Half, Third and Full Superiority Dice Charts

[Yunru]

Using the Eldritch Knight as a comparison to the Paladin and the Sorcerer, I composed a rough formula for how to calculate them (1/3 caster progress at roughly 1/3 of the norm, 1/2 at 1/2). From there I extrapolated the progression of full Superiority Dice (it's 1 every 2 levels).
Then I reapplied the formula and compared it with the Battlemaster. Levels 7 and 8 are anomolies, otherwise this works perfectly. Obviously I'm not sure how you'd make a Full Dice class but...

[TABLE="class: grid, width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR][TD]Level[/TD][TD]Full Dice[/TD][TD]Half Dice[/TD][TD]Third Dice[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]1[/TD][TD]4d8[/TD][TD]-[/TD][TD]-[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]2[/TD][TD]4d8[/TD][TD]4d8
[/TD][TD]-[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]3[/TD][TD]5d8[/TD][TD]4d8[/TD][TD]4d8[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]4[/TD][TD]5d8[/TD][TD]4d8[/TD][TD]4d8[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]5[/TD][TD]6d8[/TD][TD]5d8[/TD][TD]4d8[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]6[/TD][TD]6d8[/TD][TD]5d8[/TD][TD]4d8[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]7[/TD][TD]7d8[/TD][TD]5d8[/TD][TD]4d8[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]8[/TD][TD]7d8[/TD][TD]5d8[/TD][TD]4d8[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]9[/TD][TD]8d8[/TD][TD]6d8[/TD][TD]5d8[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]10[/TD][TD]8d8[/TD][TD]6d8[/TD][TD]5d8[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]11[/TD][TD]9d8[/TD][TD]6d8[/TD][TD]5d8[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]12[/TD][TD]9d8[/TD][TD]6d8[/TD][TD]5d8[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]13[/TD][TD]10d8[/TD][TD]7d8[/TD][TD]5d8[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]14[/TD][TD]10d8[/TD][TD]7d8[/TD][TD]5d8[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]15[/TD][TD]11d8[/TD][TD]7d8[/TD][TD]6d8[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]16[/TD][TD]11d8[/TD][TD]7d8[/TD][TD]6d8[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]17[/TD][TD]12d8[/TD][TD]8d8[/TD][TD]6d8[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]18[/TD][TD]12d8[/TD][TD]8d8[/TD][TD]6d8[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]19[/TD][TD]13d8[/TD][TD]8d8[/TD][TD]6d8[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]20[/TD][TD]13d8[/TD][TD]8d8[/TD][TD]6d8[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]

When talking about using Manuever dice for spells, a look at the Warlock is essential. Like Manuever dice, Pact Magic slots refresh on a short rest.
Therefore, by comparing the two we get the following:
A 1st level spell should cost 2 dice.
A 2nd level spell should cost between 2 and 3 dice.
A 3rd level spell should cost 3 dice.
A 4th level spell should cost between 3 and 4 dice.
A 5th level spell should cost 4 dice.

Following the Warlock's example, higher level spells should probably only be 1/day abilities.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

this is soo cool, I wish there was a battlemaster class like this... I may adjust my rogue (swashbuckler) sub class idea with this...

 

[Xeviat]

A full superiority die class could be a Warblade or a Swordsage from Book of Nine Swords. Though, as of late, I'm finding myself wanting to remove superiority dice and to recreate the Battle Master using Ki instead, mostly because I like to have less subsystems. The Monk tops out at 20 ki points, and 1/3rd is 6, which is the same amount of dice the battle master gets. They refresh at a short rest, and the monk gets a "if you're at 0, gain X ki points upon rolling initiative" mechanic just like the fighter.

But, we do have rage uses, ki points, superiority dice, and wild shape uses all as their own counters, so it's not really a big deal.

 

[Yunru]

Updated with info about spell costs.

 

[Xeviat]

I still think the monk's 2-20 ki progression is closer to what we'd want. 4 dice at first level per short rest is a ton. I already think the BM gets too many dice at 3rd level.

 

[Yunru]

It's not unreasonable. Compare it ro a Warlocks 2 spells per rest, or the Rogue's extra 1d8 per turn.

Or indeed a Monk's 2 ki per rest, given that's an extra 4 attacks per rest.

 

[Xeviat]

Monk's 2 ki is 2 attacks per short rest; they can make 1 attack as a bonus action by default.

 

[Xeviat]

As for warlock, you're looking at 2d8+ability+rider vs a single target first level spell (or 2d6+1d8+ability+rider if the full die class gets martial two handers) like guiding bolt (cleric spell, I know) that has a comparable rider. 2d6+1d8+ability is 11.5+ability, or 14.5 at low levels probably, compared to 14 from guiding bolt.

1 die is already pretty close to a first level spell.