Crunch Time - Class Comparisons

[IceFractal]

Now that the 4E character sheets are out, I figured it might be interesting to do some basic class comparisons. Now these are obviously incomplete, being based on a single character each, but let's assume the example characters are pretty typical members of their class.

Class		Will	Enc.	Daily	
Warlock		[COLOR=Red]13[/COLOR]	[COLOR=Red]14.5[/COLOR]	[COLOR=Red]21[/COLOR]
Paladin		8.5	10	16.5 (4.5)
Cleric		8.5	14*	17.5
Fighter		10.5	10.5	21.5
Ranger		[COLOR=Red]14[/COLOR]	*	[COLOR=Red]19.5[/COLOR]
Wizard		10	14	14 (5)

Here's a damage comparison of the various classes. The numbers in parentheses are ongoing damage (save ends, so on average it lasts 1 extra round).
Two explanations are in order for the starred values. The Cleric's "encounter" power is Channel Divinity boosting Lance of Faith, and the Ranger lacked a damaging "encounter" power.

Edit: Forgot about the Quarry and Curse abilities, added them. Now the Strikers are dealing the most "at-will" damage, although still not the most "daily" damage. Are there any other contributing abilities I'm forgetting?


So, what have you noticed about the classes - comparison wise? Not whether you like them though - that's a different topic, and one that would probably bury this in a second if it had a chance.

 

[Mentat55]

With Hunter's Quarry, the ranger does +1d8 damage against a single target, which increases his average at-will damage to 14 and his daily power to 19.5. This is in keeping with the idea that the striker does higher amounts of damage to single targets; if there was an example rogue, he might only be doing 1d4+4 to a single target with a dagger attack, but with combat advantage, that'd increase to 1d4+4+2d6, or 13.5 avg damage per hit.

The wizard is deceptive because he can hit multiple creatures with some of his powers, so while single target damage might be lower, the area of effect (as expected from a controller) makes up for it.

 

[hong]

Similarly the ranger's daily power (Split the Tree) does 2d10+4 damage to 2 targets, so that should be 30, not 15.

 

[Campbell]

Similarly the ranger's daily power (Split the Tree) does 2d10+4 damage to 2 targets, so that should be 30, not 15.

Also average damage calculations should factor in accuracy which works in the Ranger's favor.

 

[Ipissimus]

It surprises me that the Striker, Warlock, doesn't do the most ammount of damage. Then I realized that s/he is doing it is casting at range every round, perhaps with a bonus from the Curse power. That edges the averages up over time up slightly if you consider the Fighter has to get into position to strike.

Comparing the Warlock to the Ranger is more favourable a comparison, both being ranged attackers, you can see the Warlock's benefits comparably.

I think the Rogue will beat the Fighter as long as he gains combat advantage.

 

[IceFractal]

Thanks for reminding me about the Quarry/Curse abilities - it does shift things in the Strikers' favor, at least as far as "at-will" goes.

However, I'm not going to count Split the Tree as double because it hits two targets. The Wizard's encounter and daily powers can hit up to nine targets, if they're bunched together.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

in my opinion its a good solution to have striker doing most at will damage and giving out heavy daily limited damage to defenders...

...so in a one on one, the defenders can actually beat the strikers.