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Show me that Power Attack is ever Worth it..
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<blockquote data-quote="DracoSuave" data-source="post: 4881174" data-attributes="member: 71571"><p>Well, let's look at it at another tier, at epic.</p><p></p><p>====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======</p><p>Keothi, level 30</p><p>Goliath, Fighter, Stoneblessed, Eternal Defender</p><p>Build: Battlerager Fighter</p><p>Fighter Talents: Battlerager Vigor</p><p></p><p>FINAL ABILITY SCORES</p><p>Str 28, Con 24, Dex 14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 12.</p><p></p><p>STARTING ABILITY SCORES</p><p>Str 16, Con 15, Dex 11, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 10.</p><p></p><p></p><p>AC: 44 Fort: 44 Reflex: 39 Will: 37</p><p>HP: 228 Surges: 16 Surge Value: 57</p><p></p><p>TRAINED SKILLS</p><p>Endurance +27, Intimidate +21, Athletics +31</p><p></p><p>UNTRAINED SKILLS</p><p>Acrobatics +17, Arcana +15, Bluff +16, Diplomacy +16, Dungeoneering +18, Heal +18, History +15, Insight +18, Nature +20, Perception +18, Religion +15, Stealth +17, Streetwise +16, Thievery +17</p><p></p><p>FEATS</p><p>Level 1: Goliath Greatweapon Prowess</p><p>Level 2: Toughness</p><p>Level 4: Improved Vigor</p><p>Level 6: Weapon Expertise (Polearm)</p><p>Level 8: Power Attack</p><p>Level 10: Improved Initiative</p><p>Level 11: Unyielding Stone</p><p>Level 12: Mighty Battlerage</p><p>Level 14: Polearm Gamble</p><p>Level 16: Uncanny Dodge</p><p>Level 18: Paragon Defenses (retrained to Robust Defenses at Level 21)</p><p>Level 20: Deadly Axe</p><p>Level 21: Axe Mastery</p><p>Level 22: Martial Mastery</p><p>Level 24: Epic Reflexes</p><p>Level 26: Opportune Reflexes</p><p>Level 28: Epic Resurgence</p><p>Level 30: Martial Resolve</p><p></p><p>POWERS</p><p>Fighter at-will 1: Crushing Surge</p><p>Fighter at-will 1: Brash Strike</p><p>Fighter encounter 1: Bell Ringer</p><p>Fighter daily 1: Brute Strike</p><p>Fighter utility 2: Unstoppable</p><p>Fighter encounter 3: Advance Lunge</p><p>Fighter daily 5: Agonizing Assault</p><p>Fighter utility 6: Unbreakable</p><p>Fighter encounter 7: Come and Get It</p><p>Fighter daily 9: Bloodspike Sweep</p><p>Fighter utility 10: Into the Fray</p><p>Fighter encounter 13: Anvil of Doom (replaces Bell Ringer)</p><p>Fighter daily 15: Boulder Charge (replaces Brute Strike)</p><p>Fighter utility 16: Surprise Step</p><p>Fighter encounter 17: Buffeting Torque (replaces Advance Lunge)</p><p>Fighter daily 19: Controlling Thrust (replaces Agonizing Assault)</p><p>Fighter utility 22: Act of Desperation</p><p>Fighter encounter 23: Paralyzing Strike (replaces Come and Get It)</p><p>Fighter daily 25: Fighter's Resurgence (replaces Bloodspike Sweep)</p><p>Fighter encounter 27: Cruel Reaper (replaces Anvil of Doom)</p><p>Fighter daily 29: Storm of Destruction (replaces Boulder Charge)</p><p></p><p>ITEMS</p><p>Vorpal Halberd +6, Dawn Warrior Elderscale Armor +6, Torc of Power Preservation +6</p><p>====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======</p><p></p><p>Here we have a level 30 goliath polearm fighter maximised for reach. Yes, his weapon reach is 4.</p><p></p><p>Awesome.</p><p></p><p>Using his Vorpal Large Halbard +6, his Brash Strike does:</p><p></p><p>+37 attack, 2d12+26 (av. 39) damage before</p><p>+35 attack, 2d12+35 (av. 48) damage after.</p><p></p><p>Going back to the formula:</p><p></p><p>(21+35-AC)*48 > (21+37-AC)*39</p><p></p><p>56*48 - 48AC > 58*39 - 39AC</p><p></p><p>2688 - 2262 > 9AC</p><p></p><p>426/9 > AC</p><p></p><p>AC < 47.33</p><p></p><p>Orcus, an Ancient Red Dragon has an AC of 48. If you have combat advantage or a +1 to hit by any means, power attack is optimal.</p><p></p><p>The Terrasque has an AC of 43.</p><p></p><p>This is with Brash Strike, which is a high damage at-will. Lower the damage, and Power Attack becomes more useful.</p><p></p><p>Power Attack is hardly a trap at all!</p><p></p><p></p><p>Strange, on paper it looks bad, until you start actually comparing to the monsters you'll actually use it on.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="DracoSuave, post: 4881174, member: 71571"] Well, let's look at it at another tier, at epic. ====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ====== Keothi, level 30 Goliath, Fighter, Stoneblessed, Eternal Defender Build: Battlerager Fighter Fighter Talents: Battlerager Vigor FINAL ABILITY SCORES Str 28, Con 24, Dex 14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 12. STARTING ABILITY SCORES Str 16, Con 15, Dex 11, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 10. AC: 44 Fort: 44 Reflex: 39 Will: 37 HP: 228 Surges: 16 Surge Value: 57 TRAINED SKILLS Endurance +27, Intimidate +21, Athletics +31 UNTRAINED SKILLS Acrobatics +17, Arcana +15, Bluff +16, Diplomacy +16, Dungeoneering +18, Heal +18, History +15, Insight +18, Nature +20, Perception +18, Religion +15, Stealth +17, Streetwise +16, Thievery +17 FEATS Level 1: Goliath Greatweapon Prowess Level 2: Toughness Level 4: Improved Vigor Level 6: Weapon Expertise (Polearm) Level 8: Power Attack Level 10: Improved Initiative Level 11: Unyielding Stone Level 12: Mighty Battlerage Level 14: Polearm Gamble Level 16: Uncanny Dodge Level 18: Paragon Defenses (retrained to Robust Defenses at Level 21) Level 20: Deadly Axe Level 21: Axe Mastery Level 22: Martial Mastery Level 24: Epic Reflexes Level 26: Opportune Reflexes Level 28: Epic Resurgence Level 30: Martial Resolve POWERS Fighter at-will 1: Crushing Surge Fighter at-will 1: Brash Strike Fighter encounter 1: Bell Ringer Fighter daily 1: Brute Strike Fighter utility 2: Unstoppable Fighter encounter 3: Advance Lunge Fighter daily 5: Agonizing Assault Fighter utility 6: Unbreakable Fighter encounter 7: Come and Get It Fighter daily 9: Bloodspike Sweep Fighter utility 10: Into the Fray Fighter encounter 13: Anvil of Doom (replaces Bell Ringer) Fighter daily 15: Boulder Charge (replaces Brute Strike) Fighter utility 16: Surprise Step Fighter encounter 17: Buffeting Torque (replaces Advance Lunge) Fighter daily 19: Controlling Thrust (replaces Agonizing Assault) Fighter utility 22: Act of Desperation Fighter encounter 23: Paralyzing Strike (replaces Come and Get It) Fighter daily 25: Fighter's Resurgence (replaces Bloodspike Sweep) Fighter encounter 27: Cruel Reaper (replaces Anvil of Doom) Fighter daily 29: Storm of Destruction (replaces Boulder Charge) ITEMS Vorpal Halberd +6, Dawn Warrior Elderscale Armor +6, Torc of Power Preservation +6 ====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ====== Here we have a level 30 goliath polearm fighter maximised for reach. Yes, his weapon reach is 4. Awesome. Using his Vorpal Large Halbard +6, his Brash Strike does: +37 attack, 2d12+26 (av. 39) damage before +35 attack, 2d12+35 (av. 48) damage after. Going back to the formula: (21+35-AC)*48 > (21+37-AC)*39 56*48 - 48AC > 58*39 - 39AC 2688 - 2262 > 9AC 426/9 > AC AC < 47.33 Orcus, an Ancient Red Dragon has an AC of 48. If you have combat advantage or a +1 to hit by any means, power attack is optimal. The Terrasque has an AC of 43. This is with Brash Strike, which is a high damage at-will. Lower the damage, and Power Attack becomes more useful. Power Attack is hardly a trap at all! Strange, on paper it looks bad, until you start actually comparing to the monsters you'll actually use it on. [/QUOTE]
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