Quote Originally Posted by Saintheart View Post
Having Improved Critical across the board wouldn't be much of an improvement in my view. The feat is useless since keen and impact are a thing, don't stack with Improved Critical, and don't take up a feat slot. And the class feature doesn't change that, so it's basically useless as well, a null feature. Without Disciple of Dispater shenanigans (which you'd need gestalt for to make it work) or wielding some obscure weapon with a native 17-20 threat range, you're still getting a maximum of about a 15-20 threat range, which isn't bad, but which anyone with about 8 grand and a liking for knitting needles can get with a keen rapier.
I feel like that's not really a fair assessment. It doesn't really take up a feat slot; it just adds a feat. There's no rule that says a character can have a maximum feat count, and this isn't a feat in place of the ones you get from levelling up. It's entirely a bonus.

It also allows you to save some money and invest in a different enhancement. With the standard idea of a fighter carrying around a caddy with different weapons, it's a free keen/impact on EVERY weapon you use. It's like having 40+ free feats rolled into one class feature. Alternatively, it allows a character to save 16k just to get Keen on two or more weapons. It benefits TWF-ers moreso than other fighting styles, but still...

Any class feature that allows a character to have more variety is a good thing.

P.S. How would you need to gestalt to make Disciple/Dragonslayer work? The second level of Iron Power kicks in at level 8; the Improved Critical feature comes in at level 7. Since the Dragonslayer only needs BAB +5 to enter, you can enter it at level 6. From there, at level 12 enter Disciple of Dispater for 8 class levels, getting double range at 16 and triple range at 20. No gestalt necessary.