Damage/Effect metric for homebrew powers

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

frostden

Jun 11, 2009 4:52:01		To make sure that I'm not about to reinvent the wheel, I'm going to start with a question:

Although I'm aware that power balance is more an art than a science, has anyone analysed a few powers across different classes, roles, levels, and categories to come up with a rough metric for the "worth" or different damages, buffs, debuffs, marks, effects, ranges, etc? I find coming up with powers from scratch a bit daunting without first finding a comparible power from another class to gauge it's appropriateness.
If no one else has done it, I figure I'll give it a crack. If I'm just out of the loop, could someone please provide me with a link?

Thanks everyone.
#2

frostden

Jun 11, 2009 5:58:15 		First up, a very simple audit of the single target damage a striker can expect to do per level, based on what I consider the most pure damage class, the Ranger.
This ignores bonus class feature damage, as well as non damage effects.

Power Damage
Will 1.5 W
E1 2 W
D1 2.5 W
U2
E3 2 W
D5 3 W
U6
E7 3 W
D9 4 W
U10
E11 2 W
U12
E13 2W
D15 5W
U16
E17 3 W
D19 5 W
D20 3 W
U 22
E23 4 W
D25 5 W
E27 4 W
D29 6 W

As power level increases, damage increases. Along with damage, the potency, or "Rank" of the non damage effects goes up. Damage can be sacrificed for higher "Rank" Effects. Next up will be quantifying a metric which converts damage into the different effects.
Then, adjustments made for area.
After that, there should be a good starting point for power creation.
#3

wpgdave

Jun 11, 2009 14:22:40 		As far as I know, nobody* has done this yet. However I assure you that you are not the only person with this in mind. I would recommend looking at the following pages to help guide you:


Good luck, and let me know if you find or come up with anything more definitive.

*WotC probably has a guideline or formula that they're keeping secret. Hopefully they'll release something along this line in the next DMG.