LONGSWORD: I just can't see taking any weapon without +3 proficiency.
* Spending a Feat for Bastard Sword later is an option
+ more damage
- costs a feat
* Spending a Feat for a Spiked Chain later is an option
++ Reach
+ Sweeping Flail
-- no Heavy Blade Opportunity
- costs a feat
-- no shield
NB: All these weapons make Dexterity my tertiary so I can switch between them later with retraining.
HEAVY SHIELD: defence is good. It seems worth the ACP and proficiency feat though the ACP certainly hurts.
HIDE ARMOUR: well obviously
STRENGTH 18
INTELLIGENCE 18
DEXTERITY 13
CONSTITUTION 11
CHARISMA 10
WISDOM 8
Strength and Intelligence are obviously my primary attributes.
The big question was whether to sacrifice 1-2 points in one or other in order to qualify for Weapon Mastery at Epic Levels.
* The extra crits would barely cover a Strength sacrifice in terms of DPR especially if I didn't take crit-relevant weapon properties
* The DPR from crits could never make up for the lost secondary effects on the extra misses.
* The boost Intelligence gives to other people's attacks makes it's DPR impact at least of the same order.
* Skill challenges favour having a narrow spread of skills with the highest possible modifier rather than a broader, flatter spread.
* The 'side benefits' of extra Dex would be minimal.
..and that's completely ignoring the first 20 levels of play.
CRUCIALLY: each point of Dex costs me 2bp which is the same as I recover by reducing Str or Int. This means that even if I had decided on Weapon Mastery (or change my mind), I won't have lost anything by spending a level/demigod bump on it later rather than buying it at the start.
The same applies to HBO at paragon (I get it at Epic anyway) which I may well decide is worth taking.
There is also a case for charisma so you can take a few of those powers/skills but I decided not to go that way. For those less keen on 'pointy' attributes, 17 Int and 12 Charisma (or 13 Con) has it's merits.
Con was the obvious choice for the loose point.
BACKGROUND
I don't know much about the setting but I've picked Akanul as that appears to be suitable for Genasi and have decent benefits.
I think Strength does have to come before Intelligence because not much happens without you first hitting someone ...but only just.
When I use my Warlord's Favour each encounter, the +5 to hit can apply up to five times* which is a hefty multiplier (and Lead the Attack does even more) ...if I hit.
* He gets 3 powers and 2 basic attacks with +4 damage each. Here's how ..but I found that in practice other players often don't cooperate and there's a good chance the enemy won't survive long enough to take that manyhits anyway:
- Partner readies to use a power the moment I land it
- I use an AP for Commander's Strike
- Partner takes his turn
- ..and uses an AP
- I use commander's strike again for the fifth use of the +5
EARTHSOUL
Knocking everyone prone seems like a Warlordy thing to do. I'm keen on the bonus to Saves too. The other options certainly have their advantages too however.
LATER FEATS
Tactical Assault (2)
Arcane Initiate: Scorching Burst seems handy as a ranged and area option and Arcana would be nice. The Swordmage Multiclass will definitely need a look though.
Toughness/Durable?: always nice and I do feel the lack of HP at level 1.
Skill Focus/Training?: ditto
Genasi Feat? -haven't seen any of these yet.
Improved Init?
I probably won't take Ritual Caster but we'll see how that goes.
Nothing else seems terribly great in Heroic unless I go for the Wintertouched/Lasting Frost combo.
PARAGON:
Combat Commander
Iron Will (&friends): we'll see how defences seem at the time but IW seems likely
Mettle (/Evasion later): looks nice
Back to the Wall and Combat Anticipation seem appropriate and useful.
HBO/Sweeping Flail -I think HBO takes it ...when I can qualify
Shield Specialisation ...ditto
EPIC
We'll see.
POWERS
The first level powers are easy...
* Commander's strike is essential for exploiting the bonuses I give others to hit. While my Basic attack is often comparable to that of others, the +4 to damage I give generally makes this a good option even if I'm not giving them anything else.
* I took Wolf Pack Tactics and I don't regret it but it hasn't as yet been so outstanding that I would discount Viper's Strike.
* Warlord's Favour is outstanding
* Lead the Attack ditto (this one won't be swapped out in a hurry).
FUTURE POWERS
2) I'll probably go with Shake It Off
..but Knight's move is appealing too.
Standard Action for Aid the Injured seems too much.
3) I'm going to think about this one.
I think it will be either Inspiring War Cry or Steel Monsoon and the decision will depend on how (2) pans out. Most likely I will have exactly one of IWC and SIO.
5) Stand the Fallen -even without the Charisma, this could make a huge difference to a bad combat and I willalready have at least one way to grant a Saving Throw.
===I expect that there will be more options by the time I reach this point===
6) I'm really going to have to see how games have gone before I can choose this one. I think Guide the Charge probably has it here since charges do happen fairly frequently and this makes them a significantly better option. It's going to depend on what characters I play with though.
7) Probably Surprise Attack but others are good too.
9) Knock Them Down ...I think. It's very easy for people to get up from Prone these days but it still costs an action and having lots of enemies suddenly prone could make a big difference.
Moving 3 squares can be good all by itself and I see no reason an ally couldn't take the move without using the attack.
Iron Dragon will be very good if there's a lot of charging and weak otherwise. I'd want to find room for Powerful Charge if I take this.
Post
Couple thoughts
Hide Armor: has 13 CON as one of its prerequisites (you'll meet the others)
INT is used to hit with your powers; STR only for basic attacks
The FRCG Preview lists some feats; Intelligent Blademaster allows the use of INT for your basic attacks.
Suggestion: drop STR to 16, shift the 4BP to CON=14
+ Get hide armor before level 8, more HP and Surges/day, a few powers use CON
- A small loss of damage on some of your attack powers
Hide Armor: has 13 CON as one of its prerequisites (you'll meet the others)
INT is used to hit with your powers; STR only for basic attacks
The FRCG Preview lists some feats; Intelligent Blademaster allows the use of INT for your basic attacks.
Suggestion: drop STR to 16, shift the 4BP to CON=14
+ Get hide armor before level 8, more HP and Surges/day, a few powers use CON
- A small loss of damage on some of your attack powers
The FRPG feat excerpt lists several genesai feats, at least one will probably be to your liking.
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4ex/20080902a
I have a similar genesai warlord ready to go. Mine is less pointy (INT 16). I'm planning on taking the swordmage multiclass feat and Ritual Caster.
The extra manifestation will depend on the fine print.
I've realised that Defensive Advantage is another potentially very good feat that I could take if I reach Dex 17. I'll have to see how often I get attacked by people I have CA on though: CA is often something that is easily mitigated but there should be a fairly decent chance of enemies being dazed or prone as well as flanked.
STRENGTH 18 - obvious reasons
INTELLIGENCE 18 -the same
DEXTERITY 13 +1 INI and weapon feats
CONSTITUTION 11 for scale mail in epic
CHARISMA 10 sorry for that
WISDOM 8 moreso, not to perceive hurts, I think
Background: auspicious birth/bad omen - +7HP AND a nice motivation for the genasi to get wanderlust/to be for. Uluru will show in his szuldar a sigil of Moradin or Tharizdun, which of it, I haven't chosen yet. I tend to Tharizdun...and I did not want to come from Thay.
I'll stick to sword &board, but will carry 2 whips with me. Can come handy, and "Indiana Stones" is a nice nickname, btw.
Skills: Athletics+8, Diplomacy+5, Heal+4, History+9
Feat: Tactical assault. with action points, my allies get +2 +4 hit/dam. AND it works with AoE from the controller
Group I will work together with:
- dwarven invoker (moradin)
- dragonborn Paladin, 2h weapon
- goliath earthstrong warden
- eladrin feylock
- dragonborn feylock
Powers:
Commander's strike - GM ruled it as an LoS-power - nice.
opening shove - tactical options are nice for everything else I have basic melee ;)
earth shock for "proning" enemies
warlords favor - standard pick for taclords, I assume
lead the Attack - same as WF
I do not plan other feats, first I just want to survive the initial encounters.
Ends up in 30 HP, AC 18 (hide+INT+light shield), longsword +7 w8+4, FORT 16 REF 15 WIL 11 Move 6,
Comments are welcome, this is my 1st post in this forum.
MainBrain
- say 'Hello' to 10:30, our half-elf ranger!
Yup, name is Sinkbad the sailor, and this nice ship is my beauty, the Unsinkable II
Background: auspicious birth/bad omen - +7HP AND a nice motivation for the genasi to get wanderlust/to be for. Uluru will show in his szuldar a sigil of Moradin or Tharizdun, which of it, I haven't chosen yet. I tend to Tharizdun...and I did not want to come from Thay.
Didn't more than glance at it, but that background is not LFR legal. Sorry.
On Friday I will play almost the same build. I was optimizing Uluru - that's my Genasi earthsoul Warlord level 1 - for days. D&D 1 was the 1st rpg I played ever, last millenium...
STRENGTH 18 - obvious reasons
INTELLIGENCE 18 -the same
DEXTERITY 13 +1 INI and weapon feats
CONSTITUTION 11 for scale mail in epic
CHARISMA 10 sorry for that
WISDOM 8 moreso, not to perceive hurts, I think
Background: auspicious birth/bad omen - +7HP AND a nice motivation for the genasi to get wanderlust/to be for. Uluru will show in his szuldar a sigil of Moradin or Tharizdun, which of it, I haven't chosen yet. I tend to Tharizdun...and I did not want to come from Thay.
I'll stick to sword &board, but will carry 2 whips with me. Can come handy, and "Indiana Stones" is a nice nickname, btw.
Skills: Athletics+8, Diplomacy+5, Heal+4, History+9
Feat: Tactical assault. with action points, my allies get +2 +4 hit/dam. AND it works with AoE from the controller
Group I will work together with:
- dwarven invoker (moradin)
- dragonborn Paladin, 2h weapon
- goliath earthstrong warden
- eladrin feylock
- dragonborn feylock
Powers:
Commander's strike - GM ruled it as an LoS-power - nice.
opening shove - tactical options are nice for everything else I have basic melee ;)
earth shock for "proning" enemies
warlords favor - standard pick for taclords, I assume
lead the Attack - same as WF
I do not plan other feats, first I just want to survive the initial encounters.
Ends up in 30 HP, AC 18 (hide+INT+light shield), longsword +7 w8+4, FORT 16 REF 15 WIL 11 Move 6,
Comments are welcome, this is my 1st post in this forum.
MainBrain
- say 'Hello' to 10:30, our half-elf ranger!
Yup, name is Sinkbad the sailor, and this nice ship is my beauty, the Unsinkable II
I am assuming that you are not using this character in LFR since the background you have taken is not allowed in LFR.
Nay, I'm playing in Germany, where we're low on GameCons. But with the 'Thay background' the PC could be a legal LFR character? This would change nothing, not even the background story.
Yes, the Thay background is LFR legal.
Or to prepare a 'superhighway' for the readied defender (on contact with enemy controller/artillery): OS on an enemy, push him out of the way, shift the fighter/paladin/warden into the artillery/controller. With 'Knights Move' the defender can be rocket-propelled 4 shifts plus 5-7 move. I love move options...