/implement on top of it's regular stated damage.

Problems:
What happens then if said power DEALS damage and carries a condition like those discussed above? Does it max the damage normally and applies the extras to the conditions?

I don't know? What do you think?

So yeah, there are a few details that needs careful thinking, but I do think that a critical hit is a critical hit and something flashy and nasty should occur, regardless if it's a fireball or a sleep spell or web or...

PS: saying that Sleep is already broken regardless of critical hit is not a valid point, so I'd appreciate if the discussion keeps focused on critical hits and not on particular powers.
 
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