A simple question...


3.5/d20/OGL


Here it is...

Let's say you have someone with a touch spell, say Shocking Grasp, and lands a critical hit. Does the damage from the spell double? I can't seem to find the answer in the books... Maybe I'm just tired...

Ultradan


Ultradan wrote:

Here it is...

Let's say you have someone with a touch spell, say Shocking Grasp, and lands a critical hit. Does the damage from the spell double? I can't seem to find the answer in the books... Maybe I'm just tired...

Ultradan

You're right, it doubles. I don't have it with me right now, but Complete Arcane lays it out pretty explicitly.

Shadow Lodge

d20srd.org wrote:

Critical Hits
<snip>

Spells and Critical Hits
A spell that requires an attack roll can score a critical hit. A spell attack that requires no attack roll cannot score a critical hit.

There you have it.


ghettowedge wrote:
Ultradan wrote:

Here it is...

Let's say you have someone with a touch spell, say Shocking Grasp, and lands a critical hit. Does the damage from the spell double? I can't seem to find the answer in the books... Maybe I'm just tired...

Ultradan

You're right, it doubles. I don't have it with me right now, but Complete Arcane lays it out pretty explicitly.

Huh, I thought you couldn't get criticals with spells. Apparently I was wrong...


I didn't know that either. Oh well, it will help me in the future also with my caster.


Well, it's not a huge deal if you never knew about this rule before. In my time playing, this has come up.... never. It's awesome when it does happen, but most mages just don't use touch attack spells enough to get crits.

Just sayin'.


Yup, you can crit with any attack that requires a roll to hit. Weapons, fists, spells, rays, etc. Its in the PHB actually.

The Exchange

Saern wrote:

Well, it's not a huge deal if you never knew about this rule before. In my time playing, this has come up.... never. It's awesome when it does happen, but most mages just don't use touch attack spells enough to get crits.

Just sayin'.

Ranged touch.

Hit with a ray of enfeeblement once for 10 strength because of a crit.
Seeking ray. Scorching ray. Improved Critical: Rays is a good idea for a ray using caster.

FH


im usually a spellcaster so i dont think ive ever take improved crit does the range stack from 19-20 to 18-20 and so on?

bc that would be the only feat i would take when i make up the force missle mage


Crit range increases never stack.

Sovereign Court

Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Adventure, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Lich-Loved wrote:
d20srd.org wrote:

Critical Hits
<snip>

Spells and Critical Hits
A spell that requires an attack roll can score a critical hit. A spell attack that requires no attack roll cannot score a critical hit.

There you have it.

Conceptually this makes sense...I always thought a critical strike (in the ambiguous hit point world) as being either a particularly damaging connection or a hit to a particularly sensitive area.

Imagine the Shocking Grasp clinching down on a shoulder compared to releasing all that static charge on the poor saps...personality.

Liberty's Edge

One that came up today: If you roll a crit with a grenade-like item or spell thrown at a location, does the damage double?

We ruled that it didn't, because the attack wasn't made on the characters, but it's technically a spell/item that requires an attack roll. I think that's the correct answer, since you aren't making the attack against something that has a discernable anatomy. (Plus a critical hit on the floor is pretty goofy.)


Floors are immune to critical hits (since they're objects)

I'd say splash weapons don't deal critical hits, since they're not directed at something in particular; creatures take damage from a grenade because they happen to be there when it explodes, not because they're targeted by the grenade.

If you allow grenades to crit, you should allow Fireballs as well, it's the same basic concept.

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