Help with Power Design: Damage Scaling Per Level - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Help with Power Design: Damage Scaling Per Level

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
UsagiYojimbo
Apr 09, 2010 21:16:07 I'm working on a spread of powers that are all written, but need to be cleaned up. First step is, in my mind at least, making sure the damage and general effectiveness of the powers scales properly. So, I'm wondering if there is a nice little reference table that I can use to approximate how powerful a power and a given level/role should be? Something like the Damage Expressions table on 185 of DMG, but for PC powers.

If not, does anyone have a more elegant way of cross referencing the information besides brute force comparison to core classes?

Thanks
#2
Sinasilver
Apr 11, 2010 8:29:51 This is in the veign of brute-force comparison really.. but I made a table of values for every imaginable component of a power... Tallied up every power using this system, and then averaged them all. Then I just used my table to build powers to match the respective point value.
#3
ekio
Apr 11, 2010 9:11:40 Do share. :D
#4
UsagiYojimbo
Apr 11, 2010 10:24:51 Oh Please do!
#5
Sinasilver
Apr 13, 2010 13:02:04 I generally encourage everyone to create their own for various reasons. The most notable of which is that I fail to keep up with wizards products at this point in time and instead homebrew everything. My table won't help you compare with the PHB3, or about 1/3rd of the powers book.. It's not going to help at all with dragon magazine. etc. I made it when the PHB2 was still new. Books allowed at my table when I DM are limited. Everything happens on a case-by-case evaluation, and is subject to alteration if people want it.

And while it's a lot of work to make one, you'll be happier with the results because you'll know how to use it. I discovered the hard way I'm bad at explaining how to use mine. Plus I never bothered to learn formatting on this board, I'm usually only here to rob you all of good ideas. ;)
#6
Swordior
Apr 13, 2010 16:49:26 I basically just flipped through the books for comparative powers (or inspiration sometimes). Eventually you'll notice patterns. For example:

Level 1 At-wills:

Area burst seem to always be burst 1 within 10 squares and deal 1d6 + mod damage. Now they tend to have a minor effect added (such as damage with certain actions).

If it's an implement power that can be used as a ranged basic attack, 1d10 + mod damage is usual.

Melee basics 1[W] (or 1d8) + mod and a minor effect such as push 1 or slide 1.

Powers can gain a +2 to hit if they only deal 1[W] damage dice. And two attacks (such as twin strike) do the same.

You can add shift 1 square before or after a power that does 1[W] + mod damage.

Other powers can have 1[W] + mod + differnt mod damage.

At 21st level they all just add an extra damage dice.

There are others, but those are ones just off the top of my head.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 UsagiYojimbo Apr 09, 2010 21:16:07	I'm working on a spread of powers that are all written, but need to be cleaned up. First step is, in my mind at least, making sure the damage and general effectiveness of the powers scales properly. So, I'm wondering if there is a nice little reference table that I can use to approximate how powerful a power and a given level/role should be? Something like the Damage Expressions table on 185 of DMG, but for PC powers. If not, does anyone have a more elegant way of cross referencing the information besides brute force comparison to core classes? Thanks
#2 Sinasilver Apr 11, 2010 8:29:51	This is in the veign of brute-force comparison really.. but I made a table of values for every imaginable component of a power... Tallied up every power using this system, and then averaged them all. Then I just used my table to build powers to match the respective point value.
#3 ekio Apr 11, 2010 9:11:40	Do share. :D
#4 UsagiYojimbo Apr 11, 2010 10:24:51	Oh Please do!
#5 Sinasilver Apr 13, 2010 13:02:04	I generally encourage everyone to create their own for various reasons. The most notable of which is that I fail to keep up with wizards products at this point in time and instead homebrew everything. My table won't help you compare with the PHB3, or about 1/3rd of the powers book.. It's not going to help at all with dragon magazine. etc. I made it when the PHB2 was still new. Books allowed at my table when I DM are limited. Everything happens on a case-by-case evaluation, and is subject to alteration if people want it. And while it's a lot of work to make one, you'll be happier with the results because you'll know how to use it. I discovered the hard way I'm bad at explaining how to use mine. Plus I never bothered to learn formatting on this board, I'm usually only here to rob you all of good ideas. ;)
#6 Swordior Apr 13, 2010 16:49:26	I basically just flipped through the books for comparative powers (or inspiration sometimes). Eventually you'll notice patterns. For example: Level 1 At-wills: Area burst seem to always be burst 1 within 10 squares and deal 1d6 + mod damage. Now they tend to have a minor effect added (such as damage with certain actions). If it's an implement power that can be used as a ranged basic attack, 1d10 + mod damage is usual. Melee basics 1[W] (or 1d8) + mod and a minor effect such as push 1 or slide 1. Powers can gain a +2 to hit if they only deal 1[W] damage dice. And two attacks (such as twin strike) do the same. You can add shift 1 square before or after a power that does 1[W] + mod damage. Other powers can have 1[W] + mod + differnt mod damage. At 21st level they all just add an extra damage dice. There are others, but those are ones just off the top of my head.