

The better quality of your weapons, the more damage you can inflict. You hit something with a big sword, it will take damage if you get hit with a big sword, you will take damage. Low torchlight increases the critical hit chances, for everyone, Heroes and enemies alike.

However, if a Hero takes a critical hit, those same damage and effects happen to them they also have their stress increased. It also prolongs any bleed, blight, or stun applied for an additional 2 rounds.

If your character scores a critical hit with a physical or magical attack, they do 1.5x their maximum damage to their victim, plus have their own stress reduced sometimes, other Heroes will have some of their stress relieved, also.
