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The math behind power attack and why it needs to be redone in 4e
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<blockquote data-quote="Someone" data-source="post: 3916492" data-attributes="member: 5656"><p>Well, I'm trusting the designer there, according to him (though I don't have the link available) the feat was designed with strong two weapon users in mind.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I don't know what you mean by false, but the math shows that attacks with large attack bonuses and low average damage are those who (i'm trying to choose words carefully here) gain an average and total damage increase more often when power attacking. On the contrary, when your average damage is large enough the number of times where average damage increases with PA is much more limited, mainly when the opponent's AC is your attack bonus +1 or lower. Of course, you still have the chance to deal more damage than you normally would do, since you can still hit, but on the long run you'll deal <em>less</em>.</p><p></p><p>Again, notice that this doesn't automatically make the feat a bad one; others argue so, but this isn't my point of contention. To make my point clearer, if you already do a lot of damage, you should reserve your power attacks to situations where a) the target's AC is abismally low (like oozes, unarmored mooks, paralyzed foes or unattended objects) b) You really, really need that extra damage right now, or c) you are roleplaying a reckless character and don't mind punishing yourself mechanically.</p><p></p><p>However, the rapier wielding halfling will find himself in much many situations where he'll benefit much more from PA. Indeed, if he deals, say, 1d4+1(str)+1d6 (flaming) damage, which totals an average of 7 per hit unless I'm mistaken, he should be power attacking (single attack) any time the opponent's AC equals his attack bonus +12, unless the opponent is already so badly wounded that a single weak hit will drop him, since he'll be raising both his average damage per hit and his next attack's total damage.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Someone, post: 3916492, member: 5656"] Well, I'm trusting the designer there, according to him (though I don't have the link available) the feat was designed with strong two weapon users in mind. I don't know what you mean by false, but the math shows that attacks with large attack bonuses and low average damage are those who (i'm trying to choose words carefully here) gain an average and total damage increase more often when power attacking. On the contrary, when your average damage is large enough the number of times where average damage increases with PA is much more limited, mainly when the opponent's AC is your attack bonus +1 or lower. Of course, you still have the chance to deal more damage than you normally would do, since you can still hit, but on the long run you'll deal [i]less[/i]. Again, notice that this doesn't automatically make the feat a bad one; others argue so, but this isn't my point of contention. To make my point clearer, if you already do a lot of damage, you should reserve your power attacks to situations where a) the target's AC is abismally low (like oozes, unarmored mooks, paralyzed foes or unattended objects) b) You really, really need that extra damage right now, or c) you are roleplaying a reckless character and don't mind punishing yourself mechanically. However, the rapier wielding halfling will find himself in much many situations where he'll benefit much more from PA. Indeed, if he deals, say, 1d4+1(str)+1d6 (flaming) damage, which totals an average of 7 per hit unless I'm mistaken, he should be power attacking (single attack) any time the opponent's AC equals his attack bonus +12, unless the opponent is already so badly wounded that a single weak hit will drop him, since he'll be raising both his average damage per hit and his next attack's total damage. [/QUOTE]
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