Lecan said:
I know Torama's have pretty insane evasion, but that doesn't explain the reduced damage on mobs that don't in fact have huge evasion. For instance Tragopans (well.. those I'm unsure about, but I've never had a problem hitting birds before) and the gobs in Bibiki.
While your explanation does in fact make sense... what I still don't get is how a WS like Spinning axe (single hit, with crap for modifiers compared to Calamity) can outdamage Calamity at all.
You most likely did crap damage on those mobs because they had too high defense and/or you missed a few hits. Rampage own those WSs because it's a multihit WS.
The answer to your question why Spinning axe equals Calamity is simply that WS modifiers suck. The chart of WS modifiers should never have been released, it creates way too much confusion and people tend to think you should boost, for example, VIT for Dragon kick just because that's what it says on the chart.
However that is not the case. The 50%STR on Calamity doesn't mean that you just magically will do 50% more dmg on your WS. I'll explain this further down.
Unless you are a THF the only thing you should boost is STR, ACC and ATTK. When you have enough acc to land all Rampage hits, then start working on STR and ATTK. If your WS modifier is somthing like XSTR/XINT, then only put INT where you can't put either STR/ATTK/ACC(Steel cyclone is a possible exception, but even then STR plays the biggest role(most wars like to use Osode over anything else for SC)).
The problem is that most people tend to skip this part:
Physical WS Damage Calculation:
WD: Base damage of your WS
D: Base damage of your weapon (e.g., Espadon = 43)
fSTR: difference between your STR and target's VIT
WSC: Secondary attribute like STR_30 (30% of your STR).
fTP: Multiplier (Please see chart below).
PDIF: (your ATK/target?s DEF)
WSC = integer(any secondary attributes) x @
Level @
Lv75... 0.83
Lv74... 0.83
Lv73... 0.84
Lv72... 0.84
Lv67... 0.86 or 0.87 (perhaps 0.87)
Lv60... 0.90 or 0.91 (perhaps 0.90)
Lv40... 0.94
Lv37... 0.94 ? 0.99
Lv31... 0.94 - 0.99
For example, suppose you have 100 STR and 100 MND and use use Swift Blade (STR_30, MND_30).
WSC = integer[(100 x 0.3) + (100 x 0.3)] x @ = integer(60) x @ = 60 x @
@ is 0.86 - 0.87 at LV67 but it's going to decrease as your level is going up. It's 0.83 at LV75
WD = (D + fSTR + WSC) * fTP
I'm not 100% positive, but I think for Sneak Attack with THF main, this is the calculation:
WD = (D + fSTR + WSC) * fTP + DEX + AGI
Actual Damage of WS is then calculated in this way.
Damage = WD * PDIF = ((D + fSTR + WSC) * fTP) * PDIF
Phsyical Chart : fTP multiplier (non-damage related TP modifier in last column)
because it consists of a lot of numbers and symbols that people don't bother to understand.
Instead they just look at this part:
Grapple WS 100% 200% 300% #Hits Secondary Attribute TP Adjustment
Combo 1.00 1.50 2.00 3x STR_20%, DEX_20%
Shoulder Tackle 1.00 2x VIT_30% More stun
One Inch Blow 1.00 2x VIT_40% Ignore more DEF
Backhand Blow 1.00 2x STR_30%, DEX_30% Crit Rate
Raging Fists 1.00 1.50 2.00 5x STR_20%, DEX_20%
Spinning Attack 1.00 2x STR_35% Attack Radius
Howling Fist 1.50 2.00 3.00 2x STR_20%, VIT_50%
Dragon Kick 2.00 2.50 3.00 2x STR_50%, VIT_50%
Asuran Fists 1.00 8x STR_10%, VIT_10% Accuracy
Dagger WS 100% 200% 300% #Hits Secondary Attribute TP Adjustment
Wasp Sting 1.00 1x More poison
Shadowstitch 1.00 1x CHR_30% More bind
Viper Bite 1.00 1x ATKx2 More poison
Dancing Edge 1.1875 5x DEX_30%, CHR_40% Accuracy
Shark Bite 2.00 ??? 3.00 2x DEX_50%
Evisceration 1.00 ??? 2.00 5x DEX_30%
1H Sword WS 100% 200% 300% #Hits Secondary Attribute TP Adjustment
Fast Blade 1.00 1.50 2.00 2x STR_20%, DEX_20%
Flat Blade 1.00 1x STR_30% More stun
Circle Blade 1.00 1x STR_35% Attack Radius
Spirits Within 4/32 6/32 15/32 1x Current HPx
Vorpal Blade 1.00 4x STR_30% Crit Rate
Swift Blade 1.50 3x STR_30%, MND_30% Accuracy
Savage Blade 1.00 1.75 3.50 2x STR_30%, MND_50%
2H Sword WS 100% 200% 300% #Hits Secondary Attribute TP Adjustment
Hard Slash 1.50 1.75 2.00 1x STR_30%
Power Slash 1.00 1x STR_20%, VIT_20% Crit Rate
Shockwave 1.00 1x STR_30%, MND_30% More sleep
Crescent Moon 1.00 1.75 2.50 1x STR_35%
Sickle Moon 1.50 2.00 2.75 2x STR_20%, AGI_20%
Spinning Slash 2.50 3.00 3.50 1x STR_30%, INT_30%
Ground Strike 1.50 1.75 3.00 1x STR_50%, INT_50%
Scythe WS 100% 200% 300% #Hits Secondary Attribute TP Adjustment
Slice 1.50 1.75 2.00 1x STR_30%
Nightmare Scythe 1.00 1x STR_30%, MND_30% More Blind
Spinning Scythe 1.00 1x STR_30% Attack Radius
Vorpal Scythe 1.00 1x STR_35% Crit Ratio
Guillotine 0.875 4x STR_25%, MND_25% More Silence
Cross Reaper 2.00 2.25 2.50 2x STR_30%, MND_30%
Spiral Hell 1.375 1.875 3.625 1x STR_50%, INT_50%
Polearm WS 100% 200% 300% #Hits Secondary Attribute TP Adjustment
Double Thrust 1.00 1.50 2.00 2x STR_30%
Leg Sweep 1.00 1x STR_30% More stun
Penta Thrust 0.75 1.00 2.25 5x STR_20%, DEX_20%
Vorpal Thrust 1.00 1x STR_20%, AGI_20% Crit Rate
Skewer 1.00 3x STR_35% Accuracy
Wheeling Thrust 1.75 1x STR_50% Ignore more DEF
Impulse Drive 1.00 1.50 2.50 2x STR_50%
1H Axe WS 100% 200% 300% #Hits Secondary Attribute TP Adjustment
Raging Axe 1.00 1.50 2.00 2x STR_30%
Smash Axe 1.00 1x STR_30% More stun
Gale Axe 1.50 2.00 2.50 1x STR_30% More choke
Avalanche Axe 2.00 2.50 3.00 1x STR_35%
Spinning Axe 1.00 1x STR_30%
Rampage 0.50 5x STR_30% Crit Chance
Calamity 2.50 3.00 3.50 1x STR_50%
Mistral Axe 1.00 1.50 4.00 1x STR_32%, VIT_32%
Decimation 1.00 3x STR_50% Accuracy
Great Axe WS 100% 200% 300% #Hits Secondary Attribute TP Adjustment
Shield Break 1.00 1x STR_20%, VIT_20% More Evade Down
Iron Tempest 1.00 1x STR_30%
Sturmwind 1.00 2x STR_30%
Armor Break 1.00 1x STR_20%, VIT_20% More Def Down
Keen Edge 1.00 1x STR_35% Crit Rate
Weapon Break 1.00 1x STR_32%, VIT_32% More ATK Down
Raging Rush 1.00 1.50 2.50 3x STR_35%
Full Break 1.00 1x STR_50%, VIT_50% More Stat Down
Steel Cyclone 1.50 1.75 3.00 1x STR_50%, VIT_50%
Club WS 100% 200% 300% #Hits Secondary Attribute TP Adjustment
Brainshaker 1.00 1x STR_30% More stun
Skullbreaker 1.00 1x STR_35% More INT down
True Strike 1.00 1x STR_50% Crit Rate
Judgment 2.00 2.50 4.00 1x STR_32%, MND_32%
Hexastrike 1.00 6x STR_20%, MND_20% Crit Rate
Black Halo 1.50 2.50 3.00 2x STR_30%, MND_50%
Staff WS 100% 200% 300% #Hits Secondary Attribute TP Adjustment
Heavy Swing 1.00 1.25 2.25 1x STR_30%
Shell Crusher 1.00 1x STR_35% More DEFDown
Full Swing 1.00 3.00 5.00 1x STR_50%
Spirit Taker 1.00 1.50 2.00 1x INT_50%, MND_50%
Retribution 2.00 2.50 3.00 1x STR_30%, MND_50%
Katana WS 100% 200% 300% #Hits Secondary Attribute TP Adjustment
Blade: Rin 1.00 1x STR_20%, DEX_20% Crit Rate
Blade: Retsu 1.00 2x STR_20%, DEX_20% More Paralysis
Blade: Jin 1.00 3x STR_30%, DEX_30% Crit Rate
Blade: Ten 2.50 2.75 3.00 1x STR_30%, DEX_30%
Blade: Ku 1.00 5x (random)_20% Accuracy
Great Katana WS 100% 200% 300% #Hits Secondary Attribute TP Adjustment
Tachi: Enpi 1.00 1.50 2.00 2x STR_30%
Tachi: Hobaku 1.00 1x STR_30% More Stun
Tachi: Yukikaze 1.50 2.00 2.50 1x STR_75%
Tachi: Gekko 1.50 2.00 2.50 1x STR_75%
Tachi: Kasha 1.50 2.00 2.50 1x STR_75%
Archery WS 100% 200% 300% #Hits Secondary Attribute TP Adjustment
Flaming Arrow 1.00 1.00 1.00 1x STR_16%, AGI_25%
Piercing Arrow 1.00 1x STR_16%, AGI_25% Def Down
Dulling Arrow 1.00 1x STR_16%, AGI_25% Crit Rate
Sidewinder 5.00 1x STR_16%, AGI_25% Accuracy
Blast Arrow 2.00 1x STR_16%, AGI_25% Accuracy
Arching Arrow 3.50 1x STR_16%, AGI_25% Crit Rate
Empyrial Arrow 2.50 2.75 3.00 1x STR_16%, AGI_25%
Marksmanship WS 100% 200% 300% #Hits Secondary Attribute TP Adjustment
Hot Shot 1.00 1.00 1.00 1x AGI_30%
Split Shot 1.00 1x AGI_30% Def Down
Sniper Shot 1.00 1x AGI_30% Crit Rate
Slug Shot 5.00 1x AGI_30% Accuracy
Blast Shot 2.00 1x AGI_30% Accuracy
Heavy Shot 3.50 1x AGI_30% Crit Rate
Detonator 2.50 2.75 3.00 1x AGI_30%
because this part only has percentages and names in it and is a lot easier to understand.
When you do damage the game checks two things primarily:
Your STR vs mobs VIT
and
Your attak(rattk)(which is influenced by str) vs mob DEF
Nowhere in these quasi-equations do you see any other stat(VIT,AGI...).
This means:
STR > any other stat to boost WS dmg(for WS's that can crit, ie rampage/jin, DEX also plays a great role but you shouldn't replace STR with it, put it where you can't get STR or where it's obvious(i.e Byakko's haidate)).
The modifiers add to your weapon's DMG rating for that one weaponskill. When you see "Slug Shot - 30% AGI" that DOES NOT mean that your weaponskill gets some magical 30% increase in damage because of your AGI. It means that if you have a 100 AGI, you get 30 DMG added to your weapon. A gun with a 40 DMG rating becomes a gun with a 70 DMG rating for that WS, that's it.
Now, initially, this seems like one hell of a boost. For the weapon in question, that's almost a 100% increase in DMG. The problem is, determining damage done isn't that simple. The weapon's D-rating matters, but it's a very minor factor until you reach the point where your STR is so much higher than the mob's VIT and/or your ATK is so much higher than the mob's DEF that they begin to "cap" off. Up until that point, STR and ATK are much, much more important than any additional WS modifiers.
Further, STR affects all damage, not just weaponskills. It doesn't matter if you use a gun, a club, a staff, or your fists. STR will make you do more damage every time you make contact(Attack plays a large role in DOT too, just not as much during WS's, so don't forget all about it).
Finally, stacking SA with Rampage is pretty pointless. Only the first hit is a crit so it's not gonna effect your damage much. Calamity though, is a one hit WS and is greatly effected by tp. I suggest you try Calamity out at 300% tp with SA and see how much of an increase you get.
Take a look at this for example:
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/9985/forumdmg25ur.jpg
(the WAR used MS, but it's the same as stacking SA. Was also, obviously, lucky with Double Attack)
I doubt you will hit anywhere near that seeing how you're a BST and not a WAR, but it's pretty impressive non the less and if anything, it shows that Calamity doesn't completely suck.
Post got kinda messy but I hope you understand what i'm saying an I hope you, aswell as others, learned something from this post and in the future, take the WS modifiers with a grain of salt =)