D&D 5E Define "good" damage...

[Warpiglet]

First off, of all the sites I have visited in the past, I have found this one to have the most insightful commentary. I do not always agree, but people use...reasons. Refreshing.

Anyway, here is my question.

What is "good" at-will damage?

In this we have melee and missile attacks of course but also cantrips and the like.

If possible, provide some sort of cut point (your opinion cannnot be wrong in this) for exceptional at-will damage and poor at-will damage.

If you are really ambitious and want to divide this into martial damage and spell damage as well, I would be thrilled to know your thoughts.

One last moderator is level and tier...good damage at 1st level will of course not be good damage at 15th! In this discussion I think we should dispense with one time effects such as action surges or hasted actions etc. and focus on the at-will component.

 

[jaelis]

Well, a warlock's eldritch blast with 20 Cha and Agonizing Blast is typically considered pretty good. So is a fighter's basic attack routine with his fighting style bonuses and extra attacks. I'd use those as a standard for "good" damage.

So at level 5, the warlock does 22 damage on average when both blasts hit. A greatsword fighter does I guess about 26 average.

 

[Corwin]

Do you and your party generally make it through the average adventuring day? If so, and doing damage is one of your responsibilities, you're doing "good enough" damage, IMO. In most cases, I think that's all that really matters.

 

[MechaTarrasque]

(best William Shatner voice): Must. Resist. Urge. To. Say. The. Kind. Done. By. A. (extra long pause) Paladin

 

[jaelis]

(best William Shatner voice): Must. Resist. Urge. To. Say. The. Kind. Done. By. A. (extra long pause) Paladin

Though the Will Shatner voice defies disagreement, I didn't think paladins were particularly known for at-will damage?

 

[Warpiglet]

Though the Will Shatner voice defies disagreement, I didn't think paladins were particularly known for at-will damage?

Indeed, if we are counting smites, we have to count spells as well. I am interested in the unlimited resource kind of at will damage (OK...bows have limited ammunition, but still).

 

[Ashkelon]

Poor at-will damage: Cleric or Druid fighting in melee.

Average at-will damage: Sorcerer and Wizard cantrips, archer warriors with no feats, sword and board warriors without the duelist combat style and no feats, ranged rogues, monks, bladelocks pre UA.

Good at-will damage: Great weapon fighters, barbarians, and paladins without feats. Post UA bladelocks. Rogues with the Scag cantrips, rangers, blast warlocks with Hex.

Exceptional at-will damage: Sorlocks with hex + quickened eldritch blast. Warriors with great weapon master. Warriors with polearm master. Bow archers with sharpshooter.

Way beyond what should be possible at-will damage: Great weapon master warriors in a party that easily has access to advantage (faerie fire, stunned, hold person, etc). Crossbow expert sharpshooter archers. Great weapon master + polearm master warriors. PCs shapeshifter into CR 17 red dragons.

 

[Corwin]

I think the joke was intending to play off of the alternate definition of "good", actually...

 

[Warpiglet]

I think the joke was intending to play off of the alternate definition of "good", actually...

Totally missed it! Need more coffee!

 

[jaelis]

I think the joke was intending to play off of the alternate definition of "good", actually...

HAH I GET IT!