Criticals when using beast strikes ?

[Revinor]

When ranger with beast specialization is using one of x attacks (like Predator Strike), is there any extra damage on critical ?

I'm looking for balance between weapon and beast strikes and so far it seems that beasts don't have equivalent of magic weapon. While base attack bonus of beast seems to be ok (level instead of level/2 should take care about lack of magic) and beast powers often deal extra stat of damage (which is around equivalent of magic plus to damage), I'm missing something comparable to +6d12 damage from vorpal weapon.

On low levels it is probably not that important, but at epic levels I think that difference will be quite 'critical' ...

 

[James McMurray]

Check the description of the beast powers. It specifies that they get no extra critical damage.

 

[Bagpuss]

Weren't there items for beast companions in the Adventure's Vault? Do any of them give bonus damage or other effects?

 

[James McMurray]

There's one companion item that gives a +1, 2, or 3 bonus to damage when you and the companion flank an enemy.

I'd allow a ranger to buy specially made items that act as magic weapons for their beast. To keep the to-hits level there would be no proficiency bonus and the enhancement bonus would not stack with the +2 or +4 that the animals get. But the properties and critical dice would apply.

 

[Bagpuss]

Of course there could be a balance reason you don't get bonus damage on criticals, reflected by the fact a beast ranger is far more likely to be getting his Prime Shot and/or flanking bonus to attack so all his attacks will hit more often (thus statistically more damage that way rather than through bonus critical dice).

 

[Revinor]

Looking at base attacks - let's use boar verus ranger with 18 str, focus, longsword with 1d10 critical magic enhancement and having quarry. It should give advantage to beast - I think there is a lot more feats and options which can make ranger better in this comparison, but let's use this for a starters.

At first level we will get

beast - +5 hit, 1d8+3+2+1d8, which gives 14/21 dmg.
ranger - +7 hit, 1d8+4+1+1d8, which gives 14/21 dmg

Both attacks are roughly comparable.

At 30 lvl we get

beast - +34 hit, 2d8+7+2+3d8, which gives 30/49 dmg
ranger, +29 hit, 2d8+8+3+6+3d8 + (6d10), which gives 38/88 dmg.

Beast dmg can be slightly higher with predator strike (wis modifier).

It seems that in the span of those levels, beast is getting better and better to-hit (due to 1/level bonus being better than 1/2levels + magic), while trading off considerable amount of damage with criticals. With epic characters having crit range of 19-20, this is around 3 dpr difference. On the other hand, +5 to hit from beast can mean around 6 dpr difference.

This comes to the question - do you prefer having +5 to hit, or 19+ crit range and 6 dices of extra damage on critical. It is probably more balanced than I thought.

 

[MrBeens]

Of course there could be a balance reason you don't get bonus damage on criticals, reflected by the fact a beast ranger is far more likely to be getting his Prime Shot and/or flanking bonus to attack so all his attacks will hit more often (thus statistically more damage that way rather than through bonus critical dice).

Beastmasters give up Prime Shot

 

[Drakhar]

Not to mention having their beast right next to the enemy would negate it as well.