Damage Multipliers and Criticals

[kmdietri]

When you score a critical what damage bonuses get multiplied.

I'll give an example:

+2 Comp. Longbow (mighty +4), using +1 arrows:

Damage:
1d8
+4 Str
+3 Magic
+1 Point Blank Shot
+2 Weapon Specialization
+1 Bracers of archery

Do all of these modifiers get multiplied when a critical hit is scored, if not where does it say they don't?

Thanks

 

[kreynolds]

PH, page 123, Critical Hits...

Exception: Bonus damage represented as extra dice, such as from a sneak attack or a flaming sword, is not multiplied when you score a critical hit.

So...

1d8 = Yes.
+4 Str = Yes.
+3 Magic = Yes.
+1 Point Blank Shot = Yes.
+2 Weapon Specialization = Yes.
+1 Bracers of archery = Yes.

 

[AuraSeer]

Anything expressed as a constant modifier (+1, +2, etc.) is multiplied. Extra dice, as from sneak attacks or flaming weapons (+1d6, etc.) are not mulitplied.

In your example, normal damage is 1d8+11.
On a critical hit with a longbow, total damage is 3d8+33.

If you were using +1 Flaming Arrows (instead of normal +1 arrows), damage on a crit would be 3d8+33+1d6.

 

[Christian]

I once saw a mid-level ranger with giants as his starting favored enemy drop an ogre with one critical hit from his mighty composite longbow. He got some good rolls on those 3d8, but I think everyone at the table was shocked at the grand total for that arrow's damage ... (Nearly 40 points, IIRC.)

 

[Dreaddisease]

My Arcane Archer Does 1d8+14 at 13th level. Every critical is (almost) auto Fort save. I've dropped many a creature on the first shot. Now if someone could do the same type of critical on a Heavy pick, w00tness galore.

 

[Christian]

My Arcane Archer Does 1d8+14 at 13th level. Every critical is (almost) auto Fort save. I've dropped many a creature on the first shot. Now if someone could do the same type of critical on a Heavy pick, w00tness galore.

Heh. Second level dwarf fighter in the game I run scored a critical on a major bad guy with his 'Skullbreaker' pick. (Exotic weapon, 1d8, 20/x4 critical.) I gave quite a vivid description of the result ... Later on, while questioning his subordinates, they realized that the leader had had some very useful information. "Is he actually dead, or could we stabilize him?" "Which part of 'brains splattered across the wall' didn't you understand?"