DEX-based Wounding/Weakening

[cforce]

Just a quick question for dex-based characters out there. Against the DR of some of the typical end-game DR-having mobs, how much extra damage (STR, damage boost, PA, or otherwise) would you say is necessary to get past DR and get effects like Wounding and Weakening to land on every hit?

[Riorik]

Not fact based. I'm guessing this must be for some upcoming analysis project you're doing.

Just throwing out the idea...wouldn't it be as simple as...DR of X, you need X or X+1 damage? It probably also depends on the build - can you get (and are you getting) sneak attack damage. Gut instinct...I'd say +12 (plus weapon base) is probably the minimum to have a statistically good probability of getting past DR15. I don't think you'd want a build at less than STR20 under any circumstances.

Oh, I do have a Drow Rapier/Shortsword STR20 build that almost always lands the wounding/weakening effects. I do miss occassionally but my gut feeling is it's low frequency...say 10% of the time depending on what I'm in. Often, however, I'm running the endgame stuff on normal (for the usual reasons, no need, no benefit) so I'm not real clear how much the DR's change...but I do also get sneak attack damage on the same build...I've got several variables giving me the possibility of stat damage and it's hard because I'm not tracking it closely (just loving the results) to know which is the key against what mob. I would say what's probably obvious - working multiple angles to give you the possibility of stat damage in the hopes that at least one triggers is probably a good idea on a DEX build.

[cforce]

I'm guessing this must be for some upcoming analysis project you're doing.

A smart guess, but in this case it's for my own selfish personal reasons! I pulled a nice +3 Weakening/Enfeebling rapier, and am thinking I might un-retire my halfling rogue and re-spec as a TWF build for the Crippling Strike/Dual WoE fun of it. The challenge: it's an 'antique' 28-point build, with only 10 starting STR, so 18 is probably the most reasonable STR target I'll manage. I wondering if I need to find ways to get more added damage in the build for it to 'work'.

[kamimitsu]

A smart guess, but in this case it's for my own selfish personal reasons! I pulled a nice +3 Weakening/Enfeebling rapier, and am thinking I might un-retire my halfling rogue and re-spec as a TWF build for the Crippling Strike/Dual WoE fun of it. The challenge: it's an 'antique' 28-point build, with only 10 starting STR, so 18 is probably the most reasonable STR target I'll manage. I wondering if I need to find ways to get more added damage in the build for it to 'work'.

My rogue has 18 STR and used to wield dual Weakening of Enfeebling (rapier/ss). Weakening almost always lands even on DR mobs as your backstab damage will punch through, and with crippling strike you'll get them to 0 in no time. Elies, undead and some constructs are the only kicker as they are immune to backstab and have DR. Just keep a set of Gr. Banes for the appropriate type, and otherwise you won't need to worry.

[cforce]

Oh, backstab counts towards overcoming DR for Weakening? I didn't realize that -- thanks! Should be no problem with the Halfling line, then.

Thankfully, for the mob types you mention: Elementals, Constructs, and Undead -- I think I can get by dual-wielding Banishing, Smiting, and Disrupting -- with Greater Banes for the red-names, of course.

[Riorik]

Oh, backstab counts towards overcoming DR for Weakening? I didn't realize that -- thanks! Should be no problem with the Halfling line, then.

Shucks, I assumed you knew that. Both Sneak attack & Backstab (which is essentially sneak attack) can get you past DR to do stat damage.

[Junts]

The SA statement is true, but for people with dex-based non-rogues or non-halflings, on normal there are only a very few mobs with more than dr 10 and exactly one kind of monster that has dr over 15 - the shavarath hellcats in the vod section of the subterrane have dr 20, most of the orthons and devils in that area have dr 15 (all drs are /good or silver with those mobs), and all other high-level dr having mobs (vods, hounds, shrouds etc) are dr 10s on normal, though they do scale up - said mobs have 20 or so drs on elite and breaking is much harder.

The very hardest elementals have dr 10 and 15 / -, especially very high level earth elementals, but if you can break subterrane drs, you will be ok.