Weapons choice math question

[Grom Stonekin]

I built a Rogue and I am debating if to use a short sword or dagger as my primary weapon. How does the +1 bonus with daggers balance against the higher damage of short swords? My thinking is that Sneak Attack makes scoring a hit a priority. If you are doing +2d6 then the weapon scoring the is less important. Your thoughts please.

 

[Danceofmasks]

shortsword is only +1 average damage per [w] over dagger.
Not worth losing +1 to hit.
Now if you're using a rapier or kukri ... opinions differ.

Personally, I love hit bonuses, so anything I say is going to be biased towards that.

 

[Mort_Q]

Depends on where you're going at higher levels. There is a dagger specific paragon path, and daggers can be used at range if the situation warrants.

 

[Mengu]

Dagger would be my choice. Being able to throw it is probably the foremost reason.

The +1 attack will mathematically work out better only if your chance to hit with shortsword is less than your average damage with dagger divided by 20.

With sneak attack and sly flourish, your average damage with dagger should be around 15.5. So if you would hit with a 4, the shortsword is better. If your need a roll higher than 4 (which is likely to be the case most of the time), dagger is better.

The math:

p: probability to hit with shortsword
d: average damage with dagger

(p + 1/20)d > p(d + 1)
pd + d/20 > pd + p
d/20 > p

 

[DemonLord57]

I built a Rogue and I am debating if to use a short sword or dagger as my primary weapon. How does the +1 bonus with daggers balance against the higher damage of short swords? My thinking is that Sneak Attack makes scoring a hit a priority. If you are doing +2d6 then the weapon scoring the is less important. Your thoughts please.

I think you mean +2d8, right?

But yeah, I'd go with the dagger. And then into Daggermaster, because it is full of awesome. If you didn't know, sneak attack damage is maxed on a crit. Also, look into a wraithblade weapon (Ashen Covenant)... it's very nice

 

[Mengu]

Now if you're using a rapier or kukri ... opinions differ.

When compared to rapier, if your dagger damage would be 15.5, rapier will be a better choice if you can hit with less than a 12 (which is sometimes going to be the case). Dagger is still be better against higher AC targets (if you need a 13 or higher). As you get to higher levels and your damage output increases, the dagger just gets better and better.

 

[Ojuara]

Dagger, shortsword and rapier all get the same benefits from feats, wich is great. You can only throw a dagger, trough. Id go daggers for versatility (uh probably need to find a better name now) most of the time, specially since now you dont disarm yourself for throwing your magic weapon.

By the maths, rapier main hand, dagger off hand.

In my campaigns, on the other hand, Id rather have a rogue changing between the three blades as he levels. Seems funner this way, at least as long as you dont take this Daggermaster Killing Machine path.