Is power attack damage multiplied on a critical hit?

[Artoomis]

a bit off topic here.... do you add magic to crit damage, IE +1 longsword w/ 10 str = (1d8+1)x2 crit?

Read together, the PHB rules text plus PHB glossary is pretty clear.

Roll damage twice (d8+1) + (d8+1).

Add in extra dice one. For example, flaming adds 1 d6, so a crit with a +1 flaming longsword is:

(d8+1)+(d8+1)+d6.

Clear?

 

[Artoomis]

Really? So the extra strength damage comes from the fact that it is a two handed weapon, even if you're not wielding it with two hands? That's pretty cool. Does that apply with monkey grip as well? I.e. normally you'd need two hands to wield a weapon, but with monkey grip you can wield it in one, so you get 1.5 str? I'm not saying you're wrong, btw, I just never realized that so I want to make sure I understand.

NCSUCodeMonkey

It depends on which rules you go with.

The PHB talk about the weapon charecteristics, so two-handed is two-handed, even if wielded in one hand.

The FAQ takes a different view, and how you wield it is what counts for the damage bonus. This seems to be the more reasonable approach, though the actual FAQ language has some issues.

Anyway, you choose which way to go.

 

[JonnyFive]

Read together, the PHB rules text plus PHB glossary is pretty clear.

Roll damage twice (d8+1) + (d8+1).

Add in extra dice one. For example, flaming adds 1 d6, so a crit with a +1 flaming longsword is:

(d8+1)+(d8+1)+d6.

Clear?

yup, thanks

 

[Legildur]

It depends on which rules you go with.

The PHB talk about the weapon characteristics, so two-handed is two-handed, even if wielded in one hand.

The FAQ takes a different view, and how you wield it is what counts for the damage bonus. This seems to be the more reasonable approach, though the actual FAQ language has some issues.

Anyway, you choose which way to go.

Yeah, this is one of those issues where the FAQ is in apparent contradiction to the core rules (PHB in this case). I can't comment about the Monkey Grip feat as I haven't read or ever considered using it (smells like too much cheese to me).

 

[Infiniti2000]

Does that apply with monkey grip as well?

Unless I'm sadly mistaken, Monkey Grip has no bearing on this. Monkey Grip only allows you to wield a bigger weapon without changing your grip (i.e. one-handed or two-handed). You might be thinking of 3.0 Monkey Grip where you could wield a two-handed weapon in one hand. IIRC, this is no longer allowed.

 

[Felix]

The PHB talk about the weapon charecteristics, so two-handed is two-handed, even if wielded in one hand.

The FAQ takes a different view, and how you wield it is what counts for the damage bonus. This seems to be the more reasonable approach, though the actual FAQ language has some issues.

If the FAQ's purpose is to clarify PHB rules, then their ruling on lances is in direct contradiction to the PHB. In this case, the PHB has precedence and attacks with a mounted lance gain the favorable power attack by virtue of being a two-handed weapon.

If the FAQ's purpose is to change PHB rules, then the FAQ has precedence, and the lance benefits from the 1-to-1 Power Attack by virtue of how the weapon is wielded.

I suggest that the first is the case, as the FAQ is not eratta, merely an aid to understanding the core books. It also happens that the second option opens up a can of worms you might not have thought of; for more information cast Summon Small Flying Smurf Moderator IV and you'll get an earfull.

 

[Artoomis]

Yeah, this is one of those issues where the FAQ is in apparent contradiction to the core rules (PHB in this case). I can't comment about the Monkey Grip feat as I haven't read or ever considered using it (smells like too much cheese to me).

Well, to throw fuel on the fire, the rules say:

Two hands are required to use a two-handed melee weapon effectively. Apply 1½ times the character’s Strength bonus to damage rolls for melee attacks with such a weapon.

They do NOT say what happens when you wield a two-handed weapon with one hand - as in the lance.

They do say a one-handed weapon wielded in two hands gets the two-handed weapon's damage multiplier.

So what I am saying is that it's prefectly reasonable to rule either way, just be consistent in your game.

I think an offical WotC game would have you doing damage per the way the weapon is wielded, not the way it is listed on the table - at least for one-handed and two-handed weapons. For light weapons it does not matter.

 

[Dracorat]

Actually the lance specifically says in its description that it can be wielded with one hand if you are mounted.

And yes, it says can - implying that it's optional.

 

[comrade raoul]

I think crits would be a lot more saner this way. As it currently is played for higher level play, it is numerically better to invest in a 18-20 x2 crit weapon.

Just note that with this kind of system, the 18-20 weapon becomes straightforwardly worse than the 19-20 weapon, such that people would only invest in them for flavor reasons. This might not be so bad, if you think critical hits aren't sane, but you'd be purchasing sanity at the cost of interesting weapon choices.

Note too that at immunity or resistance to critical hits is more common. Essentially, you're trading better numerical damage under optimal circumstances for slightly worse damage under less optimal ones. This becomes significant for characters built around delivering critical damage.