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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lord Zardoz" data-source="post: 3666072" data-attributes="member: 704">Despite all the number crunched math that generally puts Threat 19 / x2 crits as having a better overall damage output then Threat 20 / x3 crits, this sort of thing is why the x3 Crit weapons are balanced against them.A x3 Critical hit will typically either kill or scare the crap out of whoever manages to eat the critical hit.  They can more dramatically alter the out come of a fight, especially when Power Attacks and Str Bonuses are factored in.  Any opponent with a high str modifier also has a great chance to confirm its critical due to the bonus to hit.  In this particular case, Minotaurs use big axes, doing 3d6 damage, which further magnifies the pain.The reason that this gets to the players so much is aside from its general rarity, a x3 Crit is often going to put the player below -10 at a point when they would otherwise expect to keep standing.  Assuming a Str of about 22, consider the difference in damage:Normal hit with Large GreatAxe:  3d6+9.  Max 27 damage, average 19, min 12Critical Hit with Large Great Axe:  9d6+27.  Max 81 damage, average 58.5, min 36Just scary.Anyway, you are not a bad DM.  Plenty of players throw together 20 Str Half Orc Barbarians, and score criticals themselves from time to time.  Balancing a fight with such combatants is difficult because their damage output vastly outpaces their staying power.  In this instance, the dice fell your way.  It happens.END COMMUNICATION</blockquote>

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