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Message: <blockquote data-quote="FormerlyHemlock" data-source="post: 6661052" data-attributes="member: 6787650">Attack with longsword: 1d8 (longsword) + 1d8 (improved smite) + STR, x2 dice for critical because target is paralyzed in melee range = 4d8 + STR Rider/smite (4th level slot, cost: 6 SP): 5d8 (base) + 1d8 (improved smite), x2 dice for critical = 12d8Total damage on hit: 16d8 + STRExtra attack means he does the longsword twice, so 32d8 + Str x2 = 32 * 4.5 = 144 + Str x 2, with Str 16 is 150 damage. You could swap out your longsword for a greatsword to boost your damage slightly but it hardly seems necessary.Scorching ray has 3 rays + 1 per extra level, so 8 rays at level 7 (3 + 5). (My original post was in error, I miscounted and thought there would be nine rays.) Each ray does 3d6 damage, x2 dice for crit in melee range, +CHA for being a dragon sorc, so 6d6 + CHA. Roll 6d6 + CHA and multiply by the number of rays that hit. If eight rays hit and CHA is 20, that is 8 * ((6 * 3.5) + 5) = 208 points of damage.150 + 208 = 358. Max damage would be (32 * 8 + 3 * 2) + 8 * (6 * 6 + 5) = 590, but then of course max damage is less interesting than average damage anyway.So, 358 points of damage, give or take, and you still have a reaction. You spent four 4th level slots (6 SP each), one quickened 5th level slot (2 sorcery points and 7 SP), and one 7th level slot (10 SP IIRC), for 4 * 6 + 7 + 10 = 41 SP and 2 sorcery points total cost.You could boost this damage total slightly (by 20 points) by using Sacred Weapon + GWM + greatsword, adding approximately 20 points of damage per round. That's not really interesting from the nova perspective but cheap, consistent damage is more my style, so I like that way. Also, as mentioned previously, the nova version relies on your enemy failing his saving throw against Hold Monster, and any enemy who easily fails a save isn't worth spending a nova on anyway, so that is more something you do when someone manages to land a lucky Hold Monster on someone who normally would pass, but has depleted all of his Legendary Resists and also rolled a natural one on his save or something.</blockquote>

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