Careful Attack/Sure Strike: A mathematical analysis

[Mengu]

I was writing that about my houserule : limiting Twin strike to only one attack per target.

Ahh, yes, that would make a difference, until you have two minions you can attack.

 

[med stud]

Yes. You always add those bonuses to damage rolls. Ability modifier is the only bonus that isn't always added to rolls.

I stand corrected.

In that case, Careful strike really have only one purpose, delivering daily attacks with magic weapons (unless they too apply for all attacks made in a round).

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

I fixed the Reaping Strike algorithm and uploaded the updated files in the OP. Based on the new numbers, I'd leave Twin Strike as is and just replace Careful Attack/Sure Strike.

 

[fuindordm]

What if Careful strike had a slightly improved chance to crit?

 

[Styracosaurus]

What if Careful strike had a slightly improved chance to crit?

It can still be converted into average damage, which basically puts an equal sign between Careful Strike and Twin Strike.

I agree with the general sentiment, keep Twin Strike and come up with a replacement for Careful Strike.

 

[Gladius Legis]

Sure Strike is useful in one situation and one situation only: if you're a heavy blade wielder who took Heavy Blade Opportunity, it's good to use to hit for sure with your OA to stop movement. In this case, you don't care about the (crappy) damage you inflict, but you care about inflicting a status, of sorts.

Whether that makes the power worth perhaps retraining one of your at-wills for in Paragon Tier is up to you. Personally, I'm not so sure it is worth it.

Careful Attack, on the other hand, is just plain worthless. At least Sure Strike has one Defender application, mentioned above. Careful Attack has no Striker application that can't be done better by Twin Strike.

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

One does not have to be strictly mathematically better than the other. Look at my attempt at fixing it. +1/2 Str mod to attack, +Str mod to damage. It's now a basic attack with a +1/2 Str mod to attack. That can be better or worse, depending on your Str mod and other factors. It also gets better with time, just like Twin Strike does with boosts to the damage rolls.

I agree with Mengu (and others): making Careful Attack better at damage doesn't improve the power. You still have the problem of Careful Attack and Twin Strike having the exact same effect: they are powers that are effectively a Basic Attack, but do more damage. Careful Attack has to differentiate itself by having a different effect then straight damage.

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

Make twin strike dual wield only, not ranged.

Make careful attack ranged only and include Dex.

Make Sure Strike count as a basic attack.

Poof, all problems addressed. Well, except for rangers needing more at-will options Suppose make nimble strike work with melee too, woul be one help.

I am really leery of making powers count as basic attacks. I think that this would be more potent than you're anticipating: warlords granting basic attacks, opportunity attacks, etc. become way more powerful.

 

[Zurai]

I am really leery of making powers count as basic attacks. I think that this would be more potent than you're anticipating: warlords granting basic attacks, opportunity attacks, etc. become way more powerful.

I don't see how making Sure Strike/Careful Attack eligible for basic attacks would make any of that more powerful. SS/CA do less damage than a basic attack and only have a slight hit chance advantage.

 

[IanB]

Maybe SS/CA should target Reflex instead?