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Message: <blockquote data-quote="WhosDaDungeonMaster" data-source="post: 7549370">For item #2, depending on the adjusted number needed to hit and average base damage, I would probably use this to some degree 90% of the time or more. Granted, the increased effective damage (damage calculated by probability of hitting successfully) is not great in most cases, but it is there...For example:A 7th-level character with a shortsword and Dex 14 has a +3 proficiency bonus and +2 ability modifier, granting +5 attack and +2 damage. Average damage is 3.5 (1d6) + 2 = 5.5. The player elects to accept the maximum proficiency bonus penalty (-3) to gain a +6 to damage, bringing average damage to 11.5.The ONLY ACs the character will average lower effective damage are 21, 22, and 23. The further away from those (higher or lower!) only increases the effective damage for the character.Now, if you change it to -X/+X instead of -X/+2X, the range of AC which would result in lower effective damage grows to AC 18 to AC 24 for this character. Any AC below 18 or above 24 would result in better effective damage by accepting the -3 to attack rolls for +3 to damage. But, at least that is 7 values of AC where the tactic is no longer beneficial instead of three values for AC.You can calculate optimal use for all values and weapon types. The more powerful the weapon, the less beneficial the strategy in improving weapon damage output.I've saved the excel spreadsheet if you want to see it.</blockquote>