I like the way 4e went with max damage when rolling within a critical range. However, I do understand the reservations people have with this and was thinking there may be a compromise that Pathfinder could include.
Here is my thought:
If you roll within your threat range on your attack you can -
1) Automatically do max weapon damage but you do not get the weapon multiplier.
or
2) Choose to roll the d20 again. If you are successful then you gain the weapon multiplier and roll damage normally.
I like the way 4e went with max damage when rolling within a critical range. However, I do understand the reservations people have with this and was thinking there may be a compromise that Pathfinder could include.
Here is my thought:
If you roll within your threat range on your attack you can -
1) Automatically do max weapon damage but you do not get the weapon multiplier.
or
2) Choose to roll the d20 again. If you are successful then you gain the weapon multiplier and roll damage normally.
One addition to this. If you fail at choice 2 you roll damage normally.
I am ambivalent about this variation on the rules simply because it contains the original system, this way I can simply house-rule it out since I don't like it.
I don't think the Pathfinder RPG should go down that route because I don't see it as justifying its own existence as a break from backwards compatibility. Squeezing Move Silently and Hide together justifies itself. This I don't think does - what value does this system contribute to the game vice the original system? (My 10 cents.)
For one, you get away from the disappointment of "Yes, I rolled a threat! Guh, I missed on my second roll. That 20 was nothing special."
For B, you get away from the major disappointment of "Yes, I rolled a threat! Yes, I scored a CRIT!! Guh, I did minimum (or near minimum) damage. That CRIT was nothing special."
Having the option to score maximum damage gives a sense of accomplishing something. While keeping the option of the Threat/Crit roll as an ability to accomplish something even bigger, if you are willing to risk it.
I am ambivalent about this variation on the rules simply because it contains the original system, this way I can simply house-rule it out since I don't like it.
I don't think the Pathfinder RPG should go down that route because I don't see it as justifying its own existence as a break from backwards compatibility. Squeezing Move Silently and Hide together justifies itself. This I don't think does - what value does this system contribute to the game vice the original system? (My 10 cents.)
For one, you get away from the disappointment of "Yes, I rolled a threat! Guh, I missed on my second roll. That 20 was nothing special."
For B, you get away from the major disappointment of "Yes, I rolled a threat! Yes, I scored a CRIT!! Guh, I did minimum (or near minimum) damage. That CRIT was nothing special."
Having the option to score maximum damage gives a sense of accomplishing something. While keeping the option of the Threat/Crit roll as an ability to accomplish something even bigger, if you are willing to risk it.