What's the deal with Shadow Wasp Strike

[jasin]

I don't have the book in front of me, but I remember that the flavour text made me expect it would be a minor action, and that as a minor action it seemed reasonable compared to the other powers.

Maybe we should wait for further "updates".

 

[1of3]

Something does seem to be missing here. Perhaps it was supposed to be "vs. Ref"?

 

[Dausuul]

Cut and Run is not "a better invenstment in the long run" it's just better. Two [w] attacks do more damage than one 2[w] attack and you can shift. Thundertusk boar strike is also just "better" for similar reasons.

Well, there is one advantage to Shadow Wasp Strike over Cut and Run--namely, if you miss with your Shadow Wasp Strike, you can use Elven Accuracy or the like to re-roll the whole attack instead of just half of it. If you have a 60% chance to hit and are using Elven Accuracy, then Cut and Run has a 64.8% chance of hitting twice and a 28.8% chance of hitting once, while Shadow Wasp Strike has an 84% chance of hitting.

Unfortunately, the fact that Cut and Run lets you add your Strength or Dexterity bonus to both hits means that Cut and Run still wins if you have at least a 12 in the relevant attribute. The quarry rules also favor Cut and Run--even though you only get to apply quarry damage once per round, you only need one hit in order to apply it, and your odds of scoring at least one hit are better with Cut and Run.

Still, I at least had to do a little math to confirm that Cut and Run was better... that's something, right?

(Also, there are a handful of critters with resistance to weapon damage. Against these, Shadow Wasp Strike is of course superior to Cut and Run. But unlike in 3E, those critters are few and far between.)

 

[Mengu]

We can't figure it out either. There is something missing there, maybe something about gaining combat advantage against target, maybe it's supposed to be vs Refl. Who knows, we'll have to wait and see if there is an update.

 

[toxicspirit]

Why would you choose any of these over Disruptive Strike?

 

[Journeymanmage]

Well, there is one advantage to Shadow Wasp Strike over Cut and Run--namely, if you miss with your Shadow Wasp Strike, you can use Elven Accuracy or the like to re-roll the whole attack instead of just half of it. If you have a 60% chance to hit and are using Elven Accuracy, then Cut and Run has a 64.8% chance of hitting twice and a 28.8% chance of hitting once, while Shadow Wasp Strike has an 84% chance of hitting.

Unfortunately, the fact that Cut and Run lets you add your Strength or Dexterity bonus to both hits means that Cut and Run still wins if you have at least a 12 in the relevant attribute. The quarry rules also favor Cut and Run--even though you only get to apply quarry damage once per round, you only need one hit in order to apply it, and your odds of scoring at least one hit are better with Cut and Run.

Still, I at least had to do a little math to confirm that Cut and Run was better... that's something, right?

(Also, there are a handful of critters with resistance to weapon damage. Against these, Shadow Wasp Strike is of course superior to Cut and Run. But unlike in 3E, those critters are few and far between.)

Along the same "theme" ... If you get a bonus for your >next swing<, then Shadow Wasp Strike works better.


-- edit took out ",such as Action Surge," as that feat works on all attacks.

 

[Mengu]

Why would you choose any of these over Disruptive Strike?

If I was playing a ranger, that's definitely what I would go for, but I can see someone going for two attacks during their own turn, especially if they have something like Action Surge or someone in the party who can give them an attack/damage bonus. While you have those bonuses, you want to be able to attack as many times as you can.