Walking Dad
First Post
Added language. No problem with waiting for my regional bonus
The former "Plots, Places and Rogues" is now just called the "Plots and Places" forum, but all the characters are still posted there.
[sblock=redclaw]I confess to hoping from a response to you just so I could thank you for "preparing me" for low attribute powers.
[sblock=Math blather you've heard before]As I've mentioned before (maybe using different language) 4e is built assuming at least +4 to hit at first level, usually a +5 (or +6~8/+7~9 with weapons). It's default. That's why all the alchemy stuff starts out at +4 vs ref/most 1st level minions have +4 to hit, etc. The game starts at +4
It's not really a question of 1-time-in-20 because of how probability works.
Most monsters have defenses around 14~16 at 1st level. (They may have a weaker defense floating around, but most characters basically can only target one or two defenses so you won't be able to get at that most of the time.) Adding things like cover, concealment, marking, negative conditions, etc and you're shooting for 18s and 20s.
Someone with a +2 is going to hit an 18 20% of the time. Someone with a +5 is going to hit 40%. That's twice times as frequently.
(adding in things like lower +s to damage (from the lowered prime attributed) it's like being permanently weakened, and then some).
It's just the probabilities. The game is constructed so that you hit people in optimal situations about 50-70%% of the time, and sub optimal situations about 40%~30% of the times. That's the "fun spot" that WotC was targeting.
Forcing once character off that curve and down to 15% would normally transform them into comic relief. They can tag along and rp but that's it.
Conveniently the artificer is the first class where they're playing around with "even when you miss you get to do something". So I'm not objecting in this case, but I stand by the general point I made in your game that 4e DnD is constructed to be fun for people who have a +4~+5 to hit vs non-AC defenses (at 1st level).
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I do mean it about my appreciation though. With my new mindset I am planning on having a lot of fun.
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