doublebear's page

Short-ish answer: to get DPR for an ability like shocking grasp that can only trigger once, and that triggers on any successful attack use the following formula:

(1-(m1)*(m2)*(m3)...)*D+(t1*f1+m1*t2*f2+m1*m2*t3*f3+m1*m2*m3*t3*f3...)*c*D

where:
m# = the chance that the #th attack will miss
D = the average damage that the ability will do
t# = the chance that the #th attack will be a critical threat
f# = the chance a critical threat on the #th attack will be confirmed
c = the number of bonus multiples you get from a crit, as it applies to this ability

I hope the sequences are clear with regards to how to change them for more or less attacks.

So for your particular circumstances:

m1 = .2
m2 = .2
m3 = .2
m4 = .45
m5 = .7
D = 35
t1 = .3
t2 = .3
t3 = .3
t4 = .3
t5 = .3
f1 = .8
f2 = .8
f3 = .8
f4 = .55
f5 = .3
c = 1

Plugging that in, you get a DPR of .99748*35+(.332493)*35 or 46.55 for just the shocking grasp ability.

Longer Answer:
The formula I provided consists of two terms, the first is the chance that any one of your attacks hits times the damage a hit will do, the second is the chance that the first successful attack you make is a critical hit times the bonus damage a crit will do.

To calculate the odds that an event will happen given a number of tries, you have to think about the odds that it will not happen, and subtract that value from 1, to get the chances that your desired event will not not happen.

Your second question significantly complicates things, because you cannot have two charges of shocking grasp active at once, and because you must make your attacks in order of decreasing base attack bonus, you must hit with the quickened shocking grasp in your first three attacks in order for it to be used before the second shocking grasp is triggered.

This leaves us with a probability chain that I don't know how to simplify, that is going to be a really long equation, so I'm only going to describe it.

You have to consider four different situations: that the first attack hits, that the first misses and the second hits, that the first and second hit miss and the third hits, and that the first three attacks all miss.

This equation will end up looking similar to the 4 copies of the equation I posted earlier, each with a different coefficient and number of attacks based on the probability of the preceding event happening.

Reading back through this post, it seems pretty hard to follow so if you have any questions I'll try to clarify.

but it is not a quadruped. it is a biped. as soon as you try and "lose" leg in favour of arms it ceases being a "Quad" and becomes a "Bi"

My understanding is that the OP only wants to drop bite, not all of the free evolutions.

In his example the eidolon would still have two pairs of legs, it would just also have a pair of arms, for six limbs total. The result would, in my mind look a lot like a centaur.

I would also agree that you cannot give up the Bite attack, as pouncing eidolons are already fairly ridiculous damage beasts.

Back when I played more 4E I had one adventure in which the party was descending a narrow stairway into a large dark cavern. I made a quick 3d setup with it and the players really enjoyed it, though I think they enjoyed the novelty of it more than any real gameplay or verisimilitude argument.

I'm sure you've already though of it, but if you are going to be doing combat within a 3d model, it is imperative that you build your set-up so that a ~1" grid fits nicely on it.

I would recommend

Str: 10
Dex: 18 (human bonus)
Con: 12
Int: 8/10
Wis: 14
Cha: 8/10
*dump whichever of int and cha you prefer.

Start with a light crossbow, switch to a heavy when you get crossbow mastery at 6th level

for feats
rapid reload and rapid shot to start
at second level get precise shot from your combat style
deadly aim at third
whatever you want at fifth
and crossbow mastery at sixth

With this kind of build it is really important to make good choices for your favored enemy, as you will be making lots of attacks, but they will not do very much damage each so any bonus damage you can add on helps a lot.

You don't get 5 attacks on a charge with Dire Tiger/Lion. To rake you need to start the round grappling the target already. The most you can do is 3 attacks on a charge. If any of your attacks grapples the target, then the next round you get 5 attacks.

You do get five attacks on a charge with Dire Tiger / Lion. Pounce allows you to use rake attacks:

When a creature with this special attack makes a charge, it can make a full attack (including rake attacks if the creature also has the rake ability).

It seems to me that the simplest way to allow for multiclass characters (of the fighter 10 / Wizard 10 variety) is to let them play as gestalt characters that only earn half xp.

They end up being roughly at character level -2, which seems to be a little harsh at early levels, and a little lenient at higher levels, but I think it's a simple solution that makes a lot more classes viable.