D&D 4E Kill Mongo! 4E min/max design challenge.

[robgmsft]

Mongo has an AC of 17 and Fort/Ref/Will of 14
Mongo is flanked half the time
Mongo auto-saves after two auto-fails (for calculating the effect of continuing powers)
Mongo has 120 hit points
You are 1st level and have one encounter of 10 rounds in the ring with Mongo, can you kill him?
No daily powers allowed.

I can do 117 points of damage (on average) to Mongo with Talisker, Eladrin Brawny Rogue: (STR16, DEX18, Con10, INT10, WIS12, CHA12), Short Sword, Backstabber, Piercing Strike, Torturous Strike.

Piercing Strike
+7 vs Reflex, 1d6+4 damage
Miss on a 1-6 (0 damage * .30 = 0)
Hit on a 7-19 (7.5 damage * .65 = 4.875)
Crit on a 20 (10 damage * .05 = .5)
Total expected damage per round = 5.375

Piercing Strike with Sneak Attack and flank
+9 vs Reflex, 1d6+4+2d8+3 damage
Miss on a 1-4 (0 damage * .20 = 0)
Hit on a 10-19 (19.5 damage * .85 = 16.575)
Crit on a 20 (22 damage * .05 = 1.10)
Total expected damage per round = 17.675

Tortuous Strike
+7 vs. AC 2d6+7
Miss on a 1-9 (0 damage * .45 = 0)
Hit on a 10-19 (14 damage * .50 = 7)
Crit on a 20 (19 damage * .05 = .95)
Total expected damage per round = 7.95

1 round tortuous strike + 4 rounds piercing strike + 5 rounds piercing strike w/sneak attack and flank = 117.825

Can you do better?

 

[phil500]

Wouldnt a dex of 20 in your build kill him?

this is a cool challenge, but I think mongo needs some attack powers and fewer hp.

that way its a race against death, rather than rounds, and striker isnt so obviously the way to go.

 

[robgmsft]

probably...

...though if you have a dex of 20, your str drops to 14 tops, which reduces your damage from Torturous Strike and Sneak Attack. It also hurts my other at-will power 'riposte strike' which relies on Str that I get to use once my warlord and I set up flank.

This is basically a "turtle deck" challenge for those familiar with Magic the Gathering - it's a simple 'enemy' that just sits there and takes damage. A good way to tune your deck before tweaking it.

What if Mongo had 140 hit points?

 

[Andur]

All you need to do is send Mongo a "Candygram" and you can win in one round...

 

[Thasmodious]

Mongo like candy!

Mongo love Sheriff Bart!

 

[phil500]

...though if you have a dex of 20, your str drops to 14 tops, which reduces your damage from Torturous Strike and Sneak Attack. It also hurts my other at-will power 'riposte strike' which relies on Str that I get to use once my warlord and I set up flank.

what is the feat the rogue took?

warrior of the wild would do mongo in, I think.

 

[robgmsft]

Backstabber.

...the rogue took backstabber (ups it to +2d8) Hmmm, hadn't realized that hunter's quarry lasts all encounter. That would add +1d6 to everything, which would be better, yes. Nice catch.

Meanwhile, here's Oban, Human Fighter coming in at a very decent 108 points:

20 STR +5
+1 for two handed weapon
Power attack +2 damage/-2 to hit
Weapon focus +1 damage
Greataxe +2 hit 1d12, high crit

Reaping Strike
+6 vs AC
Hit: 1d12 + 8
Miss: 5
Miss on a 1-10 (5 damage * .50 = 2.5)
Hit on a 11-19 (14.5 damage * .45 = 6.525)
Crit on a 20 (26.5 damage * .05 = 1.325)
Total expected damage per round = 10.35

Reaping Strike w/flank
+8 vs AC
Hit: 1d12 + 8
Miss: 5
Miss on a 1-8 (5 damage * .40 = 2.0)
Hit on a 9-19 (14.5 damage * .55 = 7.975)
Crit on a 20 (26.5 damage * .05 = 1.325)
Total expected damage per round = 11.30


10 rounds = 108.25

 

[Darkness]

Oban, Human Fighter coming in at a very decent 108 points:

...

10 rounds = 108.25

Edit: Never mind; I messed something up.

 

[Zaruthustran]

Hm. How about a Sir Firebelly, Dragonborn paladin, with 20 str, 12 con, 16 wis? He could wield a longsword two-handed, and take Weapon Focus: heavy blade.

Each Holy Strike would be at +8, for 1d8 + 10 damage.

Encounter power is Radiant Smite at +8, 2d8 + 10 damage.

Oh, and he could breath, once, for + 7, 1d6+1. ;p


Or, go Stabby the halfling rogue. Dex 20 & Cha 16. Weapon Focus: Dagger.

With Sly Flourish, he's at +9, for 1d4 + 9 damage. He doesn't hit as hard as Sir Firebelly, but he hits a bit more often--which means he'll get sneak attack a bit more often. That's gotta help, right?

Sly Flourish
+9 vs reflex, 1d4 + 9 damage
Miss on a 1-4 (0 damage * .20 = 0)
Hit on a 5-19 (11.5 damage * .75 = 8.625)
Crit on a 20 (13 damage * .05 = .15)
Total expected damage per round = 8.775
Five rounds = 42.875


Sly Flourish with Flank
+11 vs reflex, 1d4 + 9 + 2d6 damage
Miss on a 1-2 (0 damage * .1 = 0)
Hit on a 3-19 (18.5 damage * .85 = 15.725)
Crit on a 20 (20 damage * .05 = 1)
Total expected damage per round = 16.725
Five rounds = 83.625

Total for 10 rounds = 126.5

Death to Mongo!

-z

PS: the math on Mongo's first challenger, Talisker doesn't quite work out: the multiplier for the normal hit on the flanked attack should be .75, not .85, lowering Talisker's average damage to 15.725.

 

[nute]

Hm. How about a Sir Firebelly, Dragonborn paladin

Apropos of nothing, "Sir Firebelly" is officially the new iconic for paladins. So let it be written!