Please don't say "both." I know that's a valid option, but let's rule it out for now. Answers such as "depends on your personal preference" also don't help much. Factors to consider are: How frequently can I use this power to interrupt an enemy's attack? How clutch will the interrupt be? How well does this work as a control mechanism? How much damage output can I expect?
Transposing Lunge:
+ Only requires one attack to hit (yours) as opposed to two (yours and theirs) [though the second hit is only important for damage]
+ Can be triggered via any attack, not just melee
+ Reliable damage (your 2[W] damage is likely higher than the damage that your target will deal to its buddy)
- Requires your marked target to exclude you with an attack
Dimensional Vortex:
+ Attacks Will defense
+ Can be used any time, not just by a creature under your Aegis
+ Teleports the target to any square within a certain range, not necessarily adjacent to you
- Provokes opportunity attacks
In a combat where there are no primary melee opponents, Dimensional Vortex has the reasonably severe limitation of being unable to be used.
Although, personally, I like Dual Lightning Strike better than either of them. Nothing like moving up to the front line, swatting one of the soldiers, then teleporting past them to get at the squishies...
I just ran some friends through the Village of Hommlet with some oneshot characters and Dimensional Vortex proved very handy, typically in the early rounds before the swordmage got heavily entrenched in the enemies. I like the fact that it's useable on non-marked targets.
Why is Transposing Lunge not usable against non-marked targets? If you really want to do so, you can use the power against an adjacent opponent, it just isn't quite as good.
Why is Transposing Lunge not usable against non-marked targets? If you really want to do so, you can use the power against an adjacent opponent, it just isn't quite as good.
I think his response was based on the following statement I made:
"Factors to consider are: How frequently can I use this power to interrupt an enemy's attack? How clutch will the interrupt be? How well does this work as a control mechanism? How much damage output can I expect?"
Both good points. The provocation of OAs is what causes me to lean more towards Transposing Lunge. That and the added encouragement of White Lotus Riposte for enemies to ignore the Aegis.
Which one is better for a shielding Swordmage?
I prefer the flip a coin method myself. ;)
I prefer the flip a coin method myself. ;)
Catch!
-karma
Dimensional Vortex is easily my choice, since it gives you an option to stop someone you haven't marked. All the others pros and cons balance out, but that alone is pretty much unvaluable.
I have to agree. Nothing quite like losing initiative, having some big bad ugly thing charge an ally, teleporting it back next it its squishy and accomplishing 3 things:
- prevent damage to an ally
- move a big ugly back away from the party
- smack a bad guy
All before you even act in a combat.
-Rozman
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Putting that aside, I thing Transposing Lunge is better:
1 attack roll instead of 2 to do damage;
Can use as a standard action in addition to the immediate interrupt use; and
Your 2[W] weapon attacks will be doing more damage than most bad guy attacks.
That said, it is close -there aren't a lot of v. Will powers for Swordmages and Dim. Vortex has nice flavor to it -- it is cool to make enemies hit each other.
Daren