The Overkill Rule

[delericho]

Occasionally, I've heard it mentioned that a 19-20/x2 critical is better than a 20/x3 critical because of 'overkills', where the axe-wielder wastes a lot of damage after slaying a creature. In response, I offer the following new use for the Intimidate skill:

On any attack in which a character scores a critical hit and slays his opponent outright (reducing the opponent's hit points to -10 or below, or the opponent fails a save vs. massive damage), the character can attempt to demoralise any other opponents who have witnessed the mighty blow. This requires an Intimidate check opposed by the target's modified level check (1d20 + charatcer level or Hit Dice + target's Wisdom bonus [if any] + target's modifier's on saves against fear). If successful, the target is shaken for 1 round. This ability only affects creatures whose current hit point total is equal to or lower than the damage scored on the critical hit.

Using this ability is a free action. It can be retried only when the character next scores a critical hit and slays his opponent outright.

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

There is a lot of math & die rolls there for such an infrequent occurance; I'm afraid that I couldn't easily remember this & would probably have to look up your written rule. If slow combat is an issue, then a player like me might annoy the group.

Is the *3 crit weapon in need of a boost? To my thinking these weapons are more likely to trigger the save vs massive damage check than the *2 weapon.

 

[Timeron Malachi]

I've always prefered the X3 or X4 weapons to the expanded threat range weapons...mostly because my die rolls are always kinda bad anyway. I either get a nat 20, or I just barely hit, no matter how sweet my fighter is.

But...a higher multiplier could be very beneficial earlier...yes, if you get that critical when the badguy's on his last legs, it didn't really help...but, I've ended fights before they began using Power Attack and a Dire Pick...don't underestimate a X4 multiplier.

Ultimately, it comes down to a personal preferance...you can either go for a telling, campaign-shattering critical, or you can do a few more, less damaging crits. I've seen great character builds that base around both types of weapons.

 

[JimAde]

I think this is a great idea, but I agree that it's a little complicated. How about this:

On any attack in which you score a critical hit and slay your opponent outright (reducing the opponent's hit points to -10 or below, or the opponent fails a save vs. massive damage) any other opponent who witnesses the kill must make a Will save or be shaken for 1 round. The save DC is 10 + the level or HD of the opponent slain + your Charisma modifier.

This yields a fairly low save DC. Maybe the base could be 15 instead.