FallenRX
Adventurer
So a long while ago i noticed something that was said by Jeremy crawford about monster design which is the fact they convert for matters of balance, things to virtual damage, via rating certain conditions equal to the power of certain spells levels of the condition appear.
You can see him say this here.
And ive come to realize, that is the exact same approach in the class design of the game, and the rogue playtest made it obvious.
For example.
The knockout ability of rogue which renders unconcious costs about 6d6 sneak attack, this is exactly 21 damage, which is about as strong as a second level spell, because unconcious is similar to paralyze which is also a second level spell.
Awe and obscure abilities in the rogue playtest which blinds/charms cost 3d6 which is an average of 11 damage, which is exactly the amount of the average damage of a 1st-level spell, where these conditions are directly inflicted on any creature easily. I even managed to recreate several condition based monster CR's using this method, with ease.
Basically conditions and the power they inflict are rated based on the values of the average damage of a spell level its closest too.
Looking at this example and point i think we can make a loose chart of how much they value conditons in the game.
Blinded. 11 Danage.(1st-level)
Charmed. 11 damage.(1st-level spell)
Frightened. 11 damage.(1st-level spell)
Grapple. 4 damage.(cantrip)
Incapacitated. 11 damage.(1st-level spell)
Invisible. 21 damage.(2nd-level spell)
Paralyzed. 21 damage(2nd-level spell)
Petrified. 55 damage(arguably 75 due to disintergrate).(6th-level spell)
Poisoned. 4 damage.(cantrip)
Restrained. 11 damage(1st-level)
Stunned. ???(best guess is about 13-16 damage)
Unconscious. 21 damage.(equal to paralyze)
Exhaustion. ???(best guess is about 11 damage looking at sickening radiance.).
This is a fascinating and weird find, that you can see directly replicated in the design of the current playtest rogue.
This also has huge implications for martial design.
They value the damage martials are doing as equal to the power of a spell level here.
Meaning that at 5th-level all martials consistently have around a second spell level of power at will in their eyes. Very wild way of thinking about this. And all abilities and effects in the game are seen through this lense.
It also comes with wilder implications which is that, classes are more balanced against each other more akin to calculating CR. Where it rates their Defensive value and offensive value thats average is calculated to hit a certain character level, where defensive power is calculated by translating everything into effective AC and HP, and offensive value is translated via Average DPR, and effective attack bonus per round. Meaning classes are probably balance more along the lines of them basically novaing using the most damage they can do on a single target via guarenteed damage using all of their abilities. If this is the case, that means resource management, is more about choosing went to use your nova or not use your nova, rather then anything else.
Its an interesting prospect here.
TL
R. They value conditions as virtual damage depending on the average damage of the spell level their value in power is close too. This is how they account for the power of conditions for not only monsters, but PC's as well. This may reflect that class power budgets are made not too unlike CR is for monsters.
You can see him say this here.
And ive come to realize, that is the exact same approach in the class design of the game, and the rogue playtest made it obvious.
For example.
The knockout ability of rogue which renders unconcious costs about 6d6 sneak attack, this is exactly 21 damage, which is about as strong as a second level spell, because unconcious is similar to paralyze which is also a second level spell.
Awe and obscure abilities in the rogue playtest which blinds/charms cost 3d6 which is an average of 11 damage, which is exactly the amount of the average damage of a 1st-level spell, where these conditions are directly inflicted on any creature easily. I even managed to recreate several condition based monster CR's using this method, with ease.
Basically conditions and the power they inflict are rated based on the values of the average damage of a spell level its closest too.
Looking at this example and point i think we can make a loose chart of how much they value conditons in the game.
Blinded. 11 Danage.(1st-level)
Charmed. 11 damage.(1st-level spell)
Frightened. 11 damage.(1st-level spell)
Grapple. 4 damage.(cantrip)
Incapacitated. 11 damage.(1st-level spell)
Invisible. 21 damage.(2nd-level spell)
Paralyzed. 21 damage(2nd-level spell)
Petrified. 55 damage(arguably 75 due to disintergrate).(6th-level spell)
Poisoned. 4 damage.(cantrip)
Restrained. 11 damage(1st-level)
Stunned. ???(best guess is about 13-16 damage)
Unconscious. 21 damage.(equal to paralyze)
Exhaustion. ???(best guess is about 11 damage looking at sickening radiance.).
This is a fascinating and weird find, that you can see directly replicated in the design of the current playtest rogue.
This also has huge implications for martial design.
They value the damage martials are doing as equal to the power of a spell level here.
Meaning that at 5th-level all martials consistently have around a second spell level of power at will in their eyes. Very wild way of thinking about this. And all abilities and effects in the game are seen through this lense.
It also comes with wilder implications which is that, classes are more balanced against each other more akin to calculating CR. Where it rates their Defensive value and offensive value thats average is calculated to hit a certain character level, where defensive power is calculated by translating everything into effective AC and HP, and offensive value is translated via Average DPR, and effective attack bonus per round. Meaning classes are probably balance more along the lines of them basically novaing using the most damage they can do on a single target via guarenteed damage using all of their abilities. If this is the case, that means resource management, is more about choosing went to use your nova or not use your nova, rather then anything else.
Its an interesting prospect here.
TL
R. They value conditions as virtual damage depending on the average damage of the spell level their value in power is close too. This is how they account for the power of conditions for not only monsters, but PC's as well. This may reflect that class power budgets are made not too unlike CR is for monsters.
