Dead and just one attack, respectively.
I wonder... Since you automatically crit, then does that mean if you are using a weapon that only crits on a 20 that it acts as if you rolled a 20. If so then can you just use a Vorpal weapon to deliver Coup de Grace, then you decapitate them!
Damn that's brutal, so an NPC using that as a threat is very scary to PC's lol.
Indeed. This is why a GM should probably use it sparingly.
Not really. A PC goes down or is helpless, that means he's out of the fight for the time being. It takes a really bloody minded individual to open himself up to extra risk making sure an opponent is dead while a fight is still raging. It seems more realistic for that NPC to turn his attention to actively fighting PCs rather than worry about the one bleeding out or otherwise helpless.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I wonder... Since you automatically crit, then does that mean if you are using a weapon that only crits on a 20 that it acts as if you rolled a 20. If so then can you just use a Vorpal weapon to deliver Coup de Grace, then you decapitate them!
There are other ways to boost a critical range. Improved Crit, Keen edges, things like that... so that Vorpal weapon could end up criting on a 17 or 19 and NOT take off the head...
Therefore, since it doesn't SAY that you automatically roll a '20'... It shouldn't activate the vorpal property. It JUST says 'automatically Crit' Totally separate situation. Victim STILL gets to make that save regardless of special properties on the sword.
That said... if they FAIL that roll and are instantly dead, dead, DEAD... I find it extremely thematic to say the head comes off. Though I'd probably do that with any large slashing weapon.
|
Yeah, given the wording Vorpal wouldn't trigger on a CdG.
This potent and feared ability allows the weapon to sever the heads of those it strikes.
Upon a roll of natural 20 (followed by a successful roll to confirm the critical hit), the weapon severs the opponent's head (if it has one) from its body. Some creatures, such as many aberrations and all oozes, have no heads. Others, such as golems and undead creatures other than vampires, are not affected by the loss of their heads. Most other creatures, however, die when their heads are cut off. A vorpal weapon must be a slashing melee weapon. If you roll this special ability randomly for an inappropriate weapon, reroll.
That being said it's not that big of a loss, I have yet to see anything survive a CdG :3
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
That being said it's not that big of a loss, I have yet to see anything survive a CdG :3
I have. Admittedly it was a goblin with a dagger frantically stabbing a PC under hold person. The player held a grudge for even the attempt being made.
Remember that a roll of 20 on a saving throw is always successful.
I've seen (rarely) a brute of a monster shrug off the hit point loss and make the save.
|
Okay... addendum.
*I* have never seen a CdG fail (x3 + Power Attack), and if you're not being silly they probably won't.
XD
Seriously, who is training all these familiars to be an assassins?!?!
(The goblin one is funny though, I'll admit)
I've recently had a PC (STR dumped caster) knock a character unconcious and proceed to try to slit their throat, failed on the first attempt.
|
|
I've recently had a PC (STR dumped caster) knock a character unconcious and proceed to try to slit their throat, failed on the first attempt.Okay... addendum.
*I* have never seen a CdG fail (x3 + Power Attack), and if you're not being silly they probably won't.
XD
Seriously, who is training all these familiars to be an assassins?!?!
(The goblin one is funny though, I'll admit)
*head desk*
Stick to the spells...
Damn that's brutal, so an NPC using that as a threat is very scary to PC's lol.
Not really, it's a full round action that provokes and can only be performed on helpless targets.
The most common method of making someone helpless is having them be unconscious, if they're already unconscious they could be killed as easily by something else as they could by coup de grace.
What's scary is being rendered helpless in the first place.
CdG from a level 1 Slayer using a Scythe. Now that can get scary, especially when enlarged.
Speaking of fun with scythes, I remember when I made my Grim Reaper themed Oracle/Souldrinker.
Step 1: cast Hold Person.
Step 2: Kill it.
Step 3: Profit. Literally for once. Soul gems.
|
Okay... addendum.
*I* have never seen a CdG fail (x3 + Power Attack), and if you're not being silly they probably won't.
I had a tense moment when my paladin failed his save against ghoul paralysis. The next round brought out the CdG despite my party's best efforts to prevent it. The GM rolled about 16 damage, and I managed to roll a 28 on the save.
I also had a hezrou with class levels nat 20 the save when the barbarian took advantage of the slumber hex his companion had hit it with. The fight didn't last much longer, but it was a surprising twist to have the fight keep going.
Really, outside of the low levels, a CdG is less scary than the enemy just full attacking your unconscious body into extreme negatives. With Breath of Life, you can come back from a CdG. Not so much if the monster deals you a hundred extra damage after you go unconscious.