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

[C_M2008]

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 3-20 (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.

There is a typing error in the flanking section:
should be hit on 3-19 (the math is correct anyway however)

 

[Zaruthustran]

Oops! Thank you, C_M2008.

 

[WOLead]

Not counting Flanking into the equations due to ranged combat and attempts of getting Mongo to follow behind.

Sansai, Half-Elf Star Pact Warlock: (STR8, DEX13, Con20, INT13, WIS10, CHA12), Rod, Astral Fire, Dire Radiance, Eldritch Blast(Con), Diabloic Blast, Warlock's Curse, Prime Shot.

Dire Radiance and Warlock's Curse:
+6 vs Fortitude, 1d6+5+1 damage + 1d6
Miss on a 1-7 (0 damage * .35 = 0)
Hit on a 8-19 (13 damage * .6 = 7.8)
Crit on a 20 (15.5 damage * .05 = .775)
Total expected damage per round = 8.575

Dire Radiance and Warlock's Curse with Mongo approaches Sansai afterwards:
+6 vs Fortitude, 1d6+5+1 damage + 1d6+5+1 damage when approached + 1d6 W.Curse
Miss on a 1-7 (0 damage * .35 = 0)
Hit on a 8-19 (22.5 damage * .6 = 13.5)
Crit on a 20 (25 damage * .05 = 1.25)
Total expected damage per round = 14.75

Eldritch Blast with Warlock's Curse
+6 vs. Reflex 1d10+5 damage + 1d6
Miss on a 1-7 (0 damage *.35 = 0)
Hit on a 10-19 (14 damage * .6 = 8.4)
Crit on a 20 (18.5 damage * .05 = 0.925)
Total expected damage per round = 9.325

Diabloic Blast with Warlock's Curse
+6 vs. Will 2d8+5 damage + 1d6
Miss on a 1-7 (0 damage * .35 = 0)
Hit on a 10-19 (17.5 damage * .6 = 10.5)
Crit on a 20 (24.5 damage * .05 = 1.225)
Total expected damage per round = 11.725


Now things depend on one bit of info not given, how often will Mongo chase after the Warlock.

For a rough average, lets say he chases two and stays still 1:
Known Pattern:
(DR+WC+Follow)*7 + (DB+WC) + (EB+WC)*2 = 133.625
Random Pattern(2/3rds a chance of the Follow add, 1/3rd a chance without):
(DR+WC+Follow)*9*(2/3) + (DR+WC)*9*(1/3) + (DB+WC) = 125.95

Chases every other turn:
Known Pattern:
(DR+WC+Follow)*5 + (EB+WC)*4 + (DB+WC) = 122.775
Random Pattern(Half a chance of Follow add and Half a chance without):
(DR+WC+Follow)*9*(1/2) + (DR+WC)*9*(1/2) + (DB+WC) = 116.6875

Every turn Mongo Follows:
(DR + WC + Follow)*10 = 147.5

Mongo is as still as a Statue:
(EB+WC)*9 + (DB+WC) = 95.65

So, in the end. If Mongo has Random Pattern to chasing Sansai at a 50% chance or stands still, then he'll live. If he stands completely still, he'll be safest. If he chases after Sansai most, if not all the time, he'll die early. Though that damage will go down if I am wrong on the assumption that the Astral Fire feat will benefit on the Rider effect that's apart of the Dire Radiance.

Ninja Edit: After Zaruthustran post, I saw a problem where I erred in Dire Radiance forgetting its Con and not Cha. I adjusted the build and fixed it easily enough for the same results.

 

[t3nk3n]

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
.

Sly Flourish is vs. AC, not reflex, you're thinking Piercing Strike, which doesn't get the charisma bonus, but either way, Mongo Lives!

Sly Flourish
+9 vs AC, 1d4 + 9 damage
Miss on a 1-7 (0 damage * .35 = 0)
Hit on a 8-19 (11.5 damage * .60 = 6.9)
Crit on a 20 (13 damage * .05 = .65)
Total expected damage per round = 7.55
Five rounds = 37.75

Sly Flourish with Flank
+11 vs AC, 1d4 + 9 + 2d6 damage
Miss on a 1-5 (0 damage * .25 = 0)
Hit on a 6-19 (18.5 damage * .70 = 12.95)
Crit on a 20 (25 damage * .05 = 1.25)
Total expected damage per round = 14.2
Five rounds = 71

108.75 = Mongo Lives

Piercing Strike
+9 vs Reflex, 1d4 + 6 damage
Miss on a 1-4 (0 damage * .20 = 0)
Hit on a 5-19 (8.5 damage * .75 = 6.375)
Crit on a 20 (10 damage * .05 = .5)
Total expected damage per round = 6.875
Five rounds = 34.375

Piercing Strike with Flank
+11 vs Reflex, 1d4 + 6 + 2d6 damage
Miss on a 1-2 (0 damage * .1 = 0)
Hit on a 3-19 (15.5 damage * .85 = 13.175)
Crit on a 20 (22 damage * .05 = 1.1)
Total expected damage per round = 14.275
Five rounds = 71.375

105.75 = Mongo Lives

 

[Bagpuss]

Can I just use Tide of Iron to push Mongo over the cliff and into lava? If he fails his save to catch himself, he's dead in the first round.

Oh the rest of you didn't spot the lava?

 

[Zaruthustran]

Dire Radiance and Warlock's Curse with Mongo approaches Sansai afterwards:

The extra damage from Warlock's Curse is applied once per round, so you get it either on your turn (when you hit him with Radiance) or on Mongo's turn (when he approaches). Not both.

 

[WOLead]

The extra damage from Warlock's Curse is applied once per round, so you get it either on your turn (when you hit him with Radiance) or on Mongo's turn (when he approaches). Not both.

I don't believe I have counted Warlock's Curse damage more then once per round in my calculations.

 

[Zaruthustran]

I don't believe I have counted Warlock's Curse damage more then once per round in my calculations.

Oh, I see. The first block is for the straight shot, the second block is for when Mongo moves forward. Sorry! I thought the first block was an opening salvo, and the second was a followup attack.

Good job! Death to mongo.

 

[Thikket]

This is my first attempt at making a 4e character, so forgive any errors. The build is intended to milk the Multiclass feat which allows a Warlock with 13 Dex to take Warrior of the Wild -- so you can Quarry and Curse Mongo, for a total of +2d6 damage to all your connecting attacks.

I didn't include flanking.



Sweet, the Tiefling Star Pact Warlock
(You get ten cookies if you catch the extremely oblique reference to a certain very Charismatic demon...)

Str 8 Dex 13 Con 10 Int 15 Wis 10 Cha 20
Racial: Bloodhunt: +1 ATK vs. Bloodied
Racial: Infernal Wrath: Minor Action: +1 ATK to enemy hit last turn, +CHA dmg if connects.
Feat: Warrior of the Wild
Prime Shot.
Pertinent powers: Dreadful Word (Cha vs. Will, 2d8+CHA dmg, -3 Will DEF to next attack if connects)
Eldritch Blast (Cha vs. Refl, 1d10+CHA dmg)

***
Battleplan:
Round 1: Minor Action: Warlock's Curse. Minor Action: Hunter's Quarry. Standard Action: Eldritch blast.
Rounds 2-10: Eldritch Blast, unless Mongo is bloodied and was just hit by an Eldritch Blast; in this latter case, do Dreadful Word with Infernal Wrath.
***

Attacks are made at +5 CHA + 1 Prime Shot = +6, all vs. Reflex or Will (14). Bonus damage of 1d6 from Quarry and 1d6 from Curse.

Rounds 1-6:
Eldritch Blast +6 vs +14.
Miss on 1-7 (0 damage).
Hit on 8-19 (1d10+2d6+5 * 0.60 = 5.5+7+5 * 0.60 = 17.5 * 0.60 = 10.5 damage)
Crit on 20 (10+2d6+5 * 0.05 = 10+7+5 * 0.05 = 22 * 0.05 = 1.1 damage)
Total expected damage per round of Eldritch Blast: 11.6.

On average, after 6 rounds, Mongo is Bloodied, with 50.4 HP remaining.

Round 7:
Dreadful Word (w/ Bloodhunt & Infernal Wrath) +8 vs +14
Miss on 1-5 (0 damage).
Hit on 6-19 (2d8+2d6+5+5 * 0.70 = 9+7+5+5 * 0.70 = 26 * 0.70 = 18.2 damage)
Crit on 20 (16+2d6+5+5 * 0.05 = 16+7+5+5 * 0.05 = 33 * 0.05 = 1.65 damage)
Total expected damage on this round: 19.85.

Round 8-10:
Eldritch Blast (w/ Bloodhunt) +7 vs. +14.
Miss on 1-6 (0 damage).
Hit on 7-19 (1d10+2d6+5 * 0.65 = 5.5+7+5 * 0.65 = 17.5 * 0.65 = 11.375 damage)
Crit on 20 (10+2d6+5 * 0.05 = 10+7+5 * 0.05 = 22 * 0.05 = 1.1 damage)
Total expected damage per round of Bloodhunt Eldritch Blast: 12.475.

Mongo has taken over these ten rounds:
6*11.6 + 1*19.85 + 3*12.475 = 126.875 damage.

 

[WOLead]

Oh, I see. The first block is for the straight shot, the second block is for when Mongo moves forward. Sorry! I thought the first block was an opening salvo, and the second was a followup attack.

Good job! Death to mongo.

No worries, it was late when I was thinking up how to bring Death to Mongo. Really hard to distract Death from watching Rincewind it seems. Anyways, it caused me to double check to see what you were talking about and allowed me to spot the mistake with Dire Radiance.

@Thikket
Well, you went and showed how to take down Mongo when he can be as still as a statue. I have heard whispers that the marking effects for Paladin and Ranger Multiclassing is supposed to have an errata that the effect is only supposed to last until the end of your next turn, and not the entire encounter. But I can't link the source, so don't take my word for truth.

Mah, that Tiefling's racial powers are useful it seems. An extra +1 to hit on a bloodied foe, and +1 to hit and +5 dmg on one attack with its encounter power. DWord and Infernal Wrath makes an interesting spike, and possible flavor to a fight. Just how do you get out of telling to the Paladin and Halfling of the group just what you just whispered to Mongo that caused him to react so horribly and painfully.