Power Critical

[Vogar Eol]

I'm completely aware of the differences between Keen/Improved Critical and Power Critical. I know that the former expands the crit range, while the later gives a bonus to the crit confirmation roll.

I have one extra Feat in my Character's epic levels. Right now I'm trying to decide what would help damage output more, in a practical sense. The choices I'm toying over are Extra Turning (four more EDM uses), Epic Prowess (persistent +1 to hit), Great Strength (+1 attack and damage on my build), or Power Critical.

My character is a medium BAB divine caster. Fully buffed, his attack is pretty decent and he has found a couple keen weapons. I'm of the opinion the combination of Keen + Power Critical would help him clobber higher level creatures harder, and make more of his EDM divine damage. As such I'm leaning towards Power Critical.

How useful would Power Critical be in epic levels (for a medium BAB), compared to the other choices?

[Calodan]

Minimum really. POwer critical is really only something I would take on a full WM build. You want to end your STR uneven because +4 is uber rare here for stat boosts. So if you have not already taken it I would go Armor skin. Epic Prowess would be nice but if you managed to get evasion in there then you would want to get Expose weakness. So armor skin because AC is the first thing you work to up and AB and damage second.

[chad878262]

Minimum really. POwer critical is really only something I would take on a full WM build. You want to end your STR uneven because +4 is uber rare here for stat boosts. So if you have not already taken it I would go Armor skin. Epic Prowess would be nice but if you managed to get evasion in there then you would want to get Expose weakness. So armor skin because AC is the first thing you work to up and AB and damage second.

Unless you'll be casting divine power or bulls STR, in which case even is better.

[Calodan]

Minimum really. POwer critical is really only something I would take on a full WM build. You want to end your STR uneven because +4 is uber rare here for stat boosts. So if you have not already taken it I would go Armor skin. Epic Prowess would be nice but if you managed to get evasion in there then you would want to get Expose weakness. So armor skin because AC is the first thing you work to up and AB and damage second.

Unless you'll be casting divine power or bulls STR, in which case even is better.

Oh right I forgot. Yeah go for the +1 Str and end on an even because you are a divine caster. Derpa.......

[Vogar Eol]

What's your take Chad? I know you're a proponent of Charisma and Strength ending even on an EDM caster. You usually have some pretty good positive/negative insights.

I'm also trying to consider possible debuffs out there and curses. If a Ray of Enfeeblement were to land at the wrong time, that +1 strength feat isn't working as much as say Prowess. Not that it's likely, mind you. I have been hit with it and feeblemind before, however.

[chad878262]

Of the options provided I would take great STR. Epic prowess is +1 AB, Extra turning is available on a common amulet if you find you need extra uses and as Calodan said, power critical is very low on the importance...great STR will ALWAYS give you +1 AB and damage, making it easily better than epic prowess. That +1 AB is also +1 to confirm a crit so power crit is only +3 to confirm vs +1 to hit and damage. You get +6 STR from divine power so even STR is the most optimized way to go (IMHO).

[metaquad4]

I would never take power critical. If there weren't more important things on the priority list, I'd suggest giving it a re-work. If you can't confirm that critical hit without that +4 AB, you have bigger problems. Generally speaking, if you crit, you'll confirm that crit. Even if you don't manage to do it on a fluke, it won't matter because you'll pull it off on the next attack.