Are Critical Feats Worthwhile?


Advice

Grand Lodge

Many threads in this forums are about how martials lack in versatility compared to casters. But Criticals Feats are meant to give this kind of versatility to martials (aside from maneuvers). Are critical feats worthwhile? Have you created a good build around them? I feel the they are too feat taxing, too late game and very limited armament-wise (a no no to non rapier-like weapons). What do you think?


Critical feats have nothing to do with the versatility of martials as compared to casters. They are momentary debuffs only, don't change strategy and barely change tactics.

That said, they could be a nice boost for the right sort of crit-fishing blender. For many full BAB characters feat taxes in the double-digit levels aren't a big deal. Still, very late game as you say.


As avr said critical feats don't give any versatility, you will be making your attacks as always.

having say that, they are nice, specially for fighters who can take that feat to impose two conditions per crit.


My favorites are Staggering Critical (because it always has a massive effect) and its upgrade, Stunning Critical.


Critical feats are worth it if you (A) have a high crit chance AND (B) don't outright kill things on a crit.

If you don't meet these two things then I prefer the assault line of conditions. This way you get to apply your condition of choice on a normal hit rather than wasting it on a crit that kills.


The other thing to consider is your number of attacks - the more the better a you may apply multiple conditions, but as said staggering and stunning are the best.

Scarab Sages

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As a fighter, you can take stunning critical at 17th level to stun an opponent for 1d4 rounds on a critical if they fail a save.

As a wizard, at 17th level you can rewrite reality to your whims with 9th level spells.

Critical feats are not adding that much versatility.

Grand Lodge

Hey, thanks for the input guys!

As for critical feats don't contribute to versatility i disagree, with them martials can debuff in other ways apart from reducing hit points. But i agree with Imbicatus, not that much and kind of niche.

But i'm really surprised that so many of you use them, in my tables they are tottaly overlooked, my friend's character reached 14th and his character is a dual scimitar wielder, so he is considering grab one of them.


I think the problem is like Lab Rat said. If you crit somebody as a high-level martial, and they don't die, you already did something wrong. The fact that it stuns them doesn't really matter when they're dead.

As for their versatility, you only use them on a random chance, so you can't purposefully set-up an ally or disable some powerful ability. You'll use them everytime you crit, and it may or may not be an advantageous time for it. Hardly versatility.

Scarab Sages

DominusMegadeus wrote:

I think the problem is like Lab Rat said. If you crit somebody as a high-level martial, and they don't die, you already did something wrong. The fact that it stuns them doesn't really matter when they're dead.

As for their versatility, you only use them on a random chance, so you can't purposefully set-up an ally or disable some powerful ability. You'll use them everytime you crit, and it may or may not be an advantageous time for it. Hardly versatility.

Of course, if you are a 20th level fighter, they are much more usable thanks to auto-confirming critical hits.

But then, a 20th level fighter is about the least versatile build in the game.


Perhaps on a swashbuckler? You are striving to score crits to refill panache, and since precise strike doesn't multiply on a crit, you will leave the target alive more often.


Java Man wrote:
Perhaps on a swashbuckler? You are striving to score crits to refill panache, and since precise strike doesn't multiply on a crit, you will leave the target alive more often.

Not to mention, you're usually using something like a rapier, which already has a wonderful crit range, and one of the first things my non-tanks will be looking to buy these days, after playing a Rogue with a keen rapier, will be one of those babies ("Natural 15 ftw!"). :D

Here's my question, if it's not too dead-thread rezzing: these Critical feat things are used in combat. Fighters get Combat feats, but these things are in a separate category, unfortunately, and apparently getting them isn't part of a Fighter's "super power" the way Combat feats are. Is there any warrior-type that can get these as part of the class? Or is my Brawler/Shield Champion doomed to not be able to get these at all as part of his Martial Flexibility ability (Butterfly Slice, I'm looking at YOU; it's perfect for the character concept)? :(

LB


The couple I just checked are (combat, critical) for a category, so fighters and brawlers should be good to go.

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