Implement crit benefits on a power that deals no damage?

[Riastlin]

It was answered in the FAQ early on, I believe. But the most authoritative source I can find in under a minute is Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdom:



Which is pretty straightforward and clearcut on the matter.


This is actually part of a larger, more general rule that you only add extra damage and damage boosts if there is actually some base damage to add it to. So your gnome wizard doesn't add damage onto Illusory Obstacles (which does no damage), even though he has a feat that adds bonus damage onto any arcane illusion power he casts.

Thanks for quoting the HotFK. I don't have that book so wouldn't have been able to look it up. Hopefully its in Rules Compendium should it come up and I think it needs to be enforced (would be more likely I suppose if there were a Pacifist Cleric). Anyhoo, I knew the issue about needing a damage roll (generally) in order to add extra damage, just had never seen it connected to the crit.

 

[aurance]

Thanks for quoting the HotFK. I don't have that book so wouldn't have been able to look it up. Hopefully its in Rules Compendium should it come up and I think it needs to be enforced (would be more likely I suppose if there were a Pacifist Cleric). Anyhoo, I knew the issue about needing a damage roll (generally) in order to add extra damage, just had never seen it connected to the crit.

It's also in the PHB.

"An attack that does not deal damage still does not deal
damage on a critical hit." p. 225

 

[the-golem]

Here's an interesting question. Our rogue rolled a natural 20 on an attack last session that did static damage. "dex mod + cha mod" (Preperatory Shot, I just looked it up). How would one handle a criticle strike in that case?

 

[the Jester]

Here's an interesting question. Our rogue rolled a natural 20 on an attack last session that did static damage. "dex mod + cha mod" (Preperatory Shot, I just looked it up). How would one handle a criticle strike in that case?

I'd include the extra damage dice from a magic weapon. It is dealing damage, after all.