DnD4 Attacks 2

comparing your options

This is a follow-up to DnD 4e Attacks, hitting and dealing damage.

Let's define a new AnyDice function to represent a D&D attack.

function: ROLL:n vs DEFENSE:n {
 if ROLL = 1 { result: MISS }
 if ROLL = 20 {
  if ROLL + ATTACK >= DEFENSE { result: CRITICAL }
  result: DAMAGE
 }
 if ROLL + ATTACK >= DEFENSE { result: DAMAGE }
 result: MISS
}

This function only has the d20 of the attack roll and the defense value as parameters. Everything else must be defined before the function is invoked. Let's use it to compare how our level 1 Fighter with Strength 18 would perform with different one-handed weapons, against an AC range from 12 to 22.

DEFENSE: d{12..22}

ATTACK: 5 + 2
DAMAGE: d10 + 4
CRITICAL: 14
MISS: 0

output [d20 vs DEFENSE] named "Battleaxe"

ATTACK: 5 + 2
DAMAGE: d8 + 4
CRITICAL: 12 + d8

output [d20 vs DEFENSE] named "Scimitar"

ATTACK: 5 + 3
DAMAGE: d8 + 4
CRITICAL: 12

output [d20 vs DEFENSE] named "Longsword"

So which weapon is best? It depends on what you're looking for.

• The BattleAxe deals the highest average damage.
• The Longsword hits more often, but also deals the lowest maximum damage.
• The Scimitar deals the lowest average damage, but also deals the highest maximum damage.

Sure Strike

What if our Fighter didn't use a Melee Basic Attack, but instead used Sure Strike?

ATTACK: 5 + 2 + 2
DAMAGE: d10
CRITICAL: 10
MISS: 0

output [d20 vs DEFENSE] named "Battleaxe"

ATTACK: 5 + 2 + 2
DAMAGE: d8
CRITICAL: 8 + d8

output [d20 vs DEFENSE] named "Scimitar"

ATTACK: 5 + 2 + 3
DAMAGE: d8
CRITICAL: 8

output [d20 vs DEFENSE] named "Longsword"

The Longsword and the Scimitar are now equal, while the Battleaxe is still the best average damage dealer. But the damage output sucks! There's no point in using this power at all, unless all you care about is hitting, in which case the Longsword is the obvious choice.

Reaping Strike

What about Reaping Strike? Let's use that MISS variable. Because it's the same for all weapons, we define it only once.

ATTACK: 5 + 2
DAMAGE: d10 + 4
CRITICAL: 14
MISS: 2

output [d20 vs DEFENSE] named "Battleaxe"

ATTACK: 5 + 2
DAMAGE: d8 + 4
CRITICAL: 12 + d8

output [d20 vs DEFENSE] named "Scimitar"

ATTACK: 5 + 3
DAMAGE: d8 + 4
CRITICAL: 12

output [d20 vs DEFENSE] named "Longsword"

It looks a lot like a Melee Basic Attack, except that the damage graphs start at 2 instead of 0, so it's definitely an upgrade. The Longsword benefits less from Reaping Strike than the other two weapons, because it misses less often. However, its average damage is still higher than that of a Scimitar.

Further work

Using this framework, you can compare the damage output of all kinds of configurations. By adjusting the values for ATTACK, DAMAGE, CRITICAL, and MISS, you can represent lots of power, feat, item, and ability modifier combinations.

• Sat, 14 Aug 2010 20:17:21 +0000 Chuck

  I'm not a D&D4 player, but this sure is a great exercise of AnyDice2's power and flexibility in developing game play!

  • Sun, 15 Aug 2010 10:51:09 +0000 Jasper

    Indeed it is! I'll visit other games too. The idea is that the techniques I show can be adapted to represent the mechanics of your choice. And help create your own, of course.