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General Tabletop Discussion
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
Classed NPCs vs Monster Damage
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<blockquote data-quote="(Psi)SeveredHead" data-source="post: 5357333" data-attributes="member: 1165"><p>I kept thinking classed NPCs do wimpy damage. After getting my hands on the July 2010 errata, seeing the monster damage amplification, I thought they'd get left further behind.</p><p></p><p>I was wrong. Classed NPCs seem to fall only slight behind monsters when it comes to at-will damage, and given they all get at least two additional abilities (1 utility and 1 daily, the latter of which might dish out 3[W] damage) they seem to be doing fine.</p><p></p><p>For classed NPCs, I assume they have a primary stat of 16 to start, and always boost it with levels. (A starting 18 might have been more reasonable, although that only grants +1 damage.) I assume their at-will does 1d10 base damage (2d10 at 21st-level+) as longbows, bastard swords (in one hand) and eldritch blast all do 1d10 damage and are common.</p><p></p><p>I assume each NPC is using a +1/5 levels implement or weapon (which essentially means a +1 bonus all the time, at all levels due to the item threshold rule). If an NPC paladin decided on magic full plate instead, their damage would drop by 1. Note that magic weapons/implements means NPC crits are a lot deadlier than monster crits.</p><p></p><p>Complications: I'm ignoring bonus damage sources like Hunter's Quarry and the warlock's curse, which would do considerably more damage on top of these high damage attacks. Naturally a fighter with starting Strength 18 and a greatsword will be doing more damage. A rogue relying on a dagger would deal considerably less, and a halfling rogue using Sly Flourish might deal comparable damage (but would have sneak attack on top; of course, that's also available to a lot of skirmishers and lurkers). Indeed, some classed NPCs might be considerably more powerful than the basic fighter I'm using here.</p><p></p><p>PCs would tend to do even more damage (since they have feats and paragon class abilities) but they don't enjoy the NPC's generic level bonus.</p><p></p><p>Level 1: NPC damage: 1d10+5 (avg 10.5 damage). Monster damage: 1d8+4 (avg 8.5 damage)</p><p></p><p>Level 6: NPC damage: 1d10+8 (avg 13.5 damage). Monster damage: 2d6+7 (avg 14 damage)</p><p></p><p>Level 8: NPC damage: 1d10+9 (avg 14.5 damage). Monster damage: 2d8+7 (avg 16 damage).</p><p></p><p>Level 11: NPC damage: 1d10+12 (avg 17.5 damage). Monster damage: 3d6+9 (avg 19.5 damage).</p><p></p><p>Level 16: NPC damage: 1d10+16 (avg 21.5 damage). Monster damage: 3d8+11 (avg 24.5 damage).</p><p></p><p>Level 21: NPC damage: 2d10+20 (avg 31 damage). Monster damage: 4d6+15 (avg 29 damage).</p><p></p><p>Level 26: NPC damage: 2d10+23 (avg 34 damage). Monster damage: 4d8+16 (avg 45 damage).</p><p></p><p>Level 28: NPC damage: 2d10+24 (avg 35 damage). Monster damage: 4d8+18 (avg 36 damage).</p><p></p><p>The damage values are always close, never off by more than 3 damage. I wonder if greatsword-wielders do about the same damage as brutes. I wonder if other stats would stick this close (attack bonuses, AC and defenses, for instance).</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="(Psi)SeveredHead, post: 5357333, member: 1165"] I kept thinking classed NPCs do wimpy damage. After getting my hands on the July 2010 errata, seeing the monster damage amplification, I thought they'd get left further behind. I was wrong. Classed NPCs seem to fall only slight behind monsters when it comes to at-will damage, and given they all get at least two additional abilities (1 utility and 1 daily, the latter of which might dish out 3[W] damage) they seem to be doing fine. For classed NPCs, I assume they have a primary stat of 16 to start, and always boost it with levels. (A starting 18 might have been more reasonable, although that only grants +1 damage.) I assume their at-will does 1d10 base damage (2d10 at 21st-level+) as longbows, bastard swords (in one hand) and eldritch blast all do 1d10 damage and are common. I assume each NPC is using a +1/5 levels implement or weapon (which essentially means a +1 bonus all the time, at all levels due to the item threshold rule). If an NPC paladin decided on magic full plate instead, their damage would drop by 1. Note that magic weapons/implements means NPC crits are a lot deadlier than monster crits. Complications: I'm ignoring bonus damage sources like Hunter's Quarry and the warlock's curse, which would do considerably more damage on top of these high damage attacks. Naturally a fighter with starting Strength 18 and a greatsword will be doing more damage. A rogue relying on a dagger would deal considerably less, and a halfling rogue using Sly Flourish might deal comparable damage (but would have sneak attack on top; of course, that's also available to a lot of skirmishers and lurkers). Indeed, some classed NPCs might be considerably more powerful than the basic fighter I'm using here. PCs would tend to do even more damage (since they have feats and paragon class abilities) but they don't enjoy the NPC's generic level bonus. Level 1: NPC damage: 1d10+5 (avg 10.5 damage). Monster damage: 1d8+4 (avg 8.5 damage) Level 6: NPC damage: 1d10+8 (avg 13.5 damage). Monster damage: 2d6+7 (avg 14 damage) Level 8: NPC damage: 1d10+9 (avg 14.5 damage). Monster damage: 2d8+7 (avg 16 damage). Level 11: NPC damage: 1d10+12 (avg 17.5 damage). Monster damage: 3d6+9 (avg 19.5 damage). Level 16: NPC damage: 1d10+16 (avg 21.5 damage). Monster damage: 3d8+11 (avg 24.5 damage). Level 21: NPC damage: 2d10+20 (avg 31 damage). Monster damage: 4d6+15 (avg 29 damage). Level 26: NPC damage: 2d10+23 (avg 34 damage). Monster damage: 4d8+16 (avg 45 damage). Level 28: NPC damage: 2d10+24 (avg 35 damage). Monster damage: 4d8+18 (avg 36 damage). The damage values are always close, never off by more than 3 damage. I wonder if greatsword-wielders do about the same damage as brutes. I wonder if other stats would stick this close (attack bonuses, AC and defenses, for instance). [/QUOTE]
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