Questions tagged [optimization]

For questions pertaining to the positive aspects of character optimization, often abbreviated as CharOp. (If dealing with player problems relating to optimization, use the [powergaming] tag instead.)

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27 votes
2 answers
4k views

Is there enough disparity between the classes to put them into tiers?

I'm interested in the balance of this new edition's classes. Are casters still noticeably more effective in almost all situations than non casters?
4 votes
1 answer
740 views

Pathfinder 2e help with a kobold draconic instinct barbarian build [closed]

Hello all I'm new to Pathfinder 2e and wanted to make a melee kobold barbarian with Dragon Instinct for the Crown of the Kobold King adventure. I'm not sure if its viable? We are using point by in the ...
7 votes
1 answer
231 views

How does Anarchomancer handle a high Leadership score?

In Dragon Magazine #315, a prestige class called Anarchomancer was introduced.. It comes with a class feature called "Ritual of the Dark Infiltrator", which is described thusly: Ritual of ...
15 votes
3 answers
3k views

Can a "theurge" prestige class increase the level of a different "theurge" prestige class?

Consider a build something along these lines: Wizard (some levels) Cleric (some levels) Mystic Theurge (advancing Wizard and Cleric spellcasting) Binder (some levels) Anima Mage (advancing Binder and ...
5 votes
2 answers
9k views

How to capitalise on high Charisma in a melee build?

I'm building a Knight Commander. I want him to be a melee support character, passively improving the performance of his party by auras, a fair deal of tankiness and a reasonable damage dealing ...
16 votes
5 answers
4k views

What is the lowest-level character that can unfailingly beat the Beginner Box starting encounter?

This is the PF2e version of my similar question on D&D 5e's Starter Set. For a lot of players, the Pathfinder Beginner Box was their first 2e adventure. The first encounter from the included ...
5 votes
1 answer
249 views

Can a Beguiler benefit from Greyhawk Method?

Beguiler The Beguiler class is a fixed-list spontaneous arcane caster; a Beguiler PC gets access to spells from the Beguiler list as it levels up and can cast them spontaneously. A beguiler casts ...
35 votes
5 answers
6k views

What is the lowest level character that can unfailingly beat the Lost Mine of Phandelver adventure's starting encounter?

For a lot of players, Lost Mine of Phandelver from the D&D Starter Set was their first 5e adventure. The first encounter from that adventure is rather swingy, like many level 1 combats. PCs may ...
2 votes
1 answer
274 views

Is it a viable tactic to use a flurry of blows monk to mass grapple a single target?

Can anyone help illustrate or explain the statistical advantages or disadvantages in using flurry of blows to make multiple grapple attempts against a target in the hopes of overwhelming them and &...
6 votes
2 answers
544 views

What is the greatest number of flowers I can create within a week?

After I had some issues following the and perhaps driven by visits of my mother-in-law (and again), this year she decided to pay me a visit on valentines day, which means I have a whole week (7 days) ...
10 votes
4 answers
4k views

What options do non-Gunslingers have to mitigate the Reload property?

I’m building a character for an Alkenstar based campaign that is going to want to use a firearm. But, I’m not building a Gunslinger. Gunslingers have access to a Slinger’s Reload, which provides ...
67 votes
5 answers
114k views

Is Greatsword superior to Greataxe?

Greataxe 6.5 (1d12) slashing Heavy, Two-Handed Greatsword 7 (2d6) slashing Heavy, Two-Handed This is why I think Greatsword is superior to Greataxe: Slightly higher average damage Higher ...
4 votes
1 answer
2k views

How can an epic spell-to-power erudite manifest 9th-level spells?

Is there a way that an erudite (Complete Psionic 153-6) with the expanded class option convert spell to power (The Mind's Eye Web column "Expanded Classes, Part Four: Ardent, Divine Mind, Lurk, ...
5 votes
1 answer
198 views

Adding more spells to champion of Gwynharwyf spell list

I have an interest in the champion of Gwynharwyf’s ability to cast its spells while raging. Furious Casting (Ex): Starting at 2nd level, a champion of Gwynharwyf can cast her champion spells even ...
3 votes
1 answer
209 views

"Free" Metamagic for necromantic incantatrixes?

Weird, weird combination with many splat-books and Dragon magazine, with a heavy focus on Libris Mortis. Preface Fell Frighten (Libris Mortis, p27) feat: You can alter a spell that deals damage to ...
2 votes
2 answers
40k views

Bard Feat Optimization: Buff/Control/Face

I'm building a bard for DND 3.5. I am trying to plan my feats out into the future. We expect to play this campaign to level 20 over the course of 5-6 years. Roleplaying wise, my character is the ...
3 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is there any reason not to put the +1 level of existing class features from Uncanny Trickster into Uncanny Trickster?

The members of our group always take infinite effective levels of Uncanny Trickster when they take the second level of the class, in addition to the +1 to whatever other class they're exceeding the ...
6 votes
2 answers
5k views

What is the highest single-target damage possible in a nova round by a solo character at level 7?

Assuming the following; No magic items No pre-combat preparation outside of very-long duration buffs No aid by party members The character starts within movement range of the target The target has 16 ...
4 votes
2 answers
676 views

Is this armor the best my character can get?

I have an epic character in a game where epic armors and shields can go up to a +20 effective bonus and up to a +10 enhancement bonus at most, with enough money to buy a +20 armor and eventually a +20 ...
4 votes
1 answer
324 views

Optimizing challenge: Oozemorph - Making the most of Fluidic Body and only 1 level of Shifter

I'm playing an unconventional Oozemorph, specifically the rules are: No house rules. A maximum of 1 level of Oozemorph Shifter. 1st party Paizo Pathfinder releases, no 3rd party. The Oozemorph ...
6 votes
2 answers
257 views

How quickly can a Plant Companion of a Druid manifest new abilities through Natural Selection?

The Natural Selection of the Plant Companion ACF reads, in part: Each new ability has a delay in levels between when you select it and when your plant companion gains it. You may select a new ability ...
3 votes
1 answer
127 views

Could both sides of a multi-caster gestalt use Cleric Spell Access from the Rainbow Servant PrC?

The capstone ability of the Rainbow Servant prestige class states: Cleric Spell Access: A 10th-level rainbow servant can learn and cast spells from the cleric list, even if they don't appear on the ...
14 votes
2 answers
2k views

Gaining the maximum bonus to your Counterspell check?

Counterspell checks are unmodified Ability Checks made when the spell you are attempting to stop is higher level than your Counterspell: If it is casting a spell of 4th level or higher, make an ...
9 votes
2 answers
2k views

What is the highest level 1 persuasion bonus you can have?

I'm going to start playing a one shot where the DM told us to make the most annoying level 1 characters we could, so I thought that you guys could help me out with finding the highest possible level 1 ...
26 votes
2 answers
9k views

How does a damage dealing Wizard use higher level spell slots optimally?

In D&D 5e, one of the neat features for spell casting is the ability to cast spells at higher levels than the spell is originally set at. For Clerics, this makes it handy such that Cure Wounds, ...
3 votes
2 answers
318 views

What are the best "Gatekeeping" feats to take for use with the Chameleons Floating Bonus Feat?

Context: So my old group finished our last short campaign and I'm in the process of doing character planning - this time I'm leaning towards a Chameleon. Either a Human Chameleon or a Changeling ...
13 votes
2 answers
2k views

I want to optimize a combat summoner, viable from level 1-20

What I'd like out of the build The Goal of this Build is to create a Demon/undead focused summoner any and all optimization suggestions should be made with that as the end goal. This is for pathfinder ...
7 votes
2 answers
812 views

How to optimise an elven melee bard?

The challenge here is creating a bard character that has to be some flavor of pure blooded elf and utilises that to help in its melee abilities. I was thinking Valor with maybe High Elf for booming ...
3 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is there a way to mix Unarmed Strike Damage with Natural Attack Damage or vice versa?

I want to maximize my damage output on my character by Finding a way to add his Unarmed Strike Damage to his Natural Attacks. If there are ways to do this I would also Like to know at what levels it ...
6 votes
1 answer
3k views

How high can a PC jump given the following constraints?

My Grappler Bard player wants to do a Seismic Toss and I want him to achieve this. My question is, how high can a PC jump when grappling a medium-sized creature, given the following constraints: ...
4 votes
1 answer
259 views

What is the maximum achievable height of a creature self-concentrating under the spell Fly?

How high can someone go using only one (1) fly spell? No other means of movement or ways to change your position are allowed besides movement under fly. Assume a level 20 character with all stats at ...
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

Does the Dueling Fighting Style deal more damage than an ASI?

The Fighting Initiate feat from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything allows anybody proficient with a martial weapon to pick up a Fighting Style option from the fighter class. For someone who does not ...
4 votes
4 answers
5k views

How does the Ranger Whirlwind Attack feature compare to the Volley feature?

The goal of this question is to compare both Ranger level 11 features Whirlwind Attack & Volley and examine their comparative strengths and weaknesses for Rangers. Whirlwind Attack You can ...
1 vote
1 answer
181 views

How do class features interact in Gestalt?

Under the Gestalt rules, how does class features of one "side" affect the class features of the other? To illustrate the question, and in my specific case, let us look at a Wizard 2//...
15 votes
3 answers
5k views

How to optimize a TWF Barbarian Elf

A little backstory: One of my earliest DnD characters was a Two-Weapon-Fighting Purple-haired Barbarian Elf. He was immensely popular due to his unorthadox nature as a war-loving elf that embraced ...
24 votes
2 answers
4k views

Create the most broken race that is 'balanced' according to Detect Balance

Any discussion for a homebrew race will always have Detect Balance used to calculate how balanced the race is. I'm curious to see how much the tool can be abused. Thus my challenge is to create a ...
24 votes
4 answers
39k views

What is the maximum possible Stealth bonus?

I realised we do not have a version of this rather (in)famous optimization problem: What is the maximum possible bonus to a Dexterity (Stealth) check? Bonus is here taken to mean anything that is ...
18 votes
4 answers
7k views

Does the Ranger's Companion synergize with the Ranger?

The Ranger Beast Master subclass gets an animal companion under the ranger companion ability, which for free can move about the battle field, or using the Ranger's action can make an attack. Being a ...
5 votes
4 answers
1k views

Gold Dragonborn Sorcerer level 3. ASI or Elemental Adept at level 4?

My Gold Dragonborn Sorcerer is level 3, 18 CHA, +4 modifier. I'm trying to build Pyro from Team Fortress 2 in D&D 5e, and I'm optimizing for high fire damage. Should I take the ASI to get a +7 ...
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

What is the expected hit chance?

(inspired by this answer) A cursory look thru the Bestiary has shown values ranging from 12 to 19 (plus level). Did anyone collect the data, or has seen any guidelines from the creators?
6 votes
2 answers
3k views

What are the best buff spells for a 10th level party to use on a fighter for a 1v1 arena vs a dragon?

A party consisting of a 10th level fighter, wizard, druid, and cleric are in a situation where the fighter will be planeshifted into a planar arena to fight a dragon. They don't know the nature of ...
5 votes
1 answer
2k views

What means exist to increase more than three skills to Expert/Master/Legendary?

As a character levels up in Pathfinder 2e, at every odd numbered level, they can increase their level of training in one skill. From Untrained to Trained, or, starting at level 3, from Trained to ...
15 votes
4 answers
2k views

In what circumstances (if any) is Fighter 3 a good level to take?

I've heard a lot about how Fighter 3 is a bad level to take. However, are there ever any circumstances in 3.x where it is a good idea for optimisation purposes? I'd appreciate hearing the reasoning ...
13 votes
5 answers
27k views

How can I build a tank out of the fighter class?

I need to build a tank for a party limited to the classic four: cleric, fighter, rogue, wizard. He should have following abilities: Prevent other party members from harm in direct martial ...
9 votes
6 answers
5k views

How to calculate the added expected damage from critical hits?

When optimizing character builds, it is common to use the average expected damage to estimate damage output. Calculating the average of a single die is simple, fixed modifiers are then added to it to ...
2 votes
2 answers
899 views

When does Polearm Master deal more damage than an ASI?

Would a fighter deal more expected damage by picking the Polearm Master feat at any point before they maxed their Strength, or is it better to first always increase your Strength in terms of damage? ...
5 votes
2 answers
3k views

Does Great Weapon Master deal more expected damage than an ASI?

Some people claim that an ASI normally contributes more than any given feat. It is nearly always better than the Dual Wielder feat. However, the Crossbow Expert feat is better damage than an ASI (at ...
1 vote
3 answers
394 views

If the campaign ends at level 4, does it make any sense to take level 4 of Paladin compared to multiclassing as Warlock?

My current mini-campaign has come to it's finale and we just advanced to level 4 ahead of the final episode. My Paladin has been doing great so far, but when looking at what he gains at level 4 ASI ...
15 votes
3 answers
3k views

Is Electric Arc much stronger than other cantrips?

Electric Arc seems to be much stronger in combat than other cantrips. Damage and DPR for it and some select comparisons:1 Cantrip Damage DPR Range Electric Arc 3d4 + 4 (11.5) ( 0.05 × 2 + 0.45 + 0....
9 votes
3 answers
4k views

What's the earliest a champion can have a focus pool of 3?

In Pathfinder 2e, some classes have access to a focus pool. Each pool has a certain number of focus points, which can be used to cast spells. I'm playing a champion and intending on making extensive ...

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