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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Stalker0" data-source="post: 303880" data-attributes="member: 5889">To put this in a less mathematical, and more situational approach, I went ahead and crunched some numbers using the melee combat calculater. (Note: I don't know who created it, but I really wish I could give them some praise b/c its an awesome program)First I assumed a lvl 11 Fighter (3 attacks) with a 16 str, weapon focus, weapon spec, improved crit, with a masterwork battleaxe (weilded one-handed). Assume a monster with set AC's, no miss chance, and no DR. And then determined the optimum power attack for max avg damage.For AC 10: PA-8AC 15: PA-4AC 18: PA-2AC 20: PA-1AC 22: PA- 0AC 30: PA- 0.Now assuming that fighter had a +3 battleaxe.AC 10: PA-9AC 15: PA-5AC 18: PA-2AC 20: PA-1AC 22: PA-0AC 30: PA-0AC 38: PA-11 (once the AC is to the point that only 20 dice rolls can hit, then of course power attack for max).Fighter with a +5 battleaxe.AC 10: PA-9AC 15: PA-7AC 18: PA-4AC 20: PA-2AC 22: PA-0AC 30: PA-0*Remember that a beter strength mod and a lower enchantment equal the same results. A fighter with a 20 strength and a +1 battleaxe would yield the same results as table 2.Now instead of a battleaxe, we'll try a longsword (effect of crits on this setting)Masterwork longsword:AC 10: PA-8AC 15: PA-4AC 18: PA-2AC 20: PA-1AC 22: PA-0AC 30: PA-0Flaming Longsword (I know this can never happen, just bear with me)AC 10: PA-8AC 15: PA-3AC 18: PA-1AC 20: PA-0AC 22: PA-0AC 30: PA-0Longsword +3:AC 10: PA-9AC 15: PA-5AC 18: PA-2AC 20: PA-1AC 22: PA-0AC 30: PA-0Keen Longsword +3:AC 10: PA-9AC 15: PA-5AC 18: PA-2AC 20: PA-1AC 22: PA-0AC 30: PA-0Longsword +5:AC 10: PA-9AC 15: PA-7AC 18: PA-4AC 20: PA-2AC 22: PA-0AC 30: PA-0After all this data was compiled I came to the following conclusions:1) AC is the predominat factor on when to power attack2) Crit range has absolutely no bearing on how much to power attack.3) Your enhancement bonus due to weapons or strength has only a minor effect on how much to power attack and only in the AC 15-18 region.4) Additional weapon damage on the weapon (flaming, shocking, etc) has a noticable effect on power attack (it lowers the PA you should use). THe more of such extra damages, the less you should power attack.5) Having a AC of 10 really sucks<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> Just a reminder that this only determines these effects on power attack, not on overall damage done.If I have some time later I'll post results on using two weapons, or a weapon in two hands.</blockquote>

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