A different way for a Defender's mark to work - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

A different way for a Defender's mark to work

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Thorvald_Grimbjorn
Apr 11, 2010 9:20:41 Hello, everyone! Here's an idea I had: what if there was a Defender's mark that instead of punishing the target for not attacking the Defender - like, say, a Fighter gaining an additional attack against the target -, it instead increased the target's penalty when attacking anyone other than the Defender? Maybe something like: "While a target is marked, it takes a penalty to attack rolls for any attack that doesn't include you as a target; this penalty is equal to 1 + your Charisma modifier [or maybe 2 + Cha mod, I'm not sure]." Would this type of mark be useful and balanced?
#2
Qube
Apr 11, 2010 10:10:05 as I see it, the -2 penalty is a saveguard. for example, a fighter can't do anything if an enemy teleports away; or a flying enemy. the -2 ensures that his mark is not completely useless
#3
Chameleon-X
Apr 11, 2010 13:12:24
Hello, everyone! Here's an idea I had: what if there was a Defender's mark that instead of punishing the target for not attacking the Defender - like, say, a Fighter gaining an additional attack against the target -, it instead increased the target's penalty when attacking anyone other than the Defender? Maybe something like: "While a target is marked, it takes a penalty to attack rolls for any attack that doesn't include you as a target; this penalty is equal to 1 + your Charisma modifier [or maybe 2 + Cha mod, I'm not sure]." Would this type of mark be useful and balanced?

Useful, yes. Balanced, probably. Fun, no... not really. Just giving a penalty to attack is a fairly boring mechanic, IMO.
#4
rampant
Apr 11, 2010 23:35:50 A large chunk of a defender's actions are tied up in punishing marks.

Now that's not to say a more defensively inclined defender couldn't be more focused on help his buddies than punishing his foes, you'd just have to implement some method where by the class gets to be as active as the aggressive defenders.
#5
Thorvald_Grimbjorn
Apr 12, 2010 12:19:29
Useful, yes. Balanced, probably. Fun, no... not really. Just giving a penalty to attack is a fairly boring mechanic, IMO.

Well, I think it would be comparable to the Shielding Swordmage's damage reduction mechanic, or the Paladin's auto-damaging mechanic.

Now that's not to say a more defensively inclined defender couldn't be more focused on help his buddies than punishing his foes, you'd just have to implement some method where by the class gets to be as active as the aggressive defenders.

How about something like this:

"Once during each of your turns, you can mark each enemy adjacent to you as a minor action. This mark lasts until the end of your next turn.
In addition, you gain the following power:

At-Will
Immediate Interrupt Melee 1
Trigger: An enemy marked by you makes an attack that does not include you as a target
Target: The triggering enemy
Effect: The target takes a penalty to attack rolls until the end of your next turn. The penalty equals your Charisma modifier."

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Thorvald_Grimbjorn Apr 11, 2010 9:20:41	Hello, everyone! Here's an idea I had: what if there was a Defender's mark that instead of punishing the target for not attacking the Defender - like, say, a Fighter gaining an additional attack against the target -, it instead increased the target's penalty when attacking anyone other than the Defender? Maybe something like: "While a target is marked, it takes a penalty to attack rolls for any attack that doesn't include you as a target; this penalty is equal to 1 + your Charisma modifier [or maybe 2 + Cha mod, I'm not sure]." Would this type of mark be useful and balanced?
#2 Qube Apr 11, 2010 10:10:05	as I see it, the -2 penalty is a saveguard. for example, a fighter can't do anything if an enemy teleports away; or a flying enemy. the -2 ensures that his mark is not completely useless
#3 Chameleon-X Apr 11, 2010 13:12:24	Hello, everyone! Here's an idea I had: what if there was a Defender's mark that instead of punishing the target for not attacking the Defender - like, say, a Fighter gaining an additional attack against the target -, it instead increased the target's penalty when attacking anyone other than the Defender? Maybe something like: "While a target is marked, it takes a penalty to attack rolls for any attack that doesn't include you as a target; this penalty is equal to 1 + your Charisma modifier [or maybe 2 + Cha mod, I'm not sure]." Would this type of mark be useful and balanced? Useful, yes. Balanced, probably. Fun, no... not really. Just giving a penalty to attack is a fairly boring mechanic, IMO.
#4 rampant Apr 11, 2010 23:35:50	A large chunk of a defender's actions are tied up in punishing marks. Now that's not to say a more defensively inclined defender couldn't be more focused on help his buddies than punishing his foes, you'd just have to implement some method where by the class gets to be as active as the aggressive defenders.
#5 Thorvald_Grimbjorn Apr 12, 2010 12:19:29	Useful, yes. Balanced, probably. Fun, no... not really. Just giving a penalty to attack is a fairly boring mechanic, IMO. Well, I think it would be comparable to the Shielding Swordmage's damage reduction mechanic, or the Paladin's auto-damaging mechanic. Now that's not to say a more defensively inclined defender couldn't be more focused on help his buddies than punishing his foes, you'd just have to implement some method where by the class gets to be as active as the aggressive defenders. How about something like this: "Once during each of your turns, you can mark each enemy adjacent to you as a minor action. This mark lasts until the end of your next turn. In addition, you gain the following power: At-Will Immediate Interrupt Melee 1 Trigger: An enemy marked by you makes an attack that does not include you as a target Target: The triggering enemy Effect: The target takes a penalty to attack rolls until the end of your next turn. The penalty equals your Charisma modifier."