Mages with no At-Wills - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Mages with no At-Wills

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
fjw70
Nov 17, 2010 15:23:40 I was thinking about how Essentials martial classes don't get dailies and get limited encounter powers. What if Mages went the other way?

Suppose you wanted to make a Mage with no at-will attack powers. What would you do to compensate them for it? Double the daily powers they get to use? What say you?
#2
salla
Nov 17, 2010 15:24:16 I'd say that's a horrible idea.
#3
fjw70
Nov 17, 2010 15:26:29
I'd say that's a horrible idea.

Noted.
#4
mikemcmodmike
Nov 17, 2010 15:52:09 That is how previous editions of D&D are. All wizard spells were daily and one usage only.

It led to wizards being terribly weak at lower levels and godly at higher levels. The current mechanism is intentional, and for good reason.
#5
Sabelkatten
Nov 17, 2010 18:04:34
That is how previous editions of D&D are. All wizard spells were daily and one usage only.

It led to wizards being terribly weak at lower levels and godly at higher levels. The current mechanism is intentional, and for good reason.

Well, as I understood the OP mages would still get encounter powers. So it's not 3E all over again!

Since I don't have access to Essentials I don't really know how the classes look there, but if they're more like 3E I can see a point to making Essentials Wizards more 3E-like as well. Of course this brings up the question of why not just play 3E... ;)
#6
ceiling90
Nov 17, 2010 22:49:47 E the Wizards are the same Wizards from standard 4E model, just even more hard-coded into a path or theme. They lack some of the niftier implement powers, but get other things based on thier "school".

Weapon training would be the only thing I could see being feasible, if mages didn't have at-will powers; choose a from a list of simple weapons, and allow them to use the weapon with thier highest attribute score for both damage and to hit.

It doesn't completely gimp them, but it changes out how they would plan out an encounter. So it's back to the wizard with a crossbow; but at least he doesn't completely suck with it.
#7
Qube
Nov 18, 2010 3:44:40
I was thinking about how Essentials martial classes don't get dailies and get limited encounter powers. What if Mages went the other way?

at a certain point I had the same thing in mind. Powers like the PHB1 ball of fire thingy work perfectly for such ideas: though its a daily, it basically grants you - during the encounter - an at will ability.

Downside however is, if you're stunned, you loose the sustain.

So I'dd give him
(1) an at-will power dependant of his implement to (for example a the good old wand of magic missle). bland uninteresting powers, that serve purely as back-up
(2) 5 daily powers (assuming you're duing 4 encounters per day; one back -up). Basically, this power decides the attack(s) he has that encounter

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 fjw70 Nov 17, 2010 15:23:40	I was thinking about how Essentials martial classes don't get dailies and get limited encounter powers. What if Mages went the other way? Suppose you wanted to make a Mage with no at-will attack powers. What would you do to compensate them for it? Double the daily powers they get to use? What say you?
#2 salla Nov 17, 2010 15:24:16	I'd say that's a horrible idea.
#3 fjw70 Nov 17, 2010 15:26:29	I'd say that's a horrible idea. Noted.
#4 mikemcmodmike Nov 17, 2010 15:52:09	That is how previous editions of D&D are. All wizard spells were daily and one usage only. It led to wizards being terribly weak at lower levels and godly at higher levels. The current mechanism is intentional, and for good reason.
#5 Sabelkatten Nov 17, 2010 18:04:34	That is how previous editions of D&D are. All wizard spells were daily and one usage only. It led to wizards being terribly weak at lower levels and godly at higher levels. The current mechanism is intentional, and for good reason. Well, as I understood the OP mages would still get encounter powers. So it's not 3E all over again! Since I don't have access to Essentials I don't really know how the classes look there, but if they're more like 3E I can see a point to making Essentials Wizards more 3E-like as well. Of course this brings up the question of why not just play 3E... ;)
#6 ceiling90 Nov 17, 2010 22:49:47	E the Wizards are the same Wizards from standard 4E model, just even more hard-coded into a path or theme. They lack some of the niftier implement powers, but get other things based on thier "school". Weapon training would be the only thing I could see being feasible, if mages didn't have at-will powers; choose a from a list of simple weapons, and allow them to use the weapon with thier highest attribute score for both damage and to hit. It doesn't completely gimp them, but it changes out how they would plan out an encounter. So it's back to the wizard with a crossbow; but at least he doesn't completely suck with it.
#7 Qube Nov 18, 2010 3:44:40	I was thinking about how Essentials martial classes don't get dailies and get limited encounter powers. What if Mages went the other way? at a certain point I had the same thing in mind. Powers like the PHB1 ball of fire thingy work perfectly for such ideas: though its a daily, it basically grants you - during the encounter - an at will ability. Downside however is, if you're stunned, you loose the sustain. So I'dd give him (1) an at-will power dependant of his implement to (for example a the good old wand of magic missle). bland uninteresting powers, that serve purely as back-up (2) 5 daily powers (assuming you're duing 4 encounters per day; one back -up). Basically, this power decides the attack(s) he has that encounter