D&D 5E A use for True Strike

[Asisreo]

Firebolt is a legitimate spell that can be twinned. No rulings about not twinning firebolt.



My DPR calculation is accurate (excluding crits).

Per the Sage Advice I referenced, since Firebolt can target objects, it is not a candidate to be twinned.

 

[Umbran]

My DPR calculation is accurate (excluding crits).

Suggestion - actually give the calculation to prove it. If he didn't accept it unexplained before, you've given no new information to get the other person to accept it now.

Unless you figure folks are supposed to take it because of... you're outstanding charisma?

 

[FrogReaver]

Another possible edge case: assuming you have a character built around greenflame blade, (ergo no Extra Attack) who also has the Elven Accuracy feat - could it be better to use true strike instead of attacking twice?

Assuming of course no other source of advantage is in play.

This is a good question. Let's evaluate.

Assuming 60% accuracy again.
For 2 attack character: Damage output is at 1.2*Damage
For Elven accuracy: Damage output is 0.936*Damage

You would need to be attacking something at a 35% chance to hit before you would be better off using true strike.

(excluded crits for quickness but unlikely they will beenough to make a difference)

 

[FrogReaver]

Suggestion - actually give the calculation to prove it. If he didn't accept it unexplained before, you've given no new information to get the other person to accept it now.

Unless you figure folks are supposed to take it because of... you're outstanding charisma?

Or an alternative - he could say what he got when he calculated it. Without that it's basically worthless to tell someone they are wrong no?

 

[Asisreo]

Okay, so there's 2 things with that. 1: Technically Firebolt isn't a candidate to be twinned per the Sage Advice Compendium. Is it dumb? Yes. But that's how it is. 2: The probability calculations are a bit off. .6 is assuming the damage is a uniform thing between the two rounds but it's actually back-loaded where the higher damage is on round 2 with scorching rays. True strike increases the probability of the two scorching rays by an amount (that I need to reference) but firebolt just increases potential damage output. Like I said, it's worse if the scorching rays miss which they might compared to advantage.

Okay, so 60% with advantage gives an 84% chance to hit. Using average damage 2(7*.84)+7*.6 = 15.96

Twinned firebolt is 2(5.5*.6)+(3*7*.6) = 19.2 so the calculations are right.

Eh, oh well. Probability can't really be translated so easily by DPR since the damage is still back-loaded and falls behind if you miss even one scorching ray but it's not a horse I'd die on.

 

[Asisreo]

Or an alternative - he could say what he got when he calculated it. Without that it's basically worthless to tell someone they are wrong no?

But also, I do believe it's the person with the calculation's job to show their work. It's just courtesy.

 

[FrogReaver]

But also, I do believe it's the person with the calculation's job to show their work. It's just courtesy.

With something as trivial as DPR at advantage? That's not something that should need spelled out to anyone.

 

[Asisreo]

This is a good question. Let's evaluate.

Assuming 60% accuracy again.
For 2 attack character: Damage output is at 1.2*Damage
For Elven accuracy: Damage output is 0.936*Damage

You would need to be attacking something at a 35% chance to hit before you would be better off using true strike.

(excluded crits for quickness but unlikely they will beenough to make a difference)

Crits also bring about a good evaluation...actually...I think our calculations are off because we haven't calculated crits.

 

[FrogReaver]

Crits also bring about a good evaluation...actually...I think our calculations are off because we haven't calculated crits.

It will be a miniscule difference.

 

[Umbran]

Or an alternative - he could say what he got when he calculated it. Without that it's basically worthless to tell someone they are wrong no?

Well, yours was the first assertion of what the number is, so burden of proof would generally sit with you.