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Thoughts of a 3E/4E powergamer on starting to play 5E
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<blockquote data-quote="UngeheuerLich" data-source="post: 6858242" data-attributes="member: 59057"><p>Best don't. It may take the fun for everyone else.</p><p></p><p>To your concern about randomness, I generally think it is not as random as you think. Most monsters are reliably hit with 75% chance or more. At lwast when you invest some resources or use the right classes.</p><p></p><p>An archer fighter at level 1 has a bonus of +7 to hit against monsters that have an AC of 12-14 in most cases. So you hit with 6 or higher on average. Use bless and you are up to hitting with 3 or 4 on average and when you sneak up and are hidden, you hit with nearly 100% chance.</p><p></p><p>A barbarian hits with +5 and advantage nearly all the time. That is 8+ with two chances and that is about 85% chance to hit right there. (from level 2 on)</p><p></p><p>A rogue is well served using two weapons at level 1. 85%chance to deal 2d6 damage (+3).</p><p></p><p>Wizards at level 1 with burning hands doing 3d6 damage average 10.5 damage. With a DC of 13 with monsters that have 14 or less dex that is less than 50% chance for half damage.</p><p></p><p>Monsters usually hit with +4 to hit at low levels. With the way, DC for monsters is calculated, their to hit bonus doesn't go up too fast, which means DCs for PCs are often below 12. With an AC of 14 which every PC can manage, you are only hit on 10 or better. Usually a PC that wants to tank has 17 or better. That is 13 or higher to be hit. Only 40% chance. A defender that is serious about it is at 19 defense and has some way of mitigating damage or heal a bit.</p><p>And that is at level 1 or 2. At level 3 with subclass abilities kicking in, you have a reliable hp pool and more means to deflect the occasional hit or grant the enemy disadvantage, so hitting a defender can proof hard.</p><p>So the only thing I agree is the estimation of 14-16 AC and you are at coin flip. Go higher and you usually tank quite reliablly.</p><p></p><p>Compared to 3rd edition, your offense is more reliable, while your defense is less reliable, because attack bonus starts higher.</p><p></p><p>Maybe unreliability is perceived more by powergamers, because their goto feat is great weapon mastery. Not only do you lose out +1 to hit, but also should use your -5 to hit in most cases. And that inmediately lowers your hit chance from 75% to a coin flip which feels very unreliable and in many cases a bad idea, because low level creatures often only have 7 hp or so. A number where +10 damage is not all that useful, but you may gain your extra attack very reliably. Against creatures with hp in the 15-20 range your risk may be rewarded.</p><p></p><p>So as a powergamer you need some feeling for when to take risk and when not. And even as a non power gamer, ther are situations where your simple choices may reward you. You are sometimes better at dealing with the lesser threats.</p><p></p><p>Your bless optimized great weapon user with polearm mastery excells against solo mobs with high hp.</p><p></p><p>Your standard wizard with area damage spells and your fighter with higher strength can deal better with the random goblin attack. But maybe that is someting powergamers don't like. If they are outclassed by a noob in some situations. But I would say the need to learn to deal with it.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="UngeheuerLich, post: 6858242, member: 59057"] Best don't. It may take the fun for everyone else. To your concern about randomness, I generally think it is not as random as you think. Most monsters are reliably hit with 75% chance or more. At lwast when you invest some resources or use the right classes. An archer fighter at level 1 has a bonus of +7 to hit against monsters that have an AC of 12-14 in most cases. So you hit with 6 or higher on average. Use bless and you are up to hitting with 3 or 4 on average and when you sneak up and are hidden, you hit with nearly 100% chance. A barbarian hits with +5 and advantage nearly all the time. That is 8+ with two chances and that is about 85% chance to hit right there. (from level 2 on) A rogue is well served using two weapons at level 1. 85%chance to deal 2d6 damage (+3). Wizards at level 1 with burning hands doing 3d6 damage average 10.5 damage. With a DC of 13 with monsters that have 14 or less dex that is less than 50% chance for half damage. Monsters usually hit with +4 to hit at low levels. With the way, DC for monsters is calculated, their to hit bonus doesn't go up too fast, which means DCs for PCs are often below 12. With an AC of 14 which every PC can manage, you are only hit on 10 or better. Usually a PC that wants to tank has 17 or better. That is 13 or higher to be hit. Only 40% chance. A defender that is serious about it is at 19 defense and has some way of mitigating damage or heal a bit. And that is at level 1 or 2. At level 3 with subclass abilities kicking in, you have a reliable hp pool and more means to deflect the occasional hit or grant the enemy disadvantage, so hitting a defender can proof hard. So the only thing I agree is the estimation of 14-16 AC and you are at coin flip. Go higher and you usually tank quite reliablly. Compared to 3rd edition, your offense is more reliable, while your defense is less reliable, because attack bonus starts higher. Maybe unreliability is perceived more by powergamers, because their goto feat is great weapon mastery. Not only do you lose out +1 to hit, but also should use your -5 to hit in most cases. And that inmediately lowers your hit chance from 75% to a coin flip which feels very unreliable and in many cases a bad idea, because low level creatures often only have 7 hp or so. A number where +10 damage is not all that useful, but you may gain your extra attack very reliably. Against creatures with hp in the 15-20 range your risk may be rewarded. So as a powergamer you need some feeling for when to take risk and when not. And even as a non power gamer, ther are situations where your simple choices may reward you. You are sometimes better at dealing with the lesser threats. Your bless optimized great weapon user with polearm mastery excells against solo mobs with high hp. Your standard wizard with area damage spells and your fighter with higher strength can deal better with the random goblin attack. But maybe that is someting powergamers don't like. If they are outclassed by a noob in some situations. But I would say the need to learn to deal with it. [/QUOTE]
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