Adding 1/2 level to damage

[TerraDave]

Its has a certain logic, makes fights a little bloodier and maybe a little shorter...but...

What do you think? Also, this may have been discussed here, feel free to throw up the link.

 

[Grimstaff]

iirc, this was how the original 4E sent out to playtesters was handled, but got changed before the game went to print. I don't know whether they felt it unbalanced the PCs or monsters or both, but it seemed like the original plan was for an ability modifier to be the modifier plus 1/2 level. So if you added your Str Mod to damage, that 1/2 lvl bonus would be figured in.

I could be mixing some things up, but that's how I recall it anyways...

 

[Stalker0]

There a thread going on now about halfing monster hitpoints or adding damage etc to try and shorten combats.

Adding 1/2 level to dmg helps do the same thing in a quick and easy way.

 

[TerraDave]

Grimmstaff and Stalker0, you cover the inspiration behind the idea pretty well...

still, would it be balanced, reward attacks that hit multiple targets to much, etc?

 

[keterys]

I think it would make powers that make multiple attacks, which are already some of the most powerful, even more powerful, so I'd suggest against it for that reason.

How about, once per round as a free action you may add half your level to one damage roll? (ie, like sneak attack, etc)

Or even once per action.

 

[functionciccio]

Adding 1/2 level to damage...

...to monsters or to PCs?

 

[TerraDave]

Both...

I think it would make powers that make multiple attacks, which are already some of the most powerful, even more powerful, so I'd suggest against it for that reason.

How about, once per round as a free action you may add half your level to one damage roll? (ie, like sneak attack, etc)

Or even once per action.

I thought of something like this, but suddenly, we have gotten complicated.

 

[Rafe]

I was thinking of this, also, but it becomes pretty powerful once magic items are being used (which tends to be fairly early on).

I know it isn't as easy to remember as 1/2 level, but every 4 levels (ie, when you have your attribute increase) might work. That would balance out the enhancement bonus from magical weapons.

So a level 8 Fighter with 18 Str and a +2 Longsword would be at:

Atk: + 15 (includes the Fighter's +1 for either 1h or 2h weapons)
Dmg: 1d8 + 8 (doesn't include feats)