Critical hits

[preacher]

This is probably a dumb question, but what types of bonus to damage are included in the rules for critical hits?

Sneak Attack is specifically excluded. What about +1d6 from a weapon's special ability? Bonuses from spells or bard songs? etc.

Is there a definitive answer to this anywhere? I checked the FAQ but didn't find anything.

(Sorry if this is a common question, but my search function isn't working.)

 

[AnonymousOne]

Yeah with special weapon properties (ie Corrosive, Flaming, Frost, etc.) only get applied once. The critical applies to the Weapon damage plus bonuses from stats (i.e. Str. Wis. or Int. bonuses.)

SO when your fighter crits using that flaming Longsword damage is:

2d8+(2*Strength mod) + 1d6 [for the flaming property]

 

[Hypersmurf]

This is probably a dumb question, but what types of bonus to damage are included in the rules for critical hits?

If it's expressed as bonus dice, it's not multiplied.

+1, +3, + a bonus equal to your Charisma modifier, + caster level... these would all be multiplied.

+1d6, +3d8, +1d3... these would not be multiplied.

-Hyp.

 

[Rhun]

SO when your fighter crits using that flaming Longsword damage is:

2d8+(2*Strength mod) + 1d6 [for the flaming property]

Just a minor note...this would have to be:

2d8+(2*Strength mod)+(2*enhancement bonus) + 1d6 [for the flaming property]

You can't simply have a flaming longsword. It has to at least be a +1 flaming longsword.

 

[preacher]

Thanks. What about bonuses from buffs? We've been including them in criticals.

 

[Legildur]

Thanks. What about bonuses from buffs? We've been including them in criticals.

That is the correct thing to do.

If it adds (or subtracts) a flat numerical value +x, then that gets multiplied. If it adds a variable value +ydx, then that is only added once (and not multiplied).

 

[Jondor_Battlehammer]

Just to point out, crit multipliers are not added together flat out, but subtract one from each additional multiplier from the first. If you have a x2 weapon set vs charge, which is also x2, a crit in that situation would be x3, not x4.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Thanks. What about bonuses from buffs? We've been including them in criticals.

As Hypersmurf says above...

If it is a flat bonus, multiply it.

If it is an additional dice (of any type) don't multiply it.