Query: big crits or more crits?

[Rhissaerk Jalesh]

I would highly reccomend the double axe. X3 crit weapons, in my experience, are simply more effective and more satisfying. *grins*

...Also, you can't take feats in Double Scimitar. It's a CEP weapon. While you can take feats in Double Axe. So that's a nice bonus for the axe. *smiles*

[apandapion]

Of course, if you ever plan to take Devastating Critical, more crits is much more important that big crits, because the Devastating crit is the biggest crit of all, and it ignores your multiplier. (Which it shouldn't, IMO, but it doesn't.)

[Aerill]

On Avlis you probably want a better multiplier if you are strength based and a better threat range if you are a dexer. Being able to consistently hit through damage reduction is important and you want either high damage or a lot of criticals to do so.

I would go for a double axe above scimitar for the same reason as Rhiss stated - no feats for the scimitar.

[Alporik]

On Avlis you probably want a better multiplier if you are strength based and a better threat range if you are a dexer. Being able to consistently hit through damage reduction is important and you want either high damage or a lot of criticals to do so.

I would go for a double axe above scimitar for the same reason as Rhiss stated - no feats for the scimitar.

Agree regarding double axe, but I am a little confused about the strength-based v. dex-based analysis. Now Pugdush is strength-based, but I would assume that a dex-based melee character would want the better multiplier (if available), because more criticals that don't get through DR are not particularly useful compared to fewer criticals that do make it through DR. A strength-based character is already getting through DR based on the strength damage and may even have Over Crit or Dev Crit (if epic) and wants as many criticals as possible.

One caveat (my "if available" above) to all this is that the dex-based character is likely to be riding on the weapon finesse train and I think that the only 3x weapon in that list is the hand axe. I have played characters (crazy melee gnome anyone?) using that weapon and it is fun, but I don't see many of them around.

[A Wanderer]

I think you would definitely want to go dev crit if you are melee based. Then you don't have to worry about multipliers.

And I also agree dex melee types are pretty screwed. Although knowing that, dex users are probably doing sneak attack and bow use. I know I already do this most of the time, and I haven't even come up against much DR stuff yet.

As a sorta on and sorta off topic, sneak damage will get through DR if you have enough, right?

[krackq]

I know a character or two that dual wield rapiers and are dex based. The crit range is scary and their dex is high enough that almost 50% of the time they land crits and they are frequently near 100.. of course they have a lot of sneak attack into this but still... SCARY! heh

[TripleAught]

I can crit for maximum 20 with my Dex-based character using a shortsword.

But I can hit for about 50 with sneak attacks (not crit)

[DanishPastry]

DEVACRITZ0R!1!!

[Zyndro]

My epic can't deal out damage for squat, but survives just fine due to excellent defenses. It's possible you don't see that strategy much on Avlis because of the ease of coming back to life. People aren't very afraid of dying so they design characters to be completely offensive and not defensive at all. It's like a server full of berzerkers. Forgetting about the crit multiplier and taking more defensive feats will make the battles last longer, but that just keeps them interesting. After all, a battle that's over in six seconds isn't exactly 'epic'. Sorry if this was a bit off topic.

[Darkfire]

I think you would definitely want to go dev crit if you are melee based. Then you don't have to worry about multipliers.

And I also agree dex melee types are pretty screwed. Although knowing that, dex users are probably doing sneak attack and bow use. I know I already do this most of the time, and I haven't even come up against much DR stuff yet.

As a sorta on and sorta off topic, sneak damage will get through DR if you have enough, right?

example:

stoneskin is like 20/+5

If someone does 25 damage, you get thwacked for 5 damage. Anything over +5 (or possibly +5 itself) negates the dr.

Then you got the NPCs, which rely on DR other then spells. 20/- blocks 20 damage no matter what your enchantment bonus is. The whole thing with str versus dex is the base damage.

A str charecter can bust out damagae higher then 20, effectivly damaging an opponent, even with the DR. A dex base charecters base attacks won't damage it (or atleast no where near as much) so they will need to rely on hitting crits more often. Dex based PC's are usually the ones who do kill slower, but have a good defense. STR base are your damage dealers, but get hit more often. (i said usually, btw )

[Aerill]

My epic can't deal out damage for squat, but survives just fine due to excellent defenses. It's possible you don't see that strategy much on Avlis because of the ease of coming back to life. People aren't very afraid of dying so they design characters to be completely offensive and not defensive at all. It's like a server full of berzerkers. Forgetting about the crit multiplier and taking more defensive feats will make the battles last longer, but that just keeps them interesting. After all, a battle that's over in six seconds isn't exactly 'epic'. Sorry if this was a bit off topic.

I actually agree with you. I think that defense is a lot more important, but most people seem to focus on the offense instead. My characters always tend to be defense-focused and the same is true with Aerill. She won't impress anyone with crits in 100s or casting a billion of spells, but she is very often the last man standing. That is also one of the reasons I prefer dexers.

[Marleh]

My epic can't deal out damage for squat, but survives just fine due to excellent defenses. It's possible you don't see that strategy much on Avlis because of the ease of coming back to life. People aren't very afraid of dying so they design characters to be completely offensive and not defensive at all. It's like a server full of berzerkers. Forgetting about the crit multiplier and taking more defensive feats will make the battles last longer, but that just keeps them interesting. After all, a battle that's over in six seconds isn't exactly 'epic'. Sorry if this was a bit off topic.

I actually agree with you. I think that defense is a lot more important, but most people seem to focus on the offense instead. My characters always tend to be defense-focused and the same is true with Aerill. She won't impress anyone with crits in 100s or casting a billion of spells, but she is very often the last man standing. That is also one of the reasons I prefer dexers.

Same here, which is why my char is also usually loaded to the brim with healing kits. She can't deal out alot of damage, but she can try to keep the damage dealers alive while they deal it out.

That made sense, right?

[Grunt]

My epic can't deal out damage for squat, but survives just fine due to excellent defenses. It's possible you don't see that strategy much on Avlis because of the ease of coming back to life. People aren't very afraid of dying so they design characters to be completely offensive and not defensive at all. It's like a server full of berzerkers. Forgetting about the crit multiplier and taking more defensive feats will make the battles last longer, but that just keeps them interesting. After all, a battle that's over in six seconds isn't exactly 'epic'. Sorry if this was a bit off topic.

I actually agree with you. I think that defense is a lot more important, but most people seem to focus on the offense instead. My characters always tend to be defense-focused and the same is true with Aerill. She won't impress anyone with crits in 100s or casting a billion of spells, but she is very often the last man standing. That is also one of the reasons I prefer dexers.

Being a tank...I rely on High CON + 3 DR feats + barbarian DR + equipment DR (yes the 3 are seperate) to keep me alive, and militant bonuses to keep me dealing damage. Greater rage adds 3 to AB and 3 damage to each hit, which stacks above the maximum you can get with spells and equipment (if it was just applied as the normal +6 to con and str)... and also adds 3 temp HPs per level. So I go from 525hps walking around, to 690 with the militant bonus for endurance, and then 789 with rage... and Aid will usually push me into the 800s. Then improved invis, any buffs the mage/cleric wants to spare and we're off.

My role in the fight is front and center, giving any rogue combos a chance to land sneaks while I get the monster to concentrate on me. It works...usually... unless they cast confusion and uhh... yeah...

Given a choice, I'd go for more crits over bigger crits. GMW adds + to your AB and damage, then you can have 1d10 fire, then you can (as a fighter) add acid, sonic etc. damage of 2 pts each... a keen edge will expand the crit range, and WM levels will as well. I'd rather hit 3 things for 80 points of crit each, than one for 240. Especially if they only have 150hps.

Plus throw in that undead and elementals are crit immune...

Devcrit? Ugh. Worst feat ever.

[A Wanderer]

My epic can't deal out damage for squat, but survives just fine due to excellent defenses. It's possible you don't see that strategy much on Avlis because of the ease of coming back to life. People aren't very afraid of dying so they design characters to be completely offensive and not defensive at all. It's like a server full of berzerkers. Forgetting about the crit multiplier and taking more defensive feats will make the battles last longer, but that just keeps them interesting. After all, a battle that's over in six seconds isn't exactly 'epic'. Sorry if this was a bit off topic.

Derailing further...

I recently played on a server with a form of permadeath, which really, REALLY made combat more fun. I actually have to run away sometimes. lol

Basically you have 5 non-player-generated ressurections. After those are spent, you are permanantly dead. You can buy back resses if you are not already to zero, as a donation to the ressurecting church. The gold you must pay scales with your level. I'm not that far into it, but lv 10 res point is 100 gold. Lv 9 was 50. I'd imagine it's exponential like that. Oh and lv 1 through 6 have free ressurections that don't count toward your 5.

Awesome. =D

[Alporik]

Derailing further...

I recently played on a server with a form of permadeath, which really, REALLY made combat more fun. I actually have to run away sometimes. lol

Basically you have 5 non-player-generated ressurections. After those are spent, you are permanantly dead. You can buy back resses if you are not already to zero, as a donation to the ressurecting church. The gold you must pay scales with your level. I'm not that far into it, but lv 10 res point is 100 gold. Lv 9 was 50. I'd imagine it's exponential like that. Oh and lv 1 through 6 have free ressurections that don't count toward your 5.

Awesome. =D

I like it, though I think if you goofed up and got permadeathed that you ought to be able to have a friend pay the cost at the church for you. Not that different from one of the death plane situations where you pay gold to get out.

[Lafter]

So I go from 525hps walking around, to 690 with the militant bonus for endurance, and then 789 with rage... and Aid will usually push me into the 800s.

holy hells bat man .... thats a lot of HPs

[Paerin]

I vote scythe weilding weapon master with improved critical.

Or weapon master/paladin for comical 1000+ damage with a single hit.