|
I've poked around and seen this ability brought up in several topics, but haven't seen a good answer to this question...
For the uninitiated, the ability reads verbatim: "Whenever you roll a critical threat against a non-mythic creature, you automatically confirm the critical hit and deal the maximum amount of damage to that creature. This ability can be selected twice. The second time it is selected, it also applies to mythic creatures."
What exactly does "the maximum amount of damage" mean?
The previous tier has a skill "Maximize Critical" which reads: "Whenever you score a critical hit, the weapon's damage result is always the maximum possible amount you could roll. This doesn't affect other dice added to the damage, such as from sneak attack or the flaming weapon special ability. For example, if you score a critical hit with a longsword (1d8/×2), treat the sword's damage dice as if you had rolled 8 both times, then add any other damage bonuses that you would normally apply to a critical hit."
I'm wondering if the intent of "Maximum Damage" is the same as Maximize Critical's "Maximum possible amount you could roll," which is to say, only applying to weapon damage dice, and not anything additional - or if it literally means your maximum possible damage... Because, if that is the case, does that then apply to a Magus' Spellstrike, essentially giving him a free maximized critical?
I'm of the opinion that 'Critical Master' should function similarly to 'Maximize Critical'... but then Maximize critical becomes redundant, which seems wrong.
Help me, Paizo messageboards, you're my only hope.
Critical Master functions similarly to Maximize Critical.
Critical Master- always confirm threats. Maximize damage. Only works on non-mythic creatures unless you take it twice.
Maximize Critical- still need to confirm threats. Maximize damage. Works on everything and is taken once.
|
|
Critical Master functions similarly to Maximize Critical.
Critical Master- always confirm threats. Maximize damage. Only works on non-mythic creatures unless you take it twice.
Maximize Critical- still need to confirm threats. Maximize damage. Works on everything and is taken once.
That was my feeling of it, I just wanted to get some confirmation before I lay down the law with my players. I've noticed more and more that Mythic rules aren't inherently "broken," but that my players just haven't double-checked some of the nuanced rules about how everything works...
(Example: Foe-Biting, despite the text making it seem like you just double your damage, the "rule of doubling" still applies, making it function more like an added critical modifier, which just happens to include precision damage.)
I believe the "And deals maximum damage" part of Critical master is unnecessarily redundant, and the major benefit of it is the auto-confirmation of criticals (And that ability seems in-line for power with the rest of the tier 6 skills, anyway).