Good “morning” guys. Could anybody please tell me the most lethal weapon or spell available to a level 1 PFS character?
The question assume damage dealt before any strength, bard buff, critical or any other modifier not part of the weapon basic damage is applied.
Any weapon that does better or equal to 2d6 points of damage round after round.
sap?
Sleeping Hex
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Toss-up between a greatsword, greataxe, and alchemist's fire, I'd say. All deal either 2d6 or 1d12 damage on a successful hit.
Arguably, sleep and color spray as they can render their targets helpless so you can coup de grace them with aforementioned greatsword or greataxe.
EDIT:
@Artanthos: Grease is cool, but not lethal.
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RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Arguably, sleep and color spray as they can render their targets helpless so you can coup de grace them with aforementioned greatsword or greataxe.
Actually, if you plan on rendering foes helpless, you should be carrying a heavy pick. The -4 nonproficiency penalty doesn't really matter when you auto-hit and auto-crit. ;)
Greatsword does 2d6 damage: that is an average of 7 points plus strength. An NPC with a +4 strength modifier (+6 w/two-handed weapon) will render a PC into the negatives with 10 hp or less on an average hit. That is a d6 class with a 20 or less Con AND favored class bonus in hit points. Or a d8 class with a 18 or less Con AND favored class bonus in hit points. Or a d10 class with a 14 or less Con AND favored class bonus in hit points.
That is average damage, 13 points. One hit. Vs. max starting hit points. Only a barbarian is not vulnerable to being dropped by the average damage of a high-strength greatsword wielder at 1st level.
But even a Dwarf Barbarian with a 20 Con and his favored class bonus in hit points can go to zero in one hit from a high-strength great sword wielder (12+6=18, vs. 12+5+1=18).
First level characters are VULNERABLE, with a capital 'V', to experiencing the wrong end of a one-shot, one-kill attack, even without considering the effects of critical hits.
Of course, for spells, both sleep and color spray are the big killers, even though they do not actually do damage. They do set PCs (and NPCs) up for a coup de grace rather nicely.
MA
As stated by others, color spray.
Also any 2-handed weapon wielded with some Str.
Spoiler about "First Steps" PFS adventure.
Ok! Got it. Now a different version of the question: most lethal weapon (Not spell) available to a level 1 PFS WIZARD character?
Nicely asking the fighter with the greatsword to attack the target you wish to hurt?
Nicely asking the fighter with the greatsword to attack the target you wish to hurt?
LOLLLLLLLLL
Sleeping HexActually, that's better after level 1, when people have a couple of rounds to move up for the CdG.
You're right. I thought the Hex was minutes/level while the spell is rounds/level. It's the other way, so yes, the Hex isn't that great at 1st level, but becomes good at 2nd and up.
It's not bad at 1st, if you sleep someone next to the fighter (or really anyone) they can CdG next turn, but there are better ones.
Sleep + Scythe = level 1 save or die.
Falchion, 2d4 + STR and a half. Crit on 18-20/x2, so on average you have the best damage minimum giving you the best average damage. My first level character does a min 11 dmg or max 37 for one attack, much better than a spell that gets used up IMO
for a wizard how about burning hands? The catching fire part is lvl independent, if you catch several foes you should outdamage any single-target fighter.
1d4+1d6 if everything goes well.
On single targets an alchemists fire is better though.
My transmuter half-orc used a greataxe...it was scary actually...
most lethal weapon (Not spell) available to a level 1 PFS WIZARD character?
Dwarf wizard with a heavy pick. Go ahead and give him a +2 Str, so he deals 1d6+3 damage two-handed. Casts color spray or sleep, then CdGs the fool for 16-36 damage. Only the most ridiculously optimized character could survive even a weak hit.
Men! between the characters described (Dwarf wizard with a heavy pick) on this thread and the "overheard at Paizo" thread I am having so much laughs today!
Glad to make you laugh.
Playing a goblin alchemist who blows things up without qualms is still more fun.
Yar!
I did maths a while back relating this this.
Deadly 1st level melee weapon wizard
Average damage per hit comparison of various weapons at 1st level
In short, dwarven wizard, transmutation specialist, with Enlarge Person, Magic Weapon, and wielding a Dwarven Wareaxe (first level feat is martial weapon proficiency). 11-32 damage per normal hit, 36-99 damage on a crit/coup-de-grace. Switch out Magic Weapon for Color Spray to be a bloody solo machine, doing only 1 less damage per hit (-3 on crits).
Deadliest weapon: Lance on a charge (2 handed)
Runner Up: Lance on a charge (1 handed).
3rd place: Tied: Over-sized Dwarven Waraxe and Over-sized Bastard Sword (yes, this includes the -2 to hit)
Honorable Mention: Tied: Greatsword and Earthbreaker
~P
Hey i actually play a dwarf wizard with a heavy pick :) he's earth school too so bonus to hit and damage if we are both on the ground.
@Artanthos: Grease is cool, but not lethal.
I don't know if alchemical power components are PFS legal but a grease with a flask of acid as power component can be very lethal.
Acid grease deals 1 point of damage per turn. Gease lasts 1min/level = 10 rounds at level 1. Thats 10 damage. And if you cast the grease on the opponent's armor he can't get away from the grease. If he does it takes some turns in which he can't do anything else and after that he got no armor.
And a ray of frost can be very lethal, too. I once build a crossblooded sorc who could deals 1d3+7 with his ray of frost at 1st level. High damage, unlimited ammo and hits touch AC.
Sleeping Hex
My GM ended his last campaign because of my witch using the slumber hex on a regular basis. He was annoyed beyond belief.
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Ok! Got it. Now a different version of the question: most lethal weapon (Not spell) available to a level 1 PFS WIZARD character?
I was played with a wizard that had: 16 dex, point blank shot, precise shot, heirloom weapon and gravity bow.
2d6 damage
Tack on masterwork transformation before you start your first mission.
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And a ray of frost can be very lethal, too. I once build a crossblooded sorc who could deals 1d3+7 with his ray of frost at 1st level. High damage, unlimited ammo and hits touch AC.
By the time you add in the -4 for firing into melee and the -4 soft cover from the melee classes being in the way, ranged touch can be difficult to use effectively.