How to apply a negative strength modifier to a critical hit?

Question

Considering a character with a strength modifier of -2 with a weapon that deals 1d3 damages, how to calculate the damages in case of critical?

I can see the following possibilities:

annoying imp · Accepted Answer · 2017-08-11 12:56:09Z

10

Your second example is a correct one, because Critical Hits section says:

A critical hit means that you roll your damage more than once, with all your usual bonuses, and add the rolls together.

It is spelled even clearer in Multiplying Damage section:

Roll the damage (with all modifiers) multiple times and total the results.

Therefore, such a character inflicts minimum of 2 points of non-lethal damage on a successful hit with a weapon having x2 critical multiplier.

answered Aug 11, 2017 at 9:31

annoying imp

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\$\begingroup\$ That first quoted statement mentions only adding bonuses, whereas a negative strength modifier is a penalty. \$\endgroup\$
– ChrisPy
Commented Aug 11, 2017 at 19:17
1

\$\begingroup\$ @ChrisPy Probably similar issue to Strength Bonus section. Header with the word "bonus" is folloved by "When you hit with a melee or thrown weapon, including a sling, add your Strength modifier to the damage result". \$\endgroup\$
– annoying imp
Commented Aug 11, 2017 at 21:07

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