So i'm thinking of may be making the following available to players in games I GM:
Aura Moderate Transmutation; CL 10th; Craft Magic Arms & Amror, Heighten Impact; Price +1 Bonus
Description
This ability increases the damage multiplier of a weapon by 1. This benefit doesn't stack with other spell effects, weapon properties and feats that increase the damage multiplier of a weapon(Such as the Heighten Impact Spell or the Improved Damage Multiplier Feat).
School Transmutation Level Inquisitor 3, Magus 3, Sorcer/Wizard 3;
Casting Time 1 Standard Action
Components V,S
Range Close [25 ft. + 5 ft./2 Levels]
Targets One weapon or 50 projectiles, all of which must be together at the time of casting
Duration 10 min/level
Saving Throw Will negates (harmless, object); Spell Resistance yes (harmless, object)
Description This spell magically improves a weapon's impact, increasing the damage it deals during a critical hit. This transmutation increases the damage multiplier of the weapon by 1. A damage multiplier of 2 becomes 3. A damage multiplier of 3 becomes 4. A damage multiplier of 4 becomes 5. If cast on arrows or crossbow bolts, the keen edge on a particular projectile ends after one use, whether or not the missile strikes its intended target. Treat shuriken as arrows, rather than as thrown weapons, for the purpose of this spell.
Multiple spell effects, weapon properties and feats that increase a weapon's damage multiplier (such as the impact special weapon property and the Improved Damage Multiplier feat) don't stack. You can't cast this spell on a natural weapon, such as a claw.
Critical attacks made with your chosen weapon are quite deadly.
Prerequisite: Proficient with weapon, base attack bonus +8.
Benefit: When using the weapon you selected, your damage multiplier is increased by one.
Special: You can gain Improved Damage Multiplier multiple times. The effects do not stack. Each time you take the feat, it applies to a new type of weapon.
This effect doesn't stack with any spell effect, weapon property or feat that increase the damage multiplier of a weapon.
A note on the stack wording: I want this effect to still work with a Fighter's capstone ability Weapon Mastery. I think that if someone wants to take their Naginata all the way to a x6 multiplier, they are more than welcome to.
Now here is my conundrum: Should I allow this to also stack with things that increase a weapon's threat range as well? Doing so will definitely create a very powerful option for characters, and increase DPR, but is it unbalancing?
Or should I keep this as more of an option for players who don't want more crits, but bigger ones?
Since the fighters capstone stacks with threat range increase i would say yes it should though you might want to crunch the numbers on 15-20 x4 nodachi's first.
I would opt out of stacking it. It's a cool thing to give players. Give your players cool toys. Buuut if you let them stack the things, it becomes way harder to take their toys back if/when it breaks the game.
@TalonHawke: I'm not very much gonna concern myself with balancing lvl 20 abilities. I might do the DPR for kicks, but not right now.
@Irulesmost: Yeah that sounds fair, I'll let the players know that this is an option, and I'll add the phrase "or threat range" to the stacking clause.
Even before 20 15-20 x3 two handed and a d10 could be bad all depending.
That's true.
I'll look do the Math for a lvl 10 Fighter.
Edit: I did the math, Comparing MiB's Zweihander Zelda to Broken Impact Isaac, only really swapping out improved Damage multiplier for Ciritcal Focus.
Now, MiB's Zelda had a max DPR of around 64, using Power attack and all other mechanics avialable to her
Isaac has a DPR of 62.... without Power attacking. Using Power Attack, his DPR is 79, a 19% increase in Damage. It's safe to say that most @CR creatures are not prepared to withstand firepower of that magnitude. Add in crazy things like Haste, and BOOM goes the dynamite.
That's true.
I'll look do the Math for a lvl 10 Fighter.
Edit: I did the math, Comparing MiB's Zweihander Zelda to Broken Impact Isaac, only really swapping out improved Damage multiplier for Ciritcal Focus.
Now, MiB's Zelda had a max DPR of around 64, using Power attack and all other mechanics avialable to her
Isaac has a DPR of 62.... without Power attacking. Using Power Attack, his DPR is 79, a 19% increase in Damage. It's safe to say that most @CR creatures are not prepared to withstand firepower of that magnitude. Add in crazy things like Haste, and BOOM goes the dynamite.
Yikes. There's your answer, I guess.