Max melee damage at 1st level - core vs. non-core

Thurbane

First Post
Hi all,

For an upcoming debate/article I am trying to figure a comparison of maximum melee damage a core only character vs. non-core can inflict at 1st level.

Lets assume the following:

The core only character is limited to races, classes, feats and equipment in the PHB (so no races from the MM please) - if you want to include a MM race for comparison, please try to make it a LA 0 creature without racial HD.

My reckoning is as follows -

Core: 1/2 Orc Barbarian with Power Attack and a Great Axe. Asuuming he is 20 STR, raging, using full power attack, and scores a critical = (12 + 7 + 2) x 3 = 63

Non-core: (?)

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Update - guideline clarification

1. The comparison is between a core build and non-core build. For this purpose, core assumes PHB material only, although a LA0 race with no racial HD from the MM1 are acceptable. Non-core assumes only WotC materials (i.e. no 3rd party or homebrew). Also, please stick with 3.5 material, or 3E material that has official errata updating it to 3.5

2. The point is for maximum damage in a single round as delivered by melee weapons (full round actions are fine). For this purpose, let us count unarmed attacks and natural attacks as weapons. It also assumes that all attacks succeed and are criticals. Finally, assume that the character is already in "combat mode" with weapons drawn, as is the opponent.

3. I would prefer that rounds of buffing didn't occur, as this is not truly representative of 1 round of combat, since the character has invested multiple rounds of buffing. Although, spells which buff for a relatively long amount of time like a minute or more should be OK, as these can be assumed to have been cast before combat began.

4. For this exercise, assume that the character is solo, and not get buffed or aided by another individual. Ideally this would mean no mounts, animal companions etc, but if they are within the means of a 1st level character, then they may be counted.

5. Please try to avoid damage that relies on a situational modifier, such as the opponent charging, combat taking place next to a 200 foot drop, opponent being of a certain race etc. Let's just assume we are talking about a toe to toe melee round with a generic opponent.

6. Please doon't read any more into this comparison than what is there. It is not meant to be a slur again non-core materials. In fact, it is not meant to be anything other than a simple number crunch. Please don't stress or get upset about it, it's just a silly little discussion.
 
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HeavyG

First Post
Actually, that raging barbarian would have a Str of 24, thus would do +7 (x1.5) = +10 to damage. Max crit = 72.

Edit: Scythe would have a max of 80 dmg.
 

Artoomis

First Post
Power Attack at 1 BAB = +1 max

20 STR = + 5

Additional STR = +2 more (Raging) for +7, and 1.5 times that for two hand = 10

So it comes out to (12+10+1)*3 or (8+10+1)*4

Right?

So that's 69 or 76 for the Sythe.

Of course, since the damage is actually rolled more than once rather than multiplied, the odds of doing that much damage are near zero (1 in 1728 for the axe, 1 in 4096 for the sythe.) The odds are really much less than that as this requires a confirmed critical, too.
 
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Hypersmurf

Moderatarrrrh...
Artoomis said:
So that's 69 or 76 for the Sythe.

Half-Orc Cleric with the Strength and Destruction domains. 20 Str plus Enlarge Person for a total of 22. Magic Weapon spell on the Enlarged scythe. Divine Favor spell. Destruction Domain Smite power. Critical for a total of (12 + 9 + 1 + 1 + 1) x 4, or 96 damage.

Sure, he's not proficient, but we're assuming a critical, right?

-Hyp.
 
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pawsplay

Hero
On WotC optimization board, there's a level 1 challenge going on. Someone came up with a commoner who can do hideous damage... he spent all of his beginning funds on cattle and has trained them to stampede on command.

It would help to know what the comparison was for.

Just some thoughts... orcs are LA +0 and have +4 Str, so a 22 strength is certainly possible. Our orc barbarian should also charge, for 2x4 = 8 more damage.

On the other hand, a 1st level elven wizard who gets a lucky roll and pushes someone off a 200 foot cliff causes 20d6 damage, or a maximum of 120. If there happens to be lava at the bottom of that cliff, that's an additonal 20d6 damage per round, for a total of 240 damage.
 

Hypersmurf

Moderatarrrrh...
pawsplay said:
On WotC optimization board, there's a level 1 challenge going on. Someone came up with a commoner who can do hideous damage... he spent all of his beginning funds on cattle and has trained them to stampede on command.

That's not a melee damage roll, really.

Our orc barbarian should also charge, for 2x4 = 8 more damage.

How is he converting charging into damage?

On the other hand, a 1st level elven wizard who gets a lucky roll and pushes someone off a 200 foot cliff causes 20d6 damage, or a maximum of 120. If there happens to be lava at the bottom of that cliff, that's an additonal 20d6 damage per round, for a total of 240 damage.

That's not a melee damage roll, really.

-Hyp.
 


Hmm, what about the situation?

Human Rogue with Mounted Combat +Spirited Charge and Lance:

Second multiplier is 1 less than it's face value (Thus x2+x2 = x3). Therefore the x3 Critical and x3 Spirited Charge become x5 total multiplier.

18Str = +4 Damage (1.5 to +6), x3 for Spirited Charge, x3 for Critical = 6x5 = +30STR damage bonus.

3d8 Critical Lance Damage, x2 for a spirited Charge = 8d8 lance Damage.

Sneak Attack for 1d6 (not multiplied by critical, though arguably multiplied by Spirited Charge since that's not specifically denied in the text as criticals are. I'll assume not though).

Total Damage of 64+30+6= 100 Damage even.

Edit: This, of course, isn't counting bonus damage from the mount's attacks.
 
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