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Message: <blockquote data-quote="FormerlyHemlock" data-source="post: 6699993" data-attributes="member: 6787650">Thanks, that helps a lot in understanding the assumptions behind the analysis.In practice I think you'll find that Battlemaster underperforms this analysis/these assumptions don't always hold. Since all of his advantage on cumulative damage comes from his additional Action Surges after the 1st and 2nd short rest, which are basically free rounds, all it takes to lose that advantage is a few rounds where melee attacks cannot be made to cancel out the action surge. (Or a day where you don't have neatly-distributed short rests throughout the day.) That could be because there is no enemy within 35', or it could be because another PC is busy tanking + Dodging which makes it counterproductive for you to attack in melee (because then the Dogging PC gets ignored in favor of the non-dodging one), or it could be because someone like an enemy mage on the back line needs to die nownownow so you have to spend your action Dashing/Disengaging through the enemy line to get in position.Either way though, I guess the important point is that the battletrickster archer and GWM battlemaster have roughly comparable damage output, so which one you prefer is largely a matter of taste.Final point, apropos of nothing: a rapier-wielding battletrickster may not be optimized for tanking, given that he doesn't even have Sentinel, but at least he can Trip opponents on an opportunity attack! Plus he can Shove up to three opponents with his regular attacks at +12 to 17(!) to Athletics. An opponent who has to spend half his move on his turn getting to his feet is an opponent who has trouble charging the squishies. It is not as good as Sentinel but it's worth bearing in mind when you are tanking. Too bad it conflicts with Uncanny Dodge...</blockquote>

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