I picked up Paizo’s GameMastery - Critical Hit Deck today and we just played it out for one encounter; The Party vs. 4 Skum controlled by an “Ancyent crtvre named SMAVG BELLY DWELLING SPIRIT” (Aboleth)

We used a new system of rolling 2d10 instead of 1d20 and drawing a ‘Critical Hit’ on a ‘natural 20′. In this way the odds result is skewed toward the end of a soft, bell-like, probability curve, rather than a linear 1-20. The result was fewer crits over all, but much more excitement (and DAMAGE) when it does come up. They are useful in all situations as each card has an entry for one of four damage sources/types; bludgening, piercing, slashing, and magic.

It worked brilliantly, only coming up three times, twice for the party, and once for Smavg. The resulting critical damage was as follows:

Knockback on a piercing shot from Kennyth’s Composite Longbow. (I used Shift 1, instead of the cards staggering 1d6!)

Roundhouse after a blow from Adon’s Hammer of the Gods that kicked a skum off Layla, (allowing her a Mind Save to end Smavg’s control!)

Distraction from Smavg’s Mind Controlling Illusion! Double damage and an illusory skum that flanks an opponent for 1d4 rounds (or Mind Save)

The kids LOVED it and it took things to another cinematic level for the narrator! Very easy to use and build action into encounters. I could see having a corresponding deck for Critical Failures on a natural 2.

I can see why the makers also recommend first limiting it to either a Player only, or by Epic Level Bad Guys (Smavg qualifies.) or in special situations. I could see doing it based on burning Prayers, Feats or Action Points, Encounter and Daily Powers, or some other character derived input mechanic. It would be easy to do these for Power Sources and Saves in the new D&D system. You could make your own decks on 1/2 of an index card. Kind of like Monopoly.

Did I mention easy?

A great way to spent $9!

Now I can has critical.

The Verdict