Unearthed Arcana WOTC still can't get the backgrounds right in the new FR book.

[Maxperson]

I think you are using two different measures of effectiveness.

Yes and no. The +1 won't mean that much with regard to hitting and damage over the long term of the campaign, so it's not all that effective on it's own, but it's also even less effective than that when you add in all the feats, class abilities, spells, etc. that go into a combat. Those are two different measures of effectiveness, but they are complementary with one another.

 

[ECMO3]

So first, he said that as a bonus to you. The reality is that it would be 1% or less effective. Your math doesn't change that, either. Your math is purely about +1 damage, when the combat pillar includes all class abilities, racial abilities useful in combat, magic items, feats, etc. So your 18 or 28 percent or whatever doesn't equate to effectiveness in combat.

No it can actually be a lot more than that.

Yep. Next to nothing. The PC would likely be dead before he killed a goblin 2 points at a hit.

Actually a PC with a 16 AC, 10hps +3 attack and 2 damage who wins initiative has 46% chance of beating that 7hps Goblin.

At +2 attack and 1 damage that drops to 8%.

It is 35% and 3% respectively if the PC loses initiative.

Add in a 1st level ability like second wind or shield spell or a host of other things and the 2 DPR PC is going to win most of the time, while the 1 damage PC almost never will!

1) Where are they getting an 18 strength from? +2 from background and the extra +1 from where? 3) How are the 17 strength guys getting a 17 strength with Acolyte not providing a strength increase?

Like I said, if you don't like the numbers tell what you want me to use as long as it is reflective of a +1 equivalent lower in strength and Constitution.

I will warn you though the difference is bigger at 16 and 15 Strength than it is at 18 and 17 Strength.

2) Why are you giving the 18 strength group Savage Attacker and not the 17 strength guys?

Because they have the Soldier background which gives them that feat and the 17 strength guys don't.

Just let me know how you want me to do it. 4 fighters with a "good" background that provides ASIs in Strength and Constitution as compared to 4 fighters with a "bad" background that doesn't provide those things but which according to you has almost no significant difference mechanically. We can do Farmer for the high Strength guys if you would rather do that.