So a Keen Rapier Crits on....

[Chairman7w]

So a Keen Rapier Crits on.... 16-20?

 

[Storm Raven]

So a Keen Rapier Crits on.... 16-20?

15-20 actually.

The normal critical threat range for a rapier is 18-20, or 3 digits. The keen enhancement (or the Improved Critical feat) doubles this to six digits, or 15-20 (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 is six numbers).

 

[Chairman7w]

Thank you Storm Raven! (cool name!)

15-20 actually.

The normal critical threat range for a rapier is 18-20, or 3 digits. The keen enhancement (or the Improved Critical feat) doubles this to six digits, or 15-20 (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 is six numbers).

 

[Cabral]

And with Improved Critical, it threatens on a 12-20.

Note the destinction between threaten a critical and confirming one. If your natural roll is one of the numbers in the threaten range and the modified roll would hit, roll again and if the new roll plus modifers would hit the target, then it's a critical. If the second roll would not hit the target, then it's just a hit. (If you knew that already, just making sure )

 

[billd91]

And with Improved Critical, it threatens on a 12-20.

Note the destinction between threaten a critical and confirming one. If your natural roll is one of the numbers in the threaten range and the modified roll would hit, roll again and if the new roll plus modifers would hit the target, then it's a critical. If the second roll would not hit the target, then it's just a hit. (If you knew that already, just making sure )

Note: That's in 3.0. In 3.5, keen does not stack with improved critical.

 

[Chairman7w]

No, that's incorrect. The Keen Benefit does NOT stack with Improved Critical.

And with Improved Critical, it threatens on a 12-20.

Note the destinction between threaten a critical and confirming one. If your natural roll is one of the numbers in the threaten range and the modified roll would hit, roll again and if the new roll plus modifers would hit the target, then it's a critical. If the second roll would not hit the target, then it's just a hit. (If you knew that already, just making sure )

 

[atom crash]

And with Improved Critical, it threatens on a 12-20.

This is only the case if you house rule that Keen and Improved Critical stack. The rules dictate that they do not stack.

Improved Critical [General]

Prerequisite
Proficient with weapon, base attack bonus +8.

Benefit
Choose one type of weapon. When using the weapon you selected, your threat range is doubled.

Special
You can gain Improved Critical multiple times. The effects do not stack. Each time you take the feat, it applies to a new type of weapon.

This effect doesn’t stack with any other effect that expands the threat range of a weapon.

A fighter may select Improved Critical as one of his fighter bonus feats.

Edit: D'oh. Nothing new to add. So, technically a keen rapier threatens a critical on a 15-20. Then you roll to confirm.

 

[sjmiller]

Note: That's in 3.0. In 3.5, keen does not stack with improved critical.

My question is, why shouldn't it? They have all sorts of other over-the-top cinematic weapon/feat combinations, why not this one? There are easy remedies to ensure this isn't overly abused, and it does make for a fun encounter. Since I am still playing 3.0 I am going to allow it. Heck, the last game session we talked about just this sort of thing.

 

[Storm Raven]

My question is, why shouldn't it? They have all sorts of other over-the-top cinematic weapon/feat combinations, why not this one? There are easy remedies to ensure this isn't overly abused, and it does make for a fun encounter. Since I am still playing 3.0 I am going to allow it. Heck, the last game session we talked about just this sort of thing.

There is no game balance reason. The reason given by the primary designer of the 3.5 revision is that allowing the two to stack made critical hits less "special". I generally think that the fact that the combination requires a +8 BAB, a feat, and at least +2 worth of magical enhancements is more than enough to keep critical hits "special". In my campaign, I allow the two to stack as a house rule.

 

[rbrt_spade]

Im a 3.0 player and personaly I think that they should stack. The most I have ever added up for ranges is that you have on a hit is a 25% chance for a crit. But with some of the prcs that add more to the weapns threat range, it can be broken.