Author Topic: Channeled Spells and Critical Hits  (Read 2060 times)

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j0lt

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Channeled Spells and Critical Hits
« on: January 25, 2009, 05:11:46 AM »
Suppose a character rolls (and confirms) a crit with a melee weapon while channeling a spell.  Does this same crit roll also crit the channeled spell (assuming I channel a spell that requires an attack roll), or would it also need to met the threat range for the spell itself, or can I not get a crit on both at the same time regardless?

Quote from: d20srd.org
I think this refers to things such as Sneak Attack, Smite Evil, and other such sources of extra damage.
Quote from: d20srd.org
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.
« Last Edit: January 25, 2009, 05:13:20 AM by j0lt »
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Ieniemienie

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Re: Channeled Spells and Critical Hits
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2009, 05:24:24 AM »
iirc Customer Service ruled this and channeled spells through a sword e.g. are not critted when scoring a critical hit.

Personally I think this is weird, because the spell is channeled into the same critical spot as the sword gashes....
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j0lt

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Re: Channeled Spells and Critical Hits
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2009, 05:26:24 AM »
iirc Customer Service ruled this and channeled spells through a sword e.g. are not critted when scoring a critical hit.

Personally I think this is weird, because the spell is channeled into the same critical spot as the sword gashes....

I agree.  You'd think a crit would count for the whole thing.  I would assume that both are crits on a natural 20, but I figured I'd get a second opinion.
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EjoThims

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Re: Channeled Spells and Critical Hits
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2009, 05:56:31 AM »
By strictest reading, the weapon crits but the spell does not.

Firstly, extra damage dice are never multiplied on a crit. Flaming weapons are essentially a spell in the weapon, and they're not multiplied either.

Secondly, the spell requires no attack roll. It automatically hits if the weapon it's stored in hits, and thus is not subject to being a crit through the spell rules as well.

Now, if you were to make the spell within the weapon require an attack roll of it's own when the weapon hits, it would solve both issues (since it's now a spell that requires an attack roll and the damage dice of the spell are the base damage, not extra) and would allow the channeled spell to crit.

j0lt

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Re: Channeled Spells and Critical Hits
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2009, 06:00:27 AM »
By strictest reading, the weapon crits but the spell does not.

Secondly, the spell requires no attack roll. It automatically hits if the weapon it's stored in hits, and thus is not subject to being a crit through the spell rules as well.

Even though the spell normally requires an attack roll, since in this case it doesn't use one, it doesn't count, eh?  Damn...  There goes the priceless look on my DM's face!   :p
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BowenSilverclaw

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Re: Channeled Spells and Critical Hits
« Reply #5 on: January 25, 2009, 07:51:11 AM »
Yeah, I agree with Ejo on this one, too bad really :P
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RobbyPants

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Re: Channeled Spells and Critical Hits
« Reply #6 on: January 25, 2009, 10:04:35 AM »
I would agree with Ejo if for no other reason than that extra dice aren't multiplied.
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veekie

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Re: Channeled Spells and Critical Hits
« Reply #7 on: January 25, 2009, 12:00:10 PM »
I agree with Ejo on the RAW aspect, theres no question on that.
But if I were to run it, my personal preference would be to have the spell crit on a 20(or better, if the character has a spell crit range enhancer), while the weapon crits normally.
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