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Critical Hits - why, and why not?
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<blockquote data-quote="Lanefan" data-source="post: 6679052" data-attributes="member: 29398"><p>Keep in mind also that of those 1 in 200 attacks that do quad damage some of the damage rolls might not be stellar: a 1 or 2 quadrupled isn't going to bother many PCs.</p><p></p><p>Just while typing this it's occurred to me a straight multiplier probably slightly favours PCs in one aspect: they usually have more bonuses and add-ons than their enemies, which all get multiplied. Also, if something already has a multiplier built in e.g. a Thief's backstrike or a Giantslayer weapon the multipliers stack. It's remotely possible in the exact right circumstances for a PC with the right equipment to give out over 500 points damage in a single swing*, but it's never happened in I don't know how many thousand sessions of play. Anything over 100 is very rare, and our all-time record is, I think, 160.</p><p></p><p>* let's try a ridiculous extreme just for kicks: Fighter-9/Thief-9 with Str. 18.00 [Gauntlets of Ogre Power, +6 dmg.] backstriking [x4] a Giant using a Giantslayer [+5, x2] longsword and Prayer [+1] in effect, hitting a max. crit [x4]: longswords in 1e do d12 vs. large, so roll 12 + 12 = 24 then multiply by 4 then 2 then 4 gives, by my math, 768 points of damage. Even if you use d8 for the longsword damage you're still looking at a theoretical maximum 640 points. Please note the odds of doing this are pretty damn slim; slim enough it might happen once in a lifetime and I'm quite fine with that, and if you pull it off you'll be on the ballot for Play of the Year. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>We've slightly tweaked the critical system numerous times over the years, but the fumble system we use has been one of our most stable houserules ever. About the only thing that ever changes are entries in the results table if something new comes up e.g. the opponent getting a free attack was inspired by the 3e AoO mechanic.</p><p></p><p>Expensive, though. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite3" alt=":(" title="Frown :(" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":(" /></p><p></p><p>Lan-"what's truly scary is that 640 points damage might merely annoy any major 4e monster out there"-efan</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lanefan, post: 6679052, member: 29398"] Keep in mind also that of those 1 in 200 attacks that do quad damage some of the damage rolls might not be stellar: a 1 or 2 quadrupled isn't going to bother many PCs. Just while typing this it's occurred to me a straight multiplier probably slightly favours PCs in one aspect: they usually have more bonuses and add-ons than their enemies, which all get multiplied. Also, if something already has a multiplier built in e.g. a Thief's backstrike or a Giantslayer weapon the multipliers stack. It's remotely possible in the exact right circumstances for a PC with the right equipment to give out over 500 points damage in a single swing*, but it's never happened in I don't know how many thousand sessions of play. Anything over 100 is very rare, and our all-time record is, I think, 160. * let's try a ridiculous extreme just for kicks: Fighter-9/Thief-9 with Str. 18.00 [Gauntlets of Ogre Power, +6 dmg.] backstriking [x4] a Giant using a Giantslayer [+5, x2] longsword and Prayer [+1] in effect, hitting a max. crit [x4]: longswords in 1e do d12 vs. large, so roll 12 + 12 = 24 then multiply by 4 then 2 then 4 gives, by my math, 768 points of damage. Even if you use d8 for the longsword damage you're still looking at a theoretical maximum 640 points. Please note the odds of doing this are pretty damn slim; slim enough it might happen once in a lifetime and I'm quite fine with that, and if you pull it off you'll be on the ballot for Play of the Year. :) We've slightly tweaked the critical system numerous times over the years, but the fumble system we use has been one of our most stable houserules ever. About the only thing that ever changes are entries in the results table if something new comes up e.g. the opponent getting a free attack was inspired by the 3e AoO mechanic. Expensive, though. :( Lan-"what's truly scary is that 640 points damage might merely annoy any major 4e monster out there"-efan [/QUOTE]
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