Claw guy has to make more rolls, too.
More attack rolls? Well, lets take a look at some numbers:
Fun math inside:[spoiler]________________________________
If we have a 50-50 chance to hit, then the greatsword guy has two outcomes:
- full hit (50%)
- no hit (50%)
So the average is (100% dmg * 0.5) + (0% dmg * 0.5) = 50% damage expected per round
The claw guy has four outcomes:
- full hit (25%)
- half hit (25%)
- half hit (25%)
- no hit (25%)
So the average is (100% dmg * 0.25) + (50% dmg * 0.25) + (50% dmg * 0.25) + (0% dmg * 0.25)= 50% damage expected per round
In this case, both average out to the same: half maximum damage expected per round.
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Now, lets look at if you could hit 80% of the time. The greatsword guy has two outcomes:
- full hit (80%)
- no hit (20%)
So the average is (100% dmg * 0.8 ) + (0% dmg * 0.2) = 80% damage expected per round
The claw guy has four outcomes:
- full hit (64%)
- half hit (16%)
- half hit (16%)
- no hit (4%)
So the average is (100% dmg * 0.64) + (50% dmg * 0.16) + (50% dmg * 0.16) + (0% dmg * 0.04)= 80% damage expected per round
In this case, both average out to the same: 80% maximum damage expected per round.
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Now, lets look at if you could hit 30% of the time. The greatsword guy has two outcomes:
- full hit (30%)
- no hit (70%)
So the average is (100% dmg * 0.3) + (0% dmg * 0.7) = 30% damage expected per round
The claw guy has four outcomes:
- full hit (9%)
- half hit (21%)
- half hit (21%)
- no hit (49%)
So the average is (100% dmg * 0.09) + (50% dmg * 0.21) + (50% dmg * 0.21) + (0% dmg * 0.49)= 30% damage expected per round
In this case, both average out to the same: 30% maximum damage expected per round.[/spoiler]
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End result:So, any way you split it, if you have the same base chance to hit with either your single greatsword or your pair of claws, you have the same expected percentage of your damage per round. Even if you're rolling two rolls, on average, you will do the same. Sure, half the time, you only get one claw in, but you only fully miss 25% of the time, where-as the guy with the guy with the single attack misses 50% of the time.