User:Franken Kesey/DPR (3.5e Guide)

Author: Franken Kesey (talk) Date Created: 04/29/19 Status: Work in progress Editing: Feel free to add stuff

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A guide to contrast damage potential for different classes. This shows damage per round (DPR) and compares all on the same metric using balanced wealth and same ability scores. Additionally, wiki balance level is denoted next to the class.

Classes

The Balanced Wealth variant rule was used for all the below numbers. With the assumption that the primary ability score starts at 18, and a racial bonus of +2. AC is calculated as ECL*1.5+10.

SEE HIDDEN MATH!

Apex (Very High): The first few levels the apex specializes in the natural extraordinary features of a druid, gaining an animal companion, natural skill bonuses, senses, wild empathy, woodland stride, trackless step. But do not gain any spellcasting abilities. At 2nd level, an apex gains a rage (like a barbarian), at 11th this rage increases the apex’s size. At 3rd, an apex gains a single powerful animal form, which most other features advance with. A later levels, an apex gains more forms.

Synergy: Standard action to turn into a beast, then no action to rage (except hulking rage).

• At 5th: Total modifier changes: +8Str, +8Con, +2Will, –2AC. Total DPR vs. 18AC =26.73
• At 10th: Primal form +1size, full-round action for hulking rage +1size, total modifier changes: +14Str, +10Con, -4Dex, +2Will, –2AC, huge-sized. Total DPR vs. 25AC =43.18
• At 20th: Primal form +1size, full-round action for hulking rage +1size; total modifier changes: +20Str, +18Con, -4Dex, +4Will, –2AC. The hulking rage causes 1 point Constitution burn every 2 rounds. Total DPR vs. 40AC =70.78

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Force Conduit (High): A force conduit is a monk with a lightsaber and minor power progression, like a psychic warrior.

Synergy:

• At 5th: With a manifestation of metaphysical weapon +1 (7pp; quickened). Total DPR vs. 18AC =26.1
• At 10th: With a manifestation of metaphysical weapon +2 (11pp; quickened). Total DPR vs. 25AC =54.6
• At 20th: With a manifestation of metaphysical weapon +4 (19pp; quickened). Total DPR vs. 40AC =220.68

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Psychic Stalker (High): Synergizes psion and rogue.

Synergy: All require one round to prepare by manifesting powers (assumed manifest blade was cast at beginning of day), thus multiply DPR by two to find damage in final round.

• At 5th: With manifest blade (5pp, +2; greater magic weapon, enhancement), metaphysical weapon (5pp, +2), and Pyrokinetic Strike (5pp, +10). Total DPR vs. 18AC =18.38
• At 10th: With manifest blade (8pp, +4; greater magic weapon, enhancement), metaphysical weapon (9pp, +3), and Pyrokinetic Strike (10pp, +20). Total DPR vs. 25AC =65.18
• At 20th: With manifest blade (14pp, +9; greater magic weapon, enhancement), metaphysical weapon (17pp, +5), weapon of energy (13pp, +1d6; quickened), and Pyrokinetic Strike (20pp, +40). Total DPR vs. 40AC =213.3

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Undead Stalker (Very High): The stalker focuses on hunting and killing undead, treating them like favored enemies, like rangers. Then gains the ability to turn and smite them, like paladins. Additionally, they can sneak attack undead, like rogues. Lastly, they gain a minor spell list that merges paladin and ranger spells. However, the undead stalker has significantly reduced damage dealing potential against non-undead.

Synergy: Against favored enemy undead. Only action requirements are weapon attacks (specials do not require it). Uses short sword, and Charisma score starts at 15, is 18 at 10th and 22 at 20th.

• At 5th: Favored Enemy +4, Sneak Attack 2d6, Smite Undead +5. Total DPR vs. 18AC =39.75
• At 10th: Favored Enemy +6, Sneak Attack 5d6, Smite Undead 10. Total DPR vs. 25AC =115
• At 20th: Favored Enemy +10, Sneak Attack 10d6, Smite Undead 20. Total DPR vs. 40AC =458.45

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Wildknife (Very High): The wildknife gain a mind blade that can be altered and thrown, like a soulknife. At later levels, the wild knife can surge and use powers, like a wilder, and also surge his mind blade.

Synergy: All require one round to prepare by manifesting powers, thus multiply DPR by two to find damage in final round.

• At 5th: With animal affinity (3pp, +2). Total DPR vs. 18AC =19.25
• At 10th: With animal affinity (9pp, +2; quickened) and metaphysical weapon (9pp, +3). Total DPR vs. 25AC =58.73
• At 20th: With animal affinity (9pp, +2; quickened) and metaphysical weapon (17pp, +5). Total DPR vs. 40AC =184.95
• Following a surge a wildknife may have surging euphoria (so long as they did not enervate). This gives them a continuous bonus to damage (based on how high their wild surge was), that last for a number of rounds equal to their wild surge level.

Rogue Comparison

Since the rogue is traditionally the highest damage dealing class, applied the same metric to its progression to contrast against the above.

Without prep or buffs:

• At 5th: Sneak attack +3d6, 2 short swords. Total DPR vs. 18AC =25.2
• At 10th: Sneak attack +5d6, 2 short swords. Total DPR vs. 25AC =50
• At 20th: Sneak attack +10d6, 2 short swords. Total DPR vs. 40AC =131.55

With prep and buffs: All require one round to buff with spells, however, since the rogue is not casting the buffs damage is not divided.

• At 5th: With bull's strength (+2) and haste (+1 attack, quickened). Total DPR vs. 18AC =52.05
• At 10th: With bull's strength (+2) and haste (+1 attack, quickened). Total DPR vs. 25AC =79.25
• At 20th: With greater heroism (+4 attack) and haste (+1 attack, quickened). Total DPR vs. 40AC =266.48

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