So, critical damage got an upgrade from 3.5 to Pathfinder, with STR, Weapon Specialization, etc, all getting doubled. Here's my question: How have people found this in game? Have DMs had situations where a character got gakked somewhat unexpectedly because of the new "hard" crits?
uhm...huh? Strength and weapon spec were multiplied on a crit in 3.5 as well.
I'm wondering if I've missed something now!
::scurries away to check manuals::
I'm a little confused by the question as well. As far as I'm aware, absolutely nothing has changed regarding how critical hit damage is calculated. Crits have never been based off of just the weapon damage.
.......that's odd. I could have sworn I remembered reading in the rules that only main damage dice were multiplied on a crit.....I must have beent thrown by a house rule or poor interpretation of the rules by some past DM.
I'm wondering if I've missed something now!
::scurries away to check manuals::
Nope, it's right there in the D20 SRD
"Roll the damage (with all modifiers) multiple times and total the results"
What you're probably remembering is the fact that extra DICE are NOT multiplied. A rogue's sneak attack is extra dice and is NOT multiplied on a crit, but his strength bonus (if any) IS.
I'm wondering if I've missed something now!
::scurries away to check manuals::Nope, it's right there in the D20 SRD
"Roll the damage (with all modifiers) multiple times and total the results"
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh................it was all a dream.......sigh
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Actually, I'm running some games with my best friend right now, and apparently the group he used to play with only multiplied damage dice on a crit. He is constantly AMAZED when he critically hits for 40+ damage, and I have to remind him when he crits that he multiplies pretty much EVERY bonus. The response is usually a big O_O.
As for it being "balanced", I really don't mind those big hits. He only crits maybe once every 3-4 encounters... MAYBE. When he does, it's nice to see it become something really special rather than just a little extra damage.
I'm a crit rolling fiend, and I love it. I do tend to have "hot" and "cold" dice, but it's truly not that unusual for me to roll (and confirm) 3 crits out of 5 attacks in a full attack action. Granted, my PC is built towards critting (Improved Critical, kukri weapons), but you still have to roll high to threaten in the first place.
When I get on a roll, look out. The flip side to that is I usually can't make a WILL save to, well, save my life. /sigh