D&D 5E Elven Rogue with advantage and Elven Accuracy. Is diping into fighter to get the Archery Fighting Style overkill?

[TwoSix]

One thing we're learning is that you really can't be "wrong" in 5e. Even when there's supposedly mathematical proof that one build is superior to the other, it always leaves out hard-to-quantify variables.

Unless you take Dungeon Delver. That's always wrong.

 

[FrogReaver]

If you've taken Sharpshooter, you should probably be dipping Fighter or Ranger levels anyway to get Extra Attack, so sure, grab Archery fighting style. Sharpshooter on a pure Rogue build is already pretty sub-optimal, though.

Not really. The extra range and ignoring cover is great!

 

[houser2112]

There is no such thing as overkill when it comes to gathering boni to hit in the era of bounded accuracy.

Also, I can't remember where I found it, but someone calculated when it is beneficial to use the -5/+10 mechanic. I have this written on my PAM fighter's sheet for GWM, but I'm pretty sure the same calculation could be used for Sharpshooter:

Should I Power Attack (-5/+10)?
Max AC Threshold = Attack Bonus – (avg damage/2) + 16

The attack bonus and avg damage are your normal (without feat) values.

 

[FrogReaver]

Remember that ready action happens after the trigger so if they move out of range/ behind cover you could no longer have a valid target.
If you are dipping fighter for off turn SA you might as well go one more level for Battle Master and use riposte

Riposte is nearly worthless because he is using a bow.

 

[FrogReaver]

There is no such thing as overkill when it comes to gathering boni to hit in the era of bounded accuracy.

Also, I can't remember where I found it, but someone calculated when it is beneficial to use the -5/+10 mechanic. I have this written on my PAM fighter's sheet for GWM, but I'm pretty sure the same calculation could be used for Sharpshooter:

Should I Power Attack (-5/+10)?
Max AC Threshold = Attack Bonus – (avg damage/2) + 16

The attack bonus and avg damage are your normal (without feat) values.

For a rogue avg damage would also include sneak attack damage.

 

[houser2112]

For a rogue avg damage would also include sneak attack damage.

Right. I'm sure including Sneak Attack dice would push the number so low so as to never be desirable when Sneak Attacking, but as others have pointed out, he may not be Sneak Attacking all the time, and if he already has Sharpshooter, it would be helpful to know when to use it.

 

[Guest 6801328]

There is no such thing as overkill when it comes to gathering boni to hit in the era of bounded accuracy.

Mmm....I don't think that's accurate.

The corollary to bounded accuracy is bounded defenses. Meaning that ACs tend to be reasonable.

And every bonus to accuracy comes at an opportunity cost. If you're taking that one level of fighter, for example, you're giving up half of a die (on average) of sneak attack.

So, sure, sometimes that additional +2 will result in a hit instead of a miss. But how often? How often when you're +12 to hit and are frequently getting to roll 3d20? Often enough to make up for the half-die less of sneak attack?

Now, it may be that for Sharpshooter it's worth it. But I would not extend your claim to be universally true in 5e.

 

[FrogReaver]

you take Ready action with action surge.

Trigger: as soon as my turn ends, I attack "X"

The reason I would allow such a statement is that you can always just say trigger as soon as (look at initiative order) that character that is next in initiative order does anything.

 

[Stoutstien]

Riposte is nearly worthless because he is using a bow.

True. Trying to generate off turn sneak attacks is exponentially more difficult with at range weapon then then melee.

 

[FrogReaver]

Right. I'm sure including Sneak Attack dice would push the number so low so as to never be desirable when Sneak Attacking, but as others have pointed out, he may not be Sneak Attacking all the time, and if he already has Sharpshooter, it would be helpful to know when to use it.

Seems you have your answer. Use it when sneak attack lands on the first attack - provided you aren't fighting an extremely high ac enemy.