I’m just curious what other people think of the new(ish) keyword Critical? There are no wrong answers, because I asked what people think not what is best for the game, so please don’t beat up on anyone that responds.

That being said, I really think it was a mistake to include it in so many new units. Any unit that has three or more dice has a very easy time to to fish for a crit. Don’t believe me? Take three white with Critical 1, and try it for yourself and try it 10 times. It’s gotta ge a 75-80% that 1 crit shows up (I have no idea what the statistics are). That’s 1 crit that goes through Cover, Dodge and Guardian. Having 2 dice on a weapon like the DC-15 doesn’t seem as broken, but as soon as a third or 4th (T-21b) die is added it just becomes like a sniper and doesn’t need Sharpshooter to get through cover. I think Critical works ok for melee, but it still negates a Dodge or Guardian (works for some Command Cards). There are some units that have surge to crit natively, but I think that Critical just gives it to too many units that really shouldn’t have surge to anything. After all, how many surges get rolled on average in one dice pool, especially when that dice pool is only the heavy? Having Critical 1 might as well just give a native surge to crit. Currently there are 9 (that I can think of) units that have access (or will have) to this keyword. This just seems like a keyword that should be used sparingly and it’s being given to way too many units.

Anyone else think Critical is a little too powerful, or do you just love the keyword, or absolutely hate it?

It's better than slapping Impact on everything and making people pay for it. I like it on the DC-15, and on Obi. Helps give them a stronger attack without having to give them surge to crit.

I'm not sure I care for it on the T-21b or the Mortar, because with an aim, it's almost guaranteed one crit unless your dice hate you. The keyword cost me a game at Warfaire Weekend on the mortar, because his mortars failed to get a crit all of once for the entire game, and thus was always able to push one through cover.

It's worrisome on 3-4 die pools without an existing surge. Larger pools of dice will usually generate enoug hits that cover/dodge will still be relevant, and it's less impressive if you already surge to hit.

So this feels like less a problem with Critical, and more a problem with shoretroopers.

In units with access to a lot or re-rolls or big combat pools, Critical certainly seems better than Impact. Impact at least is only effective against Armour, and is resolved after Cover so it was possible to cancel. There isn't a way currently to interact with Surge results on your opponent's attack die, and Critical is also good for pushing damage past Cover and Dodge on infantry.

I think a weaker keyword that gave limited access to Surge -> Hit like "Strike" or "Volley" or something would make sense on some of those weapons.

i think critical hits in general are too powerful, just trumps everything

I think Critical 1 makes sense on the mortar. Its kind of like having the Blast keyword but it doesnt always trigger.

I don't like it, it makes impact less useful and it hurts units or factions that uses dodges.

2 hours ago, jocke01 said:

I don't like it, it makes impact less useful and it hurts units or factions that uses dodges.

Eh, the Cm-093 and DC-15 seem fine. It's the mortar and t-21b that are the issue, and I suspect the latter wouldn't be a problem if Shores didn't have double aims so often.

I think the real solution might just be to take away the mortar's comms slot. That way the mortar becomes less attractive while Shores need to actually work to get Target on multiple units.

It seems overly expensive on some units (veterans) and too cheap on other units such as shore troopers and mortars, I think they should lower the price for units that already have surge crit, and increase the price for units that have no native surge

22 minutes ago, TheHoosh said:

It seems overly expensive on some units (veterans) and too cheap on other units such as shore troopers and mortars, I think they should lower the price for units that already have surge crit, and increase the price for units that have no native surge

What unit with a Critical weapon has Surge to Crit? Veterans have Surge to Hit, which Surge to crit is still an improvement.

You also have to take into account "Fire Support, "since if a unit can add the weapon dice to a different pool that doesn't have their surge conversions, Critical because more useful.

2 minutes ago, Caimheul1313 said:

What unit with a Critical weapon has Surge to Crit? Veterans have Surge to Hit, which Surge to crit is still an improvement.

You also have to take into account "Fire Support, "since if a unit can add the weapon dice to a different pool that doesn't have their surge conversions, Critical because more useful.

sorry meant surge hit

I wish Vader had it instead of Impact, then Saber Throw might do something against a target incover