Wizard/Shadowdancer

[Deathgrowl]

You are arguing for taking a feat that is good at level 20, though. Most WM builds will have AB around (and often over) 50 when they reach level 30. At that point, activating improved power attack places you at 44. This means 44 / 39 / 34 / 29 will ALL pretty much automatically confirm crit against a 30 AC target (unless rolling a 1, in which case power critical won't help at all anyways).

You see my point?

I personally think it is a bad build choice to pick a feat that has a mediocre at best impact at level 20 and practically no impact at level 30.

So your math is sound for level 20. Where your AB is indeed likely to be around 30. A lot of your AB as a fighter comes in the epic levels because most builds can't fit in fighter8 and 12 pre-epic due to the 3b20 rules.

[Valefort]

Yeah, Power critical is good when the difference between the AC and the AB is small so in the server it is not widely useful, in general (as mobs have low AC, except bosses). If you have a lowish AB WM though ? Sure then, take it !

[Seventh Sister]

You are arguing for taking a feat that is good at level 20, though. Most WM builds will have AB around (and often over) 50 when they reach level 30. At that point, activating improved power attack places you at 44. This means 44 / 39 / 34 / 29 will ALL pretty much automatically confirm crit against a 30 AC target (unless rolling a 1, in which case power critical won't help at all anyways).

You see my point?

First of all you compare a level 30 WMs AB against a mob with AC 30 (and conviniently forgetting the last attack at AB 24 now that you've made the WM level 30 )
That is hardly fair or useable and I'm pretty sure that most late epic areas have mobs with a lot higher AC than 30.
Secondly I chose a level 21 WM because PvE is very relevant at this stage and it was mostly to pick the numbers to make the calculations.
Those calculations translate fine onto other levels.
Besides at level 30 your fight against the regular mobs are pretty much over.
You now battle mobs at a few high epic areas, Boss fights, DM events and PvP and the AC can easily be a lot higher here than AC 30 wouldn't you agree?

I personally think it is a bad build choice to pick a feat that has a mediocre at best impact at level 20 and practically no impact at level 30.

Let me just get this straight.
Are you saying that a feat, that gives a level 21 character a bonus to damage of 6-14 on each hit, is mediocre?
That must be a mistake as you will find few better damage feats for your WM/Fighter/X build.
And the "no impact at level 30" as you state is only true against mobs below AC 30 and as mentioned I don't think you will face many of those at that time.
At least they wont matter feat or no feat.

So your math is sound for level 20. Where your AB is indeed likely to be around 30. A lot of your AB as a fighter comes in the epic levels because most builds can't fit in fighter8 and 12 pre-epic due to the 3b20 rules.

I of course agree completely with this and it will lower the damage bonus on each hit as the WM progress throughout the epic levels however it will be a good choice against every enemy you face where the AC of the foe is 35 and above.
Below AC 30 it will matter little but as mentioned I don't think there are many of those around at that point (I will have to put that to the test )

[Seventh Sister]

Yeah, Power critical is good when the difference between the AC and the AB is small so in the server it is not widely useful, in general (as mobs have low AC, except bosses). If you have a lowish AB WM though ? Sure then, take it !

In general I think you pretty much sum it up however our WM example doesn't have low AB so the conclusion ends up being dependent on the AC of the foes the WM will face and I'm not sure they are as low as you and Deathgrowl indicates.

If we take Deathgrowls example of a level 30 WM at AB 50 going to 44 using Improved Power Attack then it will mean this:

Against AC 29 (-15): 1,89 on each hit

Against AC 34 (-10): 4,89 on each hit

Against AC 39 (-5): 6,39 on each hit.

Against AC 44 (Even): 8,52 on each hit.

Unless most enemies this WM face at late epic levels are near AC 30-31 I would conclude that this is a solid pick for that build (Keep in mind that these calculations only apply to WM).
If you can get your AB higher that will move the calculations a bit but in general (Perhaps not all places) I think the late epic foes are way higher than AC 31.

As a reference Serpent Hills has mobs with AC 35+ and that is an early epic area beside the boss' and I guarantee that their ACs are a lot higher.