Weapon Comparison Tool

[The_Cataclysm]

I definitely plan to add in the named item effects that don't follow the standard prefix / suffix rules. I just want to make sure I get it cleaned up and functional before I start with the nicety tweaks. I don't have any of the named ones, so I'll have to use the gamebanshee database to look them up, but if you have some specific effects you want added, just PM me with what they do and I can put them into the XML data files.

I'm talking about the fact that base damage, crit range, crit mult are increased on some named weapons. Like the Shining Crescent is a 2 handed sickle that has a base damage of 2d6.

[jjflanigan]

I'm talking about the fact that base damage, crit range, crit mult are increased on some named weapons. Like the Shining Crescent is a 2 handed sickle that has a base damage of 2d6.

ooooooh, gotcha. Sorry, like I said, I don't have any of the "special" named items like that. But yes, weapons are just as easy to add as effects so I'll look up the stats for them when I'm able to get to a site that has them listed and add them in. The weaponData.xml is set up to be able to easily add new weapons

<weapon>
<name>Maul</name>
<numDice>1</numDice>
<sizeDice>10</sizeDice>
<critChance>1</critChance>
<critMultiplier>2</critMultiplier>
<classification>Two Handed</classification>
</weapon>

Is the format in the file. The fields are fairly self-explanatory with the possible exception of crit chance. critChance is the number of numbers on the 20 sided die that will result in a crit (i.e. 20 is 1, 19 -20 is 2, etc).

[Raithe]

Nice interface. This program doesn't work though.

A +5 rapier is eventually going to outdamage a +2 shocking burst rapier (for a while, at least) as the AC of the mob goes up. At one particular mob AC the +5 will be hitting 3 times more often than the +2 (with criticals being an even wider contrast). According to the program's chart the +2 elemental burst outperforms the +5 at all mob ACs.

I don't think the program accounts for weapon finesse, either.

[jjflanigan]

Nice interface. This program doesn't work though.

A +5 rapier is eventually going to outdamage a +2 shocking burst rapier (for a while, at least) as the AC of the mob goes up. At one particular mob AC the +5 will be hitting 3 times more often than the +2 (with criticals being an even wider contrast). According to the program's chart the +2 elemental burst outperforms the +5 at all mob ACs.

I don't think the program accounts for weapon finesse, either.

I have not added weapon finesse either, I'll make that a toggle like Bow Strength.

You are 100% correct regarding the weapons. When I converted things to handle seeker, I fat fingered and left off the addition of the weapon bonus to the to-hit calculation. So you were getting the calculation with the +5 damage, but not the +5 to hit. It's all fixed now with the version I just uploaded

(this is what happens when I beta test live, sorry )

[kafromet]

Hey thanks jjflanigan. Very cool of you to take the time to put something like this together for the community.

If I was in the cupcake business I'd totaly give you one for this.

[kafromet]

Just to be sure I am using this correctly. I am trying to compare the effects of using Power Attack vs. not using Power Attack with my main weapon. So I punch in my BaB and Str Bonus across the top, then all my particulars for the weapon exactly the same on the right, with only Power Attack vs. None for the Combat stance different. That generates this result:

http://www.pbase.com/image/74009350

So if I used it right and am reading right I'll generate higher average damage by turning power attack off when the target's AC is between 27 and 42, is that correct?

Thanks!

[jjflanigan]

Just to be sure I am using this correctly. I am trying to compare the effects of using Power Attack vs. not using Power Attack with my main weapon. So I punch in my BaB and Str Bonus across the top, then all my particulars for the weapon exactly the same on the right, with only Power Attack vs. None for the Combat stance different. That generates this result:

http://www.pbase.com/image/74009350

So if I used it right and am reading right I'll generate higher average damage by turning power attack off when the target's AC is between 27 and 42, is that correct?

Thanks!

Exactly correct. With power attack on, you're going to have a steeper decline in your damage due to the to-hit penalty, so they'll always be a middle area where you are better off (on average) turning power attack off.

[Chardros]

One of us is doing the math wrong somewhere, and I'm not saying it's you. Could you check my figures if you get a chance. I'm not actually at my gaming machine, so I could be missing something important.

BAB: 12
STR Bonus: 11
Favored DAM: 2 (Greater Weapon Spec)
Favored Hit: 2 (Greater Weapon Focus)
Improved Critial
Power Attack
+5 Falchion


I get a hitroll of:
+12 BAB
+11 STR
 +2 Fav Hitroll
 +5 + on the weapon
 -5 Pwr Attack 
-------------
 25

For average (non critical) damage I get:
+10 Weapon (2d4) + 5
 +2 Favored Damage
+10 Power Attack 
+16 Str Bonus (11 * 1.5 truncated)
-----------------------
 38

Assume AC 20 on creature I'm fighting, so I'm only checking the first point on the graph.

I'll hit on anything but a 1, and I'll confirm a crit on anything but a 1

Critical Breakdown:
Crit on 15-20 and confirm on anything but a 1
Confirm roll      Avg Damage
1                 38
2-20              76

(38 + 19 * 76)/20 = 74.1

So my averages for each roll to hit are:
My Roll	   Avg Damage
1           0
2-14       38
15-20      74.1   

(13 * 38 + 6 * 74.1)/20 = 46.93

Using that scenario, the program shows me an average of about 40 with an AC of 20, but I get an average of 46.93. What am I missing?

[jjflanigan]

It sounds like you have an older version of the application before I fixed the issue with the weapon bonus adding in. I just ran the exact numbers you gave and for any AC under 26 I get an average damage, with power attack, of 46.93.

Try downloading it again (the current version is 1.8). You should see a toggle on the main page for "Weapon Finesse"


Side note: Added in weapon weight classes and the weapon finesse feat toggle.

[Raithe]

Looks like most of the kinks are worked out. Pretty cool program, you can use it to evaluate feat/enhancement choices as well as comparing 2 different weapons.

[~True_Knight]

Are you getting the black(ish) background with the gold border for the dialog boxes with the weapon building options? If not, could you either screenshot it or describe for me how it looks and I'll see what's going on.

This is how it should look:

http://perfectweb.org/images/ddo/weapon_data.jpg

I am getting that box...but all the white text is gone! hmmmm

[jjflanigan]

I am getting that box...but all the white text is gone! hmmmm

Just put up version 1.8.5 for you -- I adjusted the color used for the text, see if that helps, please.

[Chardros]

It sounds like you have an older version of the application before I fixed the issue with the weapon bonus adding in. I just ran the exact numbers you gave and for any AC under 26 I get an average damage, with power attack, of 46.93.

Try downloading it again (the current version is 1.8). You should see a toggle on the main page for "Weapon Finesse"


Side note: Added in weapon weight classes and the weapon finesse feat toggle.

wow, nice job man.

[jjflanigan]

New Version 1.9:

Added in the 3 bane suffixes
Added in special case named items


Thanks to The Cataclysm for the information on the special named items

[Allasar]

Definitely going to be useful (but probably needs a few more enhancements ).

Couple of suggestions:

1. Add a Clear button to reset the app.
2. I think it would be very helpful to add a target alignment type combo box. This would allow the user to more quickly evaluate weapon options.
3. Add Hasted option, add other feat choices (weapon focus, spec, etc.)

There is also a bug if you type in the BAB and STR bonus values, rather than select from the combo options, you get invalid results.

Thanks for doing the work though!

[jjflanigan]

Definitely going to be useful (but probably needs a few more enhancements ).

Couple of suggestions:

1. Add a Clear button to reset the app.
2. I think it would be very helpful to add a target alignment type combo box. This would allow the user to more quickly evaluate weapon options.
3. Add Hasted option, add other feat choices (weapon focus, spec, etc.)

There is also a bug if you type in the BAB and STR bonus values, rather than select from the combo options, you get invalid results.

Thanks for doing the work though!

Version 1.9.5:

Added a reset button to clear out all form changes
Updated drop downs to allow typed in data for numerical fields


For #3, that's what the miscellaneous to hit and damage items are for each weapon. If you are creating a weapon and mouse over those fields there should be a tooltip display to explain that they are for adding in the bonuses from weapon specialization and focus. Also, for haste, the only effect that would have on the chart is to give a bonus of +1 to hit. Being hasted won't change the data displayed in any other way since I'm not displaying DPS, but average damage per swing.

I'm not sure what you mean with #2. To compare how a weapon would work versus a mob of the alignment that takes the damage versus otherwise, you can just remove the prefix / suffix that is tied to the alignment and that will show the base. If you mean something else or had a specific comparison in mind, let me know and I'll see if I can accomodate it.

Thank you for the feedback.

[jjflanigan]

Version 1.10:

Added in 3 new fields (with tooltips)
Start AC
AC Increment
AC Count

These will allow you to customize the AC values used to generate the graph.

[Chardros]

Hey Man,

I really love this program. I discovered something last night (or maybe the day before) that will affect your numbers. You can confirm a critical, even if you roll a 1.

Confirmed Crit on roll of 1

I don't know if it's a bug or working as intended, but it will affect your numbers.

[jjflanigan]

Hey Man,

I really love this program. I discovered something last night (or maybe the day before) that will affect your numbers. You can confirm a critical, even if you roll a 1.

Confirmed Crit on roll of 1

I don't know if it's a bug or working as intended, but it will affect your numbers.

Thank you for that. Luckily it just required me changing one number from a 19 to a 20.

It's updated now with version 1.11

[Chardros]

It's updated now with version 1.11

I just grabbed version 1.11 and I get an error message when running it. Does it need to be unzipped to a specific location?