Something about power attack

[BobTheNob]

Essentials, power attack. Both the Knight and Slayer have it. What it sais is that its a free action to use when you hit, and it bumps up dice. Simple enough to understand, and kinda cool because its never wasted. (i.e. squandered due to a miss result)

So If Im reading this right though, it makes the power super potent for crits! Every time you roll a 20...power attack it.

Am I right in saying that the dice from power attack, in this situation, are automatically maximum damage? If not, isnt this power a little "undercooked"?

If you really wanted this balanced against other powers, isnt it better served as "Free action before the attack roll", and then give it the reliable keyword?

 

[Mengu]

First of all, it's "Power Strike" not "Power Attack". The latter is a feat (which made me think this thread was going to be about the feat, or maybe the Unfettered Fury Stance which acts like the feat).

Power Strike is no different than Half-orc's Furious Assault. And as far as encounter powers go, it's on the weak side, but it's simple. I think the crit benefit is about the best thing going for the power as you have discovered. Of course, waiting for a crit is not always wise, since you may never get it, but if you get an early crit, may as well use it.

 

[BobTheNob]

First of all, it's "Power Strike" not "Power Attack"

My bad, was going from memory

 

[Sunseeker]

I was under the impression that even on a crit, the max damage only applied to the first weapon attack, not the added bonus from Power Strike. ie: you rolled, you critted, you did d8+x, activated power strike, and rolled a d8.

 

[whearp]

I was under the impression that even on a crit, the max damage only applied to the first weapon attack, not the added bonus from Power Strike. ie: you rolled, you critted, you did d8+x, activated power strike, and rolled a d8.

Nope, critical hits maximize all damage die for the attack, excluding crit dice of course. Power Strike, Sneak attack, Hunter's Quarry, die added by magical weapons, etc... all maximized on a crit.

And as far as I understand it, Power Strike is worded that way on purpose. It's kind of a resource management thing. A fighter needs to weigh the difference between waiting for that crit and wasting the ability for an encounter. I like it.

 

[DracoSuave]

Nope, critical hits maximize all damage die for the attack, excluding crit dice of course. Power Strike, Sneak attack, Hunter's Quarry, die added by magical weapons, etc... all maximized on a crit.

No, dice added by magical weapons are not maximized on a crit, as additional damage that is the result of a crit are not themselves maximized.

Unless it's the +1d10 damage with a radiant power variety, in which case it is.

Power Strike does maximize its damage on a crit to the original power.

 

[whearp]

No, dice added by magical weapons are not maximized on a crit, as additional damage that is the result of a crit are not themselves maximized.

Unless it's the +1d10 damage with a radiant power variety, in which case it is.

Power Strike does maximize its damage on a crit to the original power.

See, that's where the "...excluding crit dice" part came in. Stuff like the extra dice added for charging with a horned helm are also maximized.

 

[DracoSuave]

See, that's where the "...excluding crit dice" part came in. Stuff like the extra dice added for charging with a horned helm are also maximized.

Durr on my my part.

It's so much easier to just say 'everything.'

It so all inclusive.