Yes, exactly because of those % modifiers on top of each other. They actually affect more patk than the extra critical attack, which is only affected by Epee Garde.
Let me explain, critical damage is [patk*modifiers(skill%; aggression)*1.5] + critical attack.
let’s take a character with 300 STR and another with 300 DEX.
300 STR and no DEX addition makes a character with an innate 935 patk and 20 critical attack.
300 DEX and no STR addition makes a character with 199 patk and 1500 critical attack.
The big number on DEX makes us feel it is stronger, but it is not. Because the patk is affected by lots of modifiers like the skill%, aggression, critical, armor weakness, Epee Garde etc. while critical attack is only affected by Epee Garde.
There are also the fact that Gung Ho adds even more patk that full DEX can not achieve.
An example, let’s take the weakest hit, Sept Etoiles.
It is originally, at lv15, 219%. With Rapier Aggression, it upgrades to roughly to 250% (it does not show like that on the skill but this can be tested in game).
So let’s take the full DEX scenario (300DEX and no STR investment).
199 + 70(from gung ho) = 269
269 * 2.5(sept%) = 672
Critical Hit = 672*1.5 + 1500 = 2508
With Epee Garde = 3762
We can also add Concentrate lv15 as that is a strong point of DEX
3762 + 1404 = 5766
Now let’s see STR
935+302(from gung ho) = 1237
1237 * 2.5(sept%) = 3092
Critical Hit = 3092*1.5 + 20 = 4658
With Epee Garde = 6987
Concentrate lv15 to be fair
6987 + 736 = 7723
(If there is something wrong, please tell me and I will fix it)
I think you get the idea.
If it was not for the fact that we have lots of % modifiers for patk, DEX would surely win.
However, an important thing to note is that both Concentrate and Critical Attack are NOT affected by physical defense, which could be an important aspect if you’re having problems against high defense targets (which in this case, STR would lose). Although Coquille actually solves this problem.