The falcata being in possession of both a middle of the road crit range and x3 modifier result in statistically more damage than 18-20/x2 weapon, although not by much. This fact does not change even with the inclusion of critical feats in the equation.Best = highest threat range = best chance to crit = the most damage
I don't see why it's even worth mentioning that DPR doesn't change with the inclusion of crit feats as the crit feats don't add damage but status effects. That's kinda self-evident.
S'part of why I like the falcata so much. It gives you a good (and actually kind of unbalanced) mix of landing crits versus making your crits hit like trains. Sadly, I do not often find myself playing characters that I'll be able to really take advantage of it on.As a player of a soon-to-be holy Vindicator, this drew my eye as well. Some of the class's abilities are based around the crit multiplier, and having a decent multiplier as well as a good crit chance boosts exactly the mix you'd mentioned. Plus, it's fun to RP, and the weapon design can fit with most any concept.
Would you happen to know where exactly the Falcata damage jump is?
+23 damage without Keen, and +11 damage with keen.
You can get a +1 keen falcata at about 6th level. The normal damage will be about+13 at 6th, and it is more DPR to get a +1 keen falcata then to get a +2 greatsword.
S'part of why I like the falcata so much. It gives you a good (and actually kind of unbalanced) mix of landing crits versus making your crits hit like trains. Sadly, I do not often find myself playing characters that I'll be able to really take advantage of it on.As a player of a soon-to-be holy Vindicator, this drew my eye as well. Some of the class's abilities are based around the crit multiplier, and having a decent multiplier as well as a good crit chance boosts exactly the mix you'd mentioned. Plus, it's fun to RP, and the weapon design can fit with most any concept.
Would you happen to know where exactly the Falcata damage jump is?
+23 damage without Keen, and +11 damage with keen.
You can get a +1 keen falcata at about 6th level. The normal damage will be about+13 at 6th, and it is more DPR to get a +1 keen falcata then to get a +2 greatsword.
Are you talking with the Holy Vindicator or in general?
In general, on the primary attack, a +2 greatsword does about 1/2 a point of damage more than a keen falcata (11.550 vs. 11.025); on the iterative attack, the +2 greatsword is just shy of .8 of a point of damage ahead (5.775 vs. 4.900).
It's pretty fascinating to see how small the DPR differences really are over the long haul; the devs did a really impressive job of maintaining balance.
|
S'part of why I like the falcata so much. It gives you a good (and actually kind of unbalanced) mix of landing crits versus making your crits hit like trains. Sadly, I do not often find myself playing characters that I'll be able to really take advantage of it on.As a player of a soon-to-be holy Vindicator, this drew my eye as well. Some of the class's abilities are based around the crit multiplier, and having a decent multiplier as well as a good crit chance boosts exactly the mix you'd mentioned. Plus, it's fun to RP, and the weapon design can fit with most any concept.
Would you happen to know where exactly the Falcata damage jump is?
+23 damage without Keen, and +11 damage with keen.
You can get a +1 keen falcata at about 6th level. The normal damage will be about+13 at 6th, and it is more DPR to get a +1 keen falcata then to get a +2 greatsword.
Are you talking with the Holy Vindicator or in general?
In general, on the primary attack, a +2 greatsword does about 1/2 a point of damage more than a keen falcata (11.550 vs. 11.025); on the iterative attack, the +2 greatsword is just shy of .8 of a point of damage ahead (5.775 vs. 4.900).
It's pretty fascinating to see how small the DPR differences really are over the long haul; the devs did a really impressive job of maintaining balance.
It isn't specific hits we're talking about. The falcata will wind up superior if one takes into account much, if not all of a fairly advanced character's career. The ability to crit like an earth breaker with the crit range of a greatsword is what ultimately sets it apart, but again, this is only after your modifier is sufficiently high. The greatsword will come out ahead prior to attaining the desired modifier. Even then, it's clearly going to be better on individual swings that don't crit. I would be interested to see what the average DPR of a level 12 fighter with a +28 modifier AND improved critical would look like between the two weapons, honestly. +28 is such a stupid easy mod to get on fighters by level 10, let alone level 12, that it seems like a fair number to investigate.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
S'part of why I like the falcata so much. It gives you a good (and actually kind of unbalanced) mix of landing crits versus making your crits hit like trains. Sadly, I do not often find myself playing characters that I'll be able to really take advantage of it on.As a player of a soon-to-be holy Vindicator, this drew my eye as well. Some of the class's abilities are based around the crit multiplier, and having a decent multiplier as well as a good crit chance boosts exactly the mix you'd mentioned. Plus, it's fun to RP, and the weapon design can fit with most any concept.
Would you happen to know where exactly the Falcata damage jump is?
+23 damage without Keen, and +11 damage with keen.
You can get a +1 keen falcata at about 6th level. The normal damage will be about+13 at 6th, and it is more DPR to get a +1 keen falcata then to get a +2 greatsword.
Are you talking with the Holy Vindicator or in general?
In general, on the primary attack, a +2 greatsword does about 1/2 a point of damage more than a keen falcata (11.550 vs. 11.025); on the iterative attack, the +2 greatsword is just shy of .8 of a point of damage ahead (5.775 vs. 4.900).
It's pretty fascinating to see how small the DPR differences really are over the long haul; the devs did a really impressive job of maintaining balance.
You do realize that individual weapon damage is nothing compared to the static modifiers to damage characters bring? The kind that get multiplied on a crit right?
2d6+30 17-20 x2 crit wont get you as far as
1d8+30 17-20 x3 Crit.
Admittedly that level of damage is superficial after a while but it is clear that the Falcata is peerless at higher levels excluding the utility of reach weapons.
You need approximately 10 normal hits to make up for the damage difference of the extra crit multiplier the Falcata brings. Each crit puts the Falcata further and further ahead.
|
Soooo... a Katana?Elven Curveblade. 1d10, two handed, 18-20 x2 crit. And you can use weapon finesse with it. I use a smaller (1d8) one handed version for my Bladebound Kensai Magus. I just hit 5th level, so I can turn it into a keen weapon now. Crits on a 15-20. It's delicious.
- Rebis
Nope. Another player asked me the same question since he's also playing a Magus.
You can use weapon finesse with a curveblade, not so with a katana.My tiefling has a 20 dexterity, so at second level, with the free Weapon Focus from being a Kensai, he had a +7 to attack. Now, at 7th level (1st level Universalist wizard for the extra spells, free masterworked curveblade and Hand of the Apprentice 7 times a day, and 1 level of samurai, because it just fit nicely) he's hitting nearly all the time with a +12 or better attack, spending points from his arcane pool to turn his adamantine curveblade into a +1 keen weapon, and critting constantly. Tacking on 5 dice of shocking grasp and being able hut to spend 2 points from his arcane pool to bump the multiplier to x3? I was loving life last week at our game. 66 points damage with one hit to finish off the 9th level sorcerer mummy.
I've finally built an effective character.
The Falcata is the best statistically. It is worth the feat IMO.
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The Wakizashi is the best light weapon.
The Scimitar, thanks to Dervish Dance is the best weapon for 1 handed dex builds.
The Falcata becomes the best weapon when you have a high bonus to damage. It also has the advantage that you can use it 1 or 2 handed. This is a great advantage if you are grappled and unable to use a 2 handed weapon.
The Nodachi is also good, but if you have a low bonus to damage, the Two-Handed Sword or Earhbreaker is better.
If you have a build that relies on criticals, an 18-20 range weapon is the best.
Ultimately, I think it comes down to whether you like to do criticals more often, or want to do spectacular criticals.
Also, the Cracked Opalescent White Ioun Stone will grant you Weapon Familiarity with one exotic weapon (i.e. it makes that weapon useable with Martial Weapon Proficiency). It only costs 1,500 gp. Stick it in a wayfinder to help prevent theft.