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Message: <blockquote data-quote="shoak1" data-source="post: 6915362" data-attributes="member: 54380">Good analysis, but there are a few problems with it I see. To ground this analysis into a specific example, lets take a 5th level fighter w/18 STR and a +1 greatsword - so he has +8 to hit and does 15 avg damage, twice per round.  His avg opponent would be a CR 5-7 boss (AC 15, hp 150) or a few CR 3-4 guys (AC 13-14, hp 100).  So first, lets dispel the idea of overkill mattering since hp are plenty big enough for it to rarely matter, and just say the feat is not good at really low levels.Now consider that his avg chance of hitting is going to be 75% normally w/o GWM or STR bonus, throughout levels +/- a bit.  Damage at this level would be 15 as above.Now lets look at your specific examples:Almost never gonna happen that L5 guy faces AC18.  But if it does, here is the revised stats based on 15 dmg.:Baseline has a 35% for 15 = 5.25GWF not in use = 30% for 14 = 4.2GWF in use is 5% for 24 = 1.2So if facing such a high AC, he can turn the feat off and does 20% less damage than if he had taken STR buff instead.Never gonna happen that L5 guy faces AC21.Revised to baseline 15 dmg:Baseline has a 65% for 15 = 9.75GWF not using it has 60% * 14 = 8.4GWF in use has 35% * 24 = 8.4So against the few AC 16 guys he faces, our L5 guy is at a 10% disadvantage by taking GWM.And so here we finally have a more common scenario for our L5 hero - against AC13, here is the stats revised for 15 baseline dmg.:Baseline has 80% for 15 = 12GWF not using 75% for 14 = 10.5GWF using it 50% for 25 = 12.5Here he does 5% more damage on average w/GWM as opposed to STR buff.  Not exactly game breaking.I think my revised data above (based on baseline 75% chance to hit and 15 dmg) shows that GWM is on par the STR buff.  BUT - while GWM in combat is arguably equal to +2 STR in combat effect, the STR buff adds Athletics checks and STR saves - at least until it maxes out, and that makes +2 STR "better" imo.  Even after STR maxes out, GWM is not a HUGE advantage - so I am revising my opinion and I think GWM is not imbalanced for combat.  I think it is a cool and balanced option.</blockquote>

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