What's the rationale behind non-crittable monsters again?

[Gort]

Well, I don't think a skeleton needs a head to keep going... but if you took out a leg or something, that'd totally mess him up. Skeletons aren't my biggest concern, though - it's things like vampires. Why on earth can't you critical them? Decapitation or a stake through the heart are perfect criticals on them.

 

[Abstraction]

I wonder if they merely broadened the crit? So now you can crit an undead, but you still cannot crit a construct?

 

[delericho]

tell me whacking a skeleton on the neck isn't critical.

"And since I am dead,
I can take off my head,
to recite Shakespearian quotations!"

-- Jack Skellington, "The Nightmare Before Christmas"

 

[Lord Zardoz]

I wonder if this will also mean that the variable weapon criticals are gone now, too. (Both for balance and also because I can't really think of a flavor text explaining why Axes might have a high critical multiplier, while swords have a higher threat range).

I hope that is not the case.

From a mechanical standpoint, the differences in weapon characteristics mean that the choice between one type or another has some consequences behind it. Do you want to crit more often, or do you want your crit to be a true show stopper?

From a flavour standpoint, it is the sort of thing that I think just does not require explanation. Weapons that are more finesse / technique based have better threat ranges. Weapons that are generally more damaging have better critical ratings. It is easier to chop a body in half with an axe than it is with a sword because it is heavier. But a sword is easier to use.

From what I recall in an older blog post, they are also further differentiating weapons in other ways. There was mention of how with a sword you could get more attacks of opportunity, and how with a spear you can bypass armour in some way. I presume that Axes just do more damage.

END COMMUNICATION

 

[billd91]

In my personal opinion, this approach quickly fails once you think about Vampires (beheading and staking is deadly to them according to myth - sounds like some vital organs retained) or mechanized constructs (like Robots).

But that's how you dealt with them in the coffin when they were helpless to stop you, not in the middle of combat.

 

[pawsplay]

Here's where even the golem example breaks down: don't you think an obsidian golem has a shatterpoint, or that a stone golem might develop a crack? If you were watching a movie, and someone lodged a crossbow bolt into a metal golem's neck joint, would you say, "No way, golems can't be critted?"

As to the 6 on a 1d6 vs crit question... hitting the skeleton on the neck is a crit. If there is such a thing as a crit, that's it, because that skeleton is going to be in bad shape. Even if it's a higher HD skeleton, a lucky blow like that would wreck it. Similarly, what if you manage to hit a skeleton square in the chest with a mace, breaking all of its ribs at the same time? Crit.

As written constructs and undead have no weak points. Do I believe constructs and undead have no weak points? I do not. Maybe a monster that was a superdense sphere of flexible metal with no limbs.

 

[Delta]

D&D has always had some special attacks that aren't effective against certain creatures. AD&D 1E DMG says this regarding vorpal swords:

There are also certain creatures that may have heads but will not necessarily be killed by decapitation (among these are dopplegangers, elementals, and golems).

So since sharpness/head cutting --> turned into critical hits --> the damaging principle remained similar.

 

[Lord Zardoz]

It started with golems, which are essentially big blocks of solid matter. Things went a little nuts from there... tell me whacking a skeleton on the neck isn't critical.

If you do not take off the head, it is not at all more damaging than a solid whack on the arm or leg. Can you tell me why a Skeletal creature even needs it's head aside from bite attacks? Its not like it is using its eyes (which are by definition empty sockets)? Other than the notion that the animating force is localized in the head, it is just more bone. And there is no mechanical reason that the animating force could not be located in the torso insead, or that it is required to have any real manifestation at all.

My understanding is that zombies and skeletons basically keep fighting until the body is to wrecked to continue going.

END COMMUNICATION

 

[Gort]

But that's how you dealt with them in the coffin when they were helpless to stop you, not in the middle of combat.

You can decapitate someone in combat. Just thought I'd point that out.

 

[Stone Dog]

"And since I am dead,
I can take off my head,
to recite Shakespearian quotations!"

-- Jack Skellington, "The Nightmare Before Christmas"

"IT'S A ROCK! IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY VULNERABLE SPOTS!"
-- Jason Nesmith