Str=18, Con=18, Dex=13, Int=10, Wis=16, Cha=8
Powers - At-wills: ReapingStrike, Cleave
Powers - Encounter: Evasive Strike (ranger), Sweeping Blow, Come and Get It
Powers - Daily: Villain's Menace, Rain of Steel
Powers - Utility: Boundless Endurance, Unbreakable
Feats: Dwarven Weapon Training, Warrior of the Wild, Novice Power (to get Evasive Strike), Armor Prof (Plate), ???
Frankly, Boundless Endurance isn't coming into play much so I'm likely to swap that out for Unstoppable. If not, I could use the feat Acolyte Power to swap that for ranger's Yield Ground (not to retreat, but to reposition into flank). Thoughts?
I get a new feat at 8th level. Thoughts are:
Potent Challenge (+4 dmg on combat challenge attacks)
Devoted Challenge (+3/+3 on combat challenge attacks)
Acolyte Power (above)
Toughness (more HP)
???
Thoughts? FYI: I'm leaning towards Devoted Challenge
Thanks,
Redfist
Interesting - I hadn't considered that. My 6th level utility is Unbreakable which I use every combat but... it only prevents 9 HP once.
I used Unbreakable for a level. It's the de-facto choice and it's pretty bad. Honestly, you probably have 80 HP... preventing 9 HP with an immediate reaction once per encounter is nothing special. Furthermore, I often refrained from using it because I didn't want to get robbed of the chance to take a combat challenge attack (thus, I only ended up using it when I only had one opponent marked and he used his standard action to attack me).
Every Warlord should take it at level 6, and every other PC that has a Strength of at least 13 should take a Warlord multiclass feat and Acolyte Power to grab it at level 8. *Unless a PC has a compelling reason to not take the "We get another activation right now, muw ah ha ha ha ha ha" power.
In fact, Martial Power is inspiring my friends and I to make an adventuring company featuring all Eladrin Tactical Warlords (or perhaps Stormsoul Genasi Tactical Warlords) who combine retardedly bonus stacked Action Point attacks to use Warlord's Favor (or Lead the Attack) to grant at least one ally a massive power bonus to hit, then use Commander's Strike to just milk the hell out of that bonus.
And we will be Time Warping pretty much every encounter.
Obviously you haven't seen the best power in the game: Guileful Switch (Warlord Utility 6).
Every Warlord should take it at level 6, and every other PC that has a Strength of at least 13 should take a Warlord multiclass feat and Acolyte Power to grab it at level 8. *Unless a PC has a compelling reason to not take the "We get another activation right now, muw ah ha ha ha ha ha" power.
In fact, Martial Power is inspiring my friends and I to make an adventuring company featuring all Eladrin Tactical Warlords (or perhaps Stormsoul Genasi Tactical Warlords) who combine retardedly bonus stacked Action Point attacks to use Warlord's Favor (or Lead the Attack) to grant at least one ally a massive power bonus to hit, then use Commander's Strike to just milk the hell out of that bonus.
And we will be Time Warping pretty much every encounter.
My dwarforged fighter actually has Guileful Switch - power swapped for it upon hitting 8th level. It is broken.. and I rarely call things "broken." However, my advice for Redfist was based on the character info he had provided.
Two Tactical Presences or whatever it is don't stack, do they? Multiple bonuses from an identical source and all that...
(I expect it will end up a standard action OR a daily power . . .)
Guileful Switch . . . just don't come here complaining when the "Veterans Armor" that one . . . ;)
(I expect it will end up a standard action OR a daily power . . .)
I wouldn't be surprised to see errata that says "Use this power only at the beginning of your turn, without taking any other actions."
Guileful Switch . . . just don't come here complaining when the "Veterans Armor" that one . . . ;)
(I expect it will end up a standard action OR a daily power . . .)
...says the guy who giggles with glee whenever he uses it, which is in every encounter ;)
We've discussed this and I agree. Currently, the power gives SOMEONE an extra standard action and an extra move action in one round per combat (depending on when the Warlord uses it and on whom). This is too powerful to be an encounter power. If it were daily, it would still be quite amazing. If it were a standard action, then it would give someone an extra move action and an extra minor action... which is still good. At the very least, it should be a move action (which would still be a bit too good).
I was actually surprised to see that the MP errata did not contain any updates for Guileful Switch or Low Slash (rogue encounter 3). Both of those powers are what I would consider broken.
However, if they do errata those powers, a simple retrain handles the problem (and you only have to deal with the "nerfed" power for two modules max). Errata on magic items is trickier to deal with (though in the past, TPTB have always allowed a full refund on items that have been the target of rules updates or errata... I would be shocked if that wasn't still the case).
There are several other great level 6 Utilities for Warlords.
Boundless Endurance isn't coming into play much so I'm likely to swap that out for Unstoppable.
I'd suggest that when you drop Boundless Endurance, you pick up Defensive Stance instead of Unstoppable. The 2 extra AC it gives should more then make up for the extra Temp Hps that Unstoppable gives. Only problem with this Stance is that you're Slowed while it's in effect. Which isn't really that big of deal in my opinion.
How 'sticky' is your character?
If you're not getting a lot of Combat Challenge attacks off becouse the bad guys are afraid of you. You don't really need the feats that help keep you sticky.
Same goes with Toughness. With your health and AC, if you're avoiding taking a lot of damage you really don't need the Toughness then.
I might take a look at Improved Initiative. Just to help let you set up the tactical situation instead of the bad guys.
I was actually surprised to see that the MP errata did not contain any updates for Guileful Switch or Low Slash (rogue encounter 3). Both of those powers are what I would consider broken.
Low Slash? How's that broken? It seems extremely effective, but broken? Compare to Nasty Backswing, which ought to usually be about as effective in most combats without even requiring the minor action.
Compel the Craven is what I consider broken (Rogue 5 Daily) - needs a little setup, but it is better than Blade Cascade in Epic...
What do you mean by "combine retardedly stacked action point bonuses"?
Two Tactical Presences or whatever it is don't stack, do they? Multiple bonuses from an identical source and all that...
They stack. It is an unnamed bonus.
Bonuses of the same type don't stack (e.g. Improved Initiative and Quickdraw).
Two Tactical Presences or whatever it is don't stack, do they? Multiple bonuses from an identical source and all that...
As Steve pointed out, they are untyped bonuses. also, in 4e, there is no more "from the same source" limitation. Check the bonuses and penalties insert on page 275 of the PHB.
Low Slash? How's that broken? It seems extremely effective, but broken? Compare to Nasty Backswing, which ought to usually be about as effective in most combats without even requiring the minor action.
Compel the Craven is what I consider broken (Rogue 5 Daily) - needs a little setup, but it is better than Blade Cascade in Epic...
I'm not going to compare it to other powers. However, as a level 3 EP...
1. It's a minor action attack
2. It targets Reflex defense
3. It slides the target, slows them, and adds additional damage if flanking
The fact that it has all of these qualities while still being a 1[W]+Dex power makes it too good. The fact that it's only a minor action is what makes it broken. This is, of course, just my opinion.
So standing next to three troglodytes gives a total of -6 to attack?
In the same section, the PHB speaks to penalties and the fact that penalties from the same source do not stack. I (and most other reasonable judges) would rule that the auras from different Troglodytes are all considered the same source and would not stack.
"Similar aura effects do not stack unless otherwise noted. For example, a creature that starts its turn in two auras, one that deals 5 cold damage and another that deals 10 cold damage, takes 10 cold damage."
I'm not going to compare it to other powers. However, as a level 3 EP...
1. It's a minor action attack
2. It targets Reflex defense
3. It slides the target, slows them, and adds additional damage if flanking
The fact that it has all of these qualities while still being a 1[W]+Dex power makes it too good. The fact that it's only a minor action is what makes it broken. This is, of course, just my opinion.
Again, that's very effective. But I personally think most of the Rogue 3 encounter powers are more useful depending on need. Which isn't the hallmark of a broken power.
Again, that's very effective. But I personally think most of the Rogue 3 encounter powers are more useful depending on need. Which isn't the hallmark of a broken power.
I personally think that Low Slash is a "no-brainer" as far as Rogue 3 encounter powers go, which is the hallmark of a broken power.
...different flavors of ice cream, my friend.
I personally think that Low Slash is a "no-brainer" as far as Rogue 3 encounter powers go, which is the hallmark of a broken power.
...different flavors of ice cream, my friend.
Low Slash is great because it is a minor action. It is basically "sly flourish vs Reflex" (but you get +Str or +Cha for damage instead of having to do +Cha). And is best saved until you miss with your standard action (i.e. didn't do sneak attack damage).
Rogues have some of the best at-wills in the game as far as "solo attacking" goes (I argue that Commander's Strike is like Sly Flourish in that it basically is a MBA with 2 stats added to damage). Rogue Encounters and Dailies really need to be ways to deal with a miss or to add a condition that will allow sneak attacking.
And if you had an all Tactical Warlord party (each with an 18 Int and let's say there are 5 of them) and one of those Warlords used an action point. That PC would benefit from the other 4 warlord's presences (so +8 untyped bonus to hit). Tactical Assault becomes that much better (+16 damage?).
So you will eventually hear about "The Six Sirs" (Sir Ch, Sir Charge, Sir Cull, Sir Prize, Sir Render, and Sir Round). Eladrin Tactical Warlords rock and totally can be the whole party since Eladrin gain training in any one skill they want racially (with enough "That'll Do" cards, you can totally stumble through skill challenges).
I personally think that Low Slash is a "no-brainer" as far as Rogue 3 encounter powers go, which is the hallmark of a broken power.
A broken power make the game unplayable. Read 3.5 Infinite Wish, Shadowcraft mages and 4E Epic Archmage Orbizards spamming Sleep at -16 to ST.
A power that deal some damage as a minor action that you are most likely to not get sneak attack in is FAR from broken.
A broken power make the game unplayable. Read 3.5 Infinite Wish, Shadowcraft mages and 4E Epic Archmage Orbizards spamming Sleep at -16 to ST.
A power that deal some damage as a minor action that you are most likely to not get sneak attack in is FAR from broken.
My definition of a broken power is a power that breaks a fundamental rule in some way. The level of impact that that "breaking" has is not relevant - only that it does so.
For example, Guileful Switch enables a PC to gain an extra turn (essentially). This, to me, breaks a fundamental rule. Low Slash enables a PC to make an attack as a minor action. This, to me, breaks a fundamental game rule. I'm actually fine with the power - I don't think it's so overpowered that it spoils anything. I do think that the power is broken based on my definition above. Yes, I'm aware that there are a few other minor action attack power out there, but they're very inferior for their level (taking the action cost into consideration). Low Slash doesn't seem to do that. Reparation Apparatus, by my definition, is not broken. It is extremely overpowered, however.
And in response to your definition of broken powers above, I don't think that there are ANY broken powers that make the game "unplayable." I played a Shadowcraft Mage in LG and while he was certainly broken, the game was still very much playable and fun was had by all (or most). Most Warlords use Guileful Switch and their use of the power does not make the game unplayable... not even close. "Orbizards" are certainly not broken, in my opinion, but we can argue that elsewhere if you'd like.