Figuring Out Combat Superiority

[Jeff Carlsen]

I suspect that the number of dice you get and the value of each die will be listed separately, ending up with a progression something like this:

Level  CS    die
       dice  value
1      1     d4
3      2
5            d6
7      3
9            d8

 

[ZombieRoboNinja]

Another reason I like getting a new die every 4 levels (at 1, 5, 9, 13, and 17) is that I imagine cs powers will be tiered by the number of dice required. So Riposte only costs 1 die, but there could be e.g. a Death Flurry move that lets you attack all adjacent enemies for 3 dice. That would mean it wouldn't be available until fighter level 9. And the most powerful powers would cost 5 dice and be available at level 17 - right when wizards are getting lvl 9 spells.

The more I think about it, the more I also think that the die size will just slowly scale up too. That way 1 die at lvl1 is worth 1d4, and it smoothly scales so non-rolled powers don't slowly become overpowered. So I still like my chart on pg 1

 

[MarkB]

I suspect that the number of dice you get and the value of each die will be listed separately, ending up with a progression something like this:

Level  CS    die
       dice  value
1      1     d4
3      2
5            d6
7      3
9            d8

I think that's likely - I would expect to see a progression in both the size and number of dice, rather than reverting from a larger to a smaller die size when increasing the number of dice.

I'd also tend to think that increasing the number of dice should be more prevalent than increasing the die sizes - that way, the fighter has more to spend on special effects, and doesn't sacrifice as much damage on any single die expenditure.

 

[B.T.]

1d4, 1d6, 1d8, 1d10, 1d12, 2d6, 2d8, 3d6, 3d8, 3d10, 3d12.

 

[MarkB]

Level CS dice   Average
1       1d4         +2.5
2       1d6         +3.5
3       1d8         +4.5
4       1d10        +5.5
5       2d6         +7
6       2d8         +9
7       2d10        +11
8       3d6         +10.5
9       3d8        +13.5
10      3d10       +16.5
11      4d6        +15

Note the big jump at level 5. You get an extra token to spend and a 1.5 point raise in average damage dealt. Compare that with level 8, where the average drops, but you get more options.

You'd have a smoother progression if you leave out the d10s. Go to 2d4 at level 4, then to 3d6 at level 7, and 4d6 at level 9.

 

[Obryn]

If part of the point is the ability to trade dice for effects, 2d6 is way better than 1d12. Which is great, IMO.

-O

 

[pemerton]

I suspect that the number of dice you get and the value of each die will be listed separately, ending up with a progression something like this:

Level  CS    die
       dice  value
1      1     d4
3      2
5            d6
7      3
9            d8

I'm still backing my progression:

I'm guessing 1d4 at 1st, 1d6 at 3rd, 2d6 at 5th. 1d6 at 3rd fits with the +1 to damage at 3rd level mentioned on the playtest fighter sheet.

I'll extrapolate from there to 2d8 at 7th, 3d8 at 9th, 3d10 at 11th, 4d10 at 13th, 4d12 at 15th, 5d12 at 17th, 6d12 at 19th.

Because 1d6 fits with the +3 to damage at 3rd level on the playtest character sheet.

Here's my progression statted up like yours:

Level  CS    die
       dice  value
1      1     d4
3            d6
5      2
7            d8
9      3
11           d10
13     4
15           d12
17     5
19     6

The only thing that's a bit wonky here is the move to 6 dice at 19th.

 

[Remathilis]

So I played with an idea: every odd level either your # of dice increases OR your die size increases.

Level	#	Die	Total
1	1	D4	1d4
2			1d4
3	2		2d4
4			2d4
5		D6	2d6
6			2d6
7	3		3d6
8			3d6
9	4		4d6
10			4d6
11		D8	4d8
12			4d8
13	5		5d8
14			5d8
15	6		6d8
16			6d8
17		D10	6d10
18			6d10
19	7		7d10
20			7d10

A possible alt could be # of dice increase as die size increases also, maxing at 10d10.

 

[keterys]

Feels like it'd be better to increase dice size/number at even levels, and get new options at odd levels.

 

[Stormonu]

So I played with an idea: every odd level either your # of dice increases OR your die size increases.

A possible alt could be # of dice increase as die size increases also, maxing at 10d10.

If there is a linear increase, this about looks right. However, I'm hoping after 10th level both hit points and the damage increase slow way down - perhaps going back to 1E levels of hit point gains and combat superiority slowing down to about 1/2 to 1/4 speed. Hopefully spell damage scaling will likewise slow down too.