Generic Human Warblade 1: First Stance

[hong]

Being serious for a moment: Maximizing damage means minimizing the attacks against you. Dead orcs don't cleave.

Yes. And if your 2d6+3 is enough to drop the 5 hp orc, the extra d6 isn't really doing anything worthwhile.

 

[Nail]

If you are attacking with a Greatsword and Str 18, with Punishing Stance you'd be doing 2d6 + 1d6 + 6. That's average damage of (3.5*3 + 6) 16.

That'll drop all creatures of less than CR 1 in the MM.

Interestingly, that does NOT drop all CR 1 creatures in the MM.

And CR 2 creatures? Their average hp is 20. So, likely as not, they are still standing after you hit them with your one attack per round. ...and then they attack you.......

Tell me there aren't CR 2 creatures in a 1st level adventure...........

 

[hong]

If you are attacking with a Greatsword and Str 18, with Punishing Stance you'd be doing 2d6 + 1d6 + 6. That's average damage of (3.5*3 + 6) 16.

That'll drop all creatures of less than CR 1 in the MM.

Interestingly, that does NOT drop all CR 1 creatures in the MM.

In which case I'll much rather have the +2 AC against them when they hit back, thanks.

And CR 2 creatures? Their average hp is 20.

Ditto.

 

[Nail]

And that might be a good idea.

...depending on how many round they are left standing because you haven't killed 'em yet.

 

[Nail]

Huh.

The poll is closed?

 

[hong]

And that might be a good idea.

...depending on how many round they are left standing because you haven't killed 'em yet.

An extra 3.5 points of damage on a base average of 13, in the situation where the great majority of opponents have < 10 hp and all but 1 or 2 will have < 20, translates to the exact same number of rounds most of the time. You hit it twice, it's dead.

Conversely, the +2 AC, compared to -2, might well keep you alive long enough to _deliver_ that second hit.

 

[Nifft]

Of just the two finalists, I actually like Punishing Stance better, just because you need it to qualify for Iron Heart Aura early, and once you have that, you can take more generally useful Iron Heart stances (like Absolute Steel).

Iron Heart Aura is great because it allows you to get Stormguard Warrior, and that is a really great feat. Really, really great.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Nail]

Where's Stormguard Warrior?

 

[Nail]

Conversely, the +2 AC, compared to -2, might well keep you alive long enough to _deliver_ that second hit.

If we were only looking at the +2 AC vs +3.5 damage, I'd agree completely. It's just that -2 AC to everyone else that really takes the luster out of it.

 

[hong]

If we were only looking at the +2 AC vs +3.5 damage, I'd agree completely. It's just that -2 AC to everyone else that really takes the luster out of it.

The -2 to everyone else applies to both feats. And at low levels, you're certainly not going to be facing huge hordes. You may have to work a bit to ensure you don't get isolated, but it certainly shouldn't be hard.