Hello! We defeated Tiamat last week. WHEW. I went unconscious once and down to 1 HP two other times, haha.
Our Rogue is giving up his Flame Tongue Scimitar for another weapon. My Tiefling Paladin currently uses a battle ax that does max DMG against... plants or a Dragon Slayer sword that deals an extra 3d6 DMG against dragon-types.
It would make sense for me to use this weapon, but am unsure about the value compared to my current weapons. You can see how it stacks against my other weapons here: https://ibb.co/cNL81R4
Is it 9 to hit vs 10 because it's a light weapon? Would the extra DMG make up for that?
You are about 5% more likely to hit with a +10 weapon over a +9 weapon (it's not exactly 5% since natural 20s and 1s are a thing, but close enough for estimating). Your longsword and battleaxe both do an average of 12.5 damage, but have an equal chance of doing 9 damage as they do of dealing 17 damage, making your swings variable.
Your scimitar deals, on average 17.5 damage. It will deal more than the average 12.5 damage from your longsword and battleaxe 93.42% of the time you hit. It will match or exceed the maximum of 17 damage from your longsword and battleaxe 62.49% of the time.
Taken together, you are taking a 5% penalty on your dice for a 62.49% chance of dealing more damage than the maximum your longsword or battleaxe can do (and a 93.42% chance of rolling better than your other weapons deal on average). That seems worthwhile to me.
(Note, you'll still probably want to keep one of your other weapons in case you fight something with fire immunity)
The Battleaxe and Dragon Slayer seem to be +1 weapons, though it's weird that the Battleaxe isn't written in green (indicating an uncommon magic item); maybe it's just been customized or homebrewed? In any case, a Flame Tongue isn't a +1 weapon, so that's why it's a +9 to hit instead of +10.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Helpful rewriter of Japanese->English translation and delver into software codebases (she/e/they)
OK, your link isn't working at the moment for me, so I'll just run off what you've given. If the link works later or you can fill in your proficiency bonus and other stats I'll update. I'll assume your ability modifiers are the same for now, and so ignore them since they displace the values by the same, and I'll assume you're proficient with all mentioned weapons and ignore it using the same logic. Since you can use strength to drive your scimitar attack, if your dexterity is higher, then it will favour the scimitar, but otherwise it'll be equal.
Against most enemies:
Your Dragon slayer longsword (I'm assuming it's q longsword) does 1d8+1, or an average of 5.5 damage per hit.
Your battle axe does 1d8, or 4.5 average damage per hit.
Your scimitar does 3d6 (1d6 base damage plus 2d6 fire) or 10.5 average damage per hit.
If you're proficient with all three weapons, you'll have +1 on your longsword compared to the other two, which means once in 20 rolls, you'll hit with the longsword when you would miss with the others. On the other hand, when you crit with your scimitar, it will much more damage, amd you have the same odds of doing that, so the hit rolls actually favour the scimitar overall.
Against standard enemies or ones weak against fire, go for the scimitar. For those resistant to fire, it's closer, but you're still better off with the scimitar. It essentially becomes 2d6 for 7 average damage. If they're resistant to slashing, then it's 2.5d6, it's 8.75 damage, still favouring the scimitar.
If they're immune to fire, then it becomes 1d6 or 3.5 damage, go for your longsword or, if you don't have it, even your battle axe will do. Immunity to slashing still favours the scimitar.
If you're fighting dragons, your longsword goes up to 15.5, it becomes your best by far. How often will you be fighting dragons, though? On the other hand, that's usually when your damage really matters...
Your battle axe is only really useful against plants, doing 8 per round...that still only competes with the scimitar if you're fighting fire resistant plants...how often does that happen? Will it ever happen?
Conclusion:
Ditch the battle axe. It's only ever going to be useful in very niche circumstances.
You'll have to gauge how often you'll be fighting dragons or fire immune enemies. Ideally, I'd use the scimitar as your main weapon and have the longsword as a back up. Bring it out when you're up against dragons or fire immune enemies. If you're only able to keep one weapon out of the two, it depends on your personality. The scimitar Will be amazing against most enemies, but will fail when you're up against the hardest enemies. Your longsword will be fine against most enemies, but will still be fine or even become great against the hardest ones. Depends on your party and your personality I guess.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
The Battleaxe and Dragon Slayer seem to be +1 weapons, though it's weird that the Battleaxe isn't written in green (indicating an uncommon magic item); maybe it's just been customized or homebrewed? In any case, a Flame Tongue isn't a +1 weapon, so that's why it's a +9 to hit instead of +10.
Yeah, homebrewed Battleaxe. Couldn't find "Hew" in Roll20. Pretty easy to remember that it's max DMG against plants. That has come in handy once in 98 sessions
Ditch the battle axe. It's only ever going to be useful in very niche circumstances.
Ideally, I'd use the scimitar as your main weapon and have the longsword as a back up. Bring it out when you're up against dragons or fire immune enemies. If you're only able to keep one weapon out of the two, it depends on your personality. The scimitar Will be amazing against most enemies, but will fail when you're up against the hardest enemies. Your longsword will be fine against most enemies, but will still be fine or even become great against the hardest ones.
Weird that the link to a screenshot of my weapons isn't working but the battleax is +1 as well. Your logic still applies though. I carry the sword with me and only use against dragon-types. We just defeated our 6th or 7th dragon, Tiamat, but have come across many wyverns and a couple of other dragon-types.
I just liked the ax for RP purposes, imagining my hulking Tiefling paladin swinging an ax of death.
I'll equip the scimitar and still carry the sword for dragon-types or fire-immune enemies, and get rid of my beloved ax. Maybe I should do some landscaping with it as a final send-off.
Hello! We defeated Tiamat last week. WHEW. I went unconscious once and down to 1 HP two other times, haha.
Our Rogue is giving up his Flame Tongue Scimitar for another weapon. My Tiefling Paladin currently uses a battle ax that does max DMG against... plants or a Dragon Slayer sword that deals an extra 3d6 DMG against dragon-types.
It would make sense for me to use this weapon, but am unsure about the value compared to my current weapons. You can see how it stacks against my other weapons here: https://ibb.co/cNL81R4
Is it 9 to hit vs 10 because it's a light weapon? Would the extra DMG make up for that?
Thanks for any help!
p.s Any suggestions for a better range weapon?
Just some quick math:
You are about 5% more likely to hit with a +10 weapon over a +9 weapon (it's not exactly 5% since natural 20s and 1s are a thing, but close enough for estimating). Your longsword and battleaxe both do an average of 12.5 damage, but have an equal chance of doing 9 damage as they do of dealing 17 damage, making your swings variable.
Your scimitar deals, on average 17.5 damage. It will deal more than the average 12.5 damage from your longsword and battleaxe 93.42% of the time you hit. It will match or exceed the maximum of 17 damage from your longsword and battleaxe 62.49% of the time.
Taken together, you are taking a 5% penalty on your dice for a 62.49% chance of dealing more damage than the maximum your longsword or battleaxe can do (and a 93.42% chance of rolling better than your other weapons deal on average). That seems worthwhile to me.
(Note, you'll still probably want to keep one of your other weapons in case you fight something with fire immunity)
The Battleaxe and Dragon Slayer seem to be +1 weapons, though it's weird that the Battleaxe isn't written in green (indicating an uncommon magic item); maybe it's just been customized or homebrewed? In any case, a Flame Tongue isn't a +1 weapon, so that's why it's a +9 to hit instead of +10.
Helpful rewriter of Japanese->English translation and delver into software codebases (she/e/they)
OK, your link isn't working at the moment for me, so I'll just run off what you've given. If the link works later or you can fill in your proficiency bonus and other stats I'll update. I'll assume your ability modifiers are the same for now, and so ignore them since they displace the values by the same, and I'll assume you're proficient with all mentioned weapons and ignore it using the same logic. Since you can use strength to drive your scimitar attack, if your dexterity is higher, then it will favour the scimitar, but otherwise it'll be equal.
Against most enemies:
Your Dragon slayer longsword (I'm assuming it's q longsword) does 1d8+1, or an average of 5.5 damage per hit.
Your battle axe does 1d8, or 4.5 average damage per hit.
Your scimitar does 3d6 (1d6 base damage plus 2d6 fire) or 10.5 average damage per hit.
If you're proficient with all three weapons, you'll have +1 on your longsword compared to the other two, which means once in 20 rolls, you'll hit with the longsword when you would miss with the others. On the other hand, when you crit with your scimitar, it will much more damage, amd you have the same odds of doing that, so the hit rolls actually favour the scimitar overall.
Against standard enemies or ones weak against fire, go for the scimitar. For those resistant to fire, it's closer, but you're still better off with the scimitar. It essentially becomes 2d6 for 7 average damage. If they're resistant to slashing, then it's 2.5d6, it's 8.75 damage, still favouring the scimitar.
If they're immune to fire, then it becomes 1d6 or 3.5 damage, go for your longsword or, if you don't have it, even your battle axe will do. Immunity to slashing still favours the scimitar.
If you're fighting dragons, your longsword goes up to 15.5, it becomes your best by far. How often will you be fighting dragons, though? On the other hand, that's usually when your damage really matters...
Your battle axe is only really useful against plants, doing 8 per round...that still only competes with the scimitar if you're fighting fire resistant plants...how often does that happen? Will it ever happen?
Conclusion:
Ditch the battle axe. It's only ever going to be useful in very niche circumstances.
You'll have to gauge how often you'll be fighting dragons or fire immune enemies. Ideally, I'd use the scimitar as your main weapon and have the longsword as a back up. Bring it out when you're up against dragons or fire immune enemies. If you're only able to keep one weapon out of the two, it depends on your personality. The scimitar Will be amazing against most enemies, but will fail when you're up against the hardest enemies. Your longsword will be fine against most enemies, but will still be fine or even become great against the hardest ones. Depends on your party and your personality I guess.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Yeah, homebrewed Battleaxe. Couldn't find "Hew" in Roll20. Pretty easy to remember that it's max DMG against plants. That has come in handy once in 98 sessions
Ah, I thought Flame Tongue was +1 :(
Weird that the link to a screenshot of my weapons isn't working but the battleax is +1 as well. Your logic still applies though. I carry the sword with me and only use against dragon-types. We just defeated our 6th or 7th dragon, Tiamat, but have come across many wyverns and a couple of other dragon-types.
I just liked the ax for RP purposes, imagining my hulking Tiefling paladin swinging an ax of death.
I'll equip the scimitar and still carry the sword for dragon-types or fire-immune enemies, and get rid of my beloved ax. Maybe I should do some landscaping with it as a final send-off.
Thanks!
Thanks @Caerwyn_Glyndwr!