How much +hit is enough?

[Vasha]

Assuming you're a warrior type with a BAB of 16 at level 16, how much +hit is enough for the highest level content?

is +15 enough? +20? +22?

What's the highest AC a mob seems to have in game?



(I'm building a new char, and I can get hit up to +22 with just a +5 weapon and cleric spells)

[dior10276]

I think getting over 30 total is very acceptable. 35 plus is ideal.

16 bab
4 gh
5 weapon
7+ st mod 24 strength or 24 dex (finesse)

It can be higher, but this works and is very achievable.

Hope this helps

[Milolyen]

I can't remember off hand but I know my ranger has a to hit in the mid 30's and still has some misses on rolls other than a 1 when fighting orthons. I do remember seeing my to hit while duel weilding +5 rapier and +5 short sword was a +34 so + 5 bow should be +36 to hit and then moving while I shoot (which I usually am) makes it a +32 to hit. As for monsters ac I can't really help there because I do not pay attention to my rolls that closely.

Milolyen

[Vasha]

So I should be okay then?

With a +5 longsword, I'd have

+5 enchant,
+4 18 str
+3 enhancements
+6 divine favor (luck)
+ 4 greater heroism (morale)
+3 divine power

= +25

+16 BAB

= +41 hit

[Zenako]

The flipant answer is if you are missing, you need more....

However, that is not enough info. If you are missing your first attack more often than not, that can be a problem. Often characters are able to get the drop on mobs and end up with a swing or two before the mob swings back, and if you can land those first few and get something out of them (Special effects of some sort) the battle is over before it began. For a fighter class character concerned about melee, a stat of only 24 is a bit low (assuming that is with items worn). You should be looking at a 24/7 value of closer to 30 (STR or DEX) to give a bit better baseline and that is assuming some gear, level ups and enhancements.

So with that:

+16 BAB
+10 Enhanced Stat (30 STR or DEX)
+5 ish Weapon
etc

you quickly reach the mid 30's and up. That is a better spot to be in.

[Zenako]

So I should be okay then?

With a +5 longsword, I'd have

+5 enchant,
+4 18 str
+3 enhancements
+6 divine favor (luck)
+ 4 greater heroism (morale)
+3 divine power

= +25

+16 BAB

= +41 hit

That should be good...other than weapon focus feats, not much more you can do other than putting some level up points into STR to get that base even higher.

[Ninety]

+30 is what I aim for on all my characters... but I always run with power attack on as well.

[Thriand]

So I should be okay then?

With a +5 longsword, I'd have

+5 enchant,
+4 18 str
+3 enhancements
+6 divine favor (luck)
+ 4 greater heroism (morale)
+3 divine power

= +25

+16 BAB

= +41 hit

divine favor only maxes out at +3 to hit. Divine power can only give a bonus to hit if you are not already wearing a +6 Str item since the +6 str does not stack, either way the divine power clikie/spell will bring you up to the full 16 BAB when cast.

[Vasha]

I'm actually making a pure cleric, not a fighter... so the only way I'll get a 30 STR is with like a +8 tome or some bonuses that stack. (Im starting with a 16 and using a +2 str tome, then divine power is +6 enhancement bonus)


EDIT: Are you sure about divine favor...? I haven't seen it cast by a level 16 cleric, but:

The strength and wisdom of a deity are called upon to grant a +1 luck bonus on weapon attack and damage. This bonus is increased by +1 for every 3 caster levels beyond level 3.

That'd be an additional +5 at level 15, for a total of +6.

[Oran_Lathor]

Divine favor caps at +3 (in DDO at least).

+30ish is good, a little higher is better for Elite Orthons and so on.

[Thriand]

I'm actually making a pure cleric, not a fighter... so the only way I'll get a 30 STR is with like a +8 tome or some bonuses that stack. (Im starting with a 16 and using a +2 str tome, then divine power is +6 enhancement bonus)


EDIT: Are you sure about divine favor...? I haven't seen it cast by a level 16 cleric, but:

The strength and wisdom of a deity are called upon to grant a +1 luck bonus on weapon attack and damage. This bonus is increased by +1 for every 3 caster levels beyond level 3.

That'd be an additional +5 at level 15, for a total of +6.

First off its +1 for every addition 3 level past 3 so it would be a total of +5, secondly divine favor definitely caps a +3 and does in pen and paper too if you keep up with the official 3.5 errata.

[Vasha]

cleric I just asked in game said his was +5, so...

[Borror0]

Divine favor caps at +3 (in DDO at least).

Well, it was changed to follow PNP so... you should say "also caps at +3 in DDO".

[Thriand]

cleric I just asked in game said his was +5, so...

cleric lied to you

[Oran_Lathor]

Wasn't sure about the PnP version Borror, hence my "at least" in DDO... anyway, yea, cleric who said his was +5 didn't know what he was talkin 'bout :P

[Humperdink]

I would say the general AC range later in the game is 30-40. This covers most mobs and some bosses depending on the difficulty setting. The pit fiend on normal in the Shroud raid is about 40. The demon queen in the raid is about 40. I've seen about 50 AC on red named orthons on elite. Not sure if this is highest. When using weapon damage calculators I usually evaluate the curve in the 30-40 AC range. When equipping power attack on a melee character I also aim for about +30 attack bonus as others have mentioned. Don't forget your attack bonus also goes up as you swing (and then resets to normal after one attack cycle). New Spectral Gloves out of Offering of Blood can give you a +2 attack bonus along with the Tumbleweed ring out of the new raids.