kaomera
Explorer
Even with the minor-action claw? Should I be rating average damage strictly on a per-power basis? Because I've tended to try and factor in multiple attacks, situational bonuses, etc.
Critique my monster, please?
- Thread starter kaomera
- Start date
the Jester
Legend
Well, since the claw is effectively a limited use power, I'd leave the bite at full damage and then make the claw's additional damage enough to count the combo as a limited-use damage expression.
So for a 17th level brute, the limited damage should be 25% to 50% higher than standard. Since the claw is every other round, I'd err on the low side- or about an average of an extra 8 damage. I would leave the clause about "take extra damage equal to your ongoing damage" unchanged and wouldn't count on it kicking in reliably. I think your claw (average of 11 damage) is fine as is- a wee bit high but that's okay.
From what I have been able to discern, a lot of triggered actions do normal damage, but not all. As always with 4e, it's all about exception-based design.
kaomera
Explorer
Good points. I'm never really sure when to apply the higher damage expressions. I also think I've been mucking things up by using the monster builder to re-level monsters - damage and defenses seem to be all over the place. But I kind of expect that all attacks shouldn't just do a fixed average damage, as there are other factors at work (conditions for one). And it seems like defenses should vary a bit, with some weak and others stronger...
the Jester
Legend
I agree about defenses and such, but generally, MM3 doesn't seem to lower damage for applying conditions and such. They're just riders on top of the damage. (There are exceptions, but speaking generally...) And MM3 critters are definitely a lot more fun to use than MM1 monsters (again, as a rule). So I tend to err on the side of more damage.
