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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Stoutstien" data-source="post: 7912033" data-attributes="member: 7020569">That's the problem with viewing average damage as a basis of comparison for defense. Combat in DND isn't linear so in order to see it in action you actually have to run blow by blow (a lot of them if you want a overall picture).<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">one flaw in your comparison is you didn't factor in reckless attack. doesn't seem like much but with that  +6 you are using that EHP gets cut in 1/3.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">next problem is looking at the total EHP the classes have in a day. its nice to know but doesn't help in terms of actual ability to survive an individual encounter.  so a better question is: how many rounds can each class endure and overcome  X? we can use your example PCs from above and attack them with 6 bandits. if each player did nothing the barbarian would last about 7.3 rounds and the fighter would last about 8 assuming the barb is raging and the fighter doesn't use second wind. now lets fight back the fighter can make 2 attacks dealing enough damage each hit to reduce them to dead or near dead with a %80 chance to hit each one. reducing incoming damage enough each turn to end the encounter in 3 rounds taking 14 damage second wind and that's down to 4. the barb has the same chance to hit and damage done unless they RA which would end the encounter sooner but would increase damage taken. the best move would be to attack normally until 2 targets left to hit.  the barb could end the fight, on average, in 4 rounds taken 12 damage.</li> </ul>you can repeat this using different NPCs. sometimes the barbarian comes out ahead usually due to the NPCs having higher than normal attack modifiers but i also compared the bear totem barb vs the champion. factor in battle master or EK and its really bad. also barb just scale badly. do the same test at lv 10 + and its depressing.for fun <a href="https://anydice.com/program/19c90" target="_blank">AnyDice</a> to figure the barb real damage taken just divide by 2. the both would kill the ogre in 4 rounds</blockquote>

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