High level == Luckier

[memesis]

As characters advance in level, they become basically luckier versions of themselves, and in many other respects become less powerful.

Sure, statistically you're hitting higher attack rolls and such, and your skills are sure improving (skill DCs are irrespective of level). But the critical hits - your ability as a combatant to score a really effective blow - isn't going up any, unless you augment it with magic and feats (the latter unlikely for anyone but a dedicated fighter). You can still do some damage, but it takes some hacking and stabbing to get there. Likewise, no matter how talented you are, the other guy will still get that telling blow in at least 5% of the time. Possibly (probably) more.

Because DMs are supposed to scale monster and trap CR as the party advances, and AC and Reflex saves don't scale quite as fast as attack rolls and spell/trap DCs. Thus, if hit point damage is any measure of "it hit me", characters actually end up getting hit by monsters and traps more and more often as they advance. Of course the other side is having the same problems too.

How about magical healing? Apparently there is no cure for skill, as the spell that would have brought you back from the brink of death must now be applied several times in succession to mean anything. Do people build up a tolerance to healing magic?

Wizards bounce back a lot faster, being apparently better healers than barbarians. Bring a member of each class to 1 HP - one more effective stab from a kitchen knife and each is on the verge of collapse. Now put them to bed. Lo and behold, the wizard will be back on his feet in a few days (assuming average Con) , where it takes the barbarian nearly two weeks to regain his accustomed vigor and stamina (again, assuming average Con).

Just something to think about for the weekend

 

[Psionicist]

If you roll say a 19 with a rapier, you don't automatically score a critical hit, merely a critical threat. You must then roll to hit again. If you succeed, you critical hit.

See it this way, throw a CR1 monster at a level 1 character, and he has a small chance to kill it instantly with a critical hit. The level 20 character can kill it one single hit.

As you increase in level, so does the monsters. A level 20 characters has a larger chance to critical hit, and the CR20 monster has a larger chance to dodge these threats.