Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ZombieJ Aug 10, 2014 3:06:12	As title says- has anyone figured out how to make a sticky defender? It seems hopeless at first glance, since opportunity attacks are now reactions and so can only be done once per round. Essentially any tank can only hold down one baddy, and even with the sentinel feat you can only choose between punishing an enemy for attacking an ally or saving your reaction in case the enemy wants to move away afterward.   Quite frankly, I think opportunity attacks are crippled right now and are essentially responsible for breaking any tactical play in game at the moment. I don't know if it was like this during the playtest. I played a few games, but I always assumed opportunity attacks were their own actions like in previous editions.   Anyway, the only thing I can come up with right now are grappling tanks. Anyone have a particularly good one they want to share? It seems like the monk might end up pretty good at this.
#2 AtomicPope Aug 10, 2014 4:23:51	There's a player in our game that's trying to make the "sticky" defender using a Human Paladin - Oath of Vengeance.  With the Variant package he took Polearm Master as his starting Feat. Since we've just started he hasn't taken Sentinel yet but we're all waiting to see what it will be like in gameplay.  So far having only one AoO doesn't seem that impressive but Divine Smite makes it hit hard.  The Oath of Vengeance gives the tank a "chase" ability if he scores a hit.  This could be used to reposition and cut off escape routes, in theory. The simplest way isn't really a "defender" at all but a Ranger - Entangling Strike.  I'm playing a Beast Master Ranger and I used that all of the time to root monsters.  Not to mention, the Wolf Companion has a reliable knock-down attack.  I'm going for a Rapier and Hand x-Bow build since it will grant me extra attacks with high hit and full damage.  The Beast & X-Bow Ranger will mature at 5th level: Dex build Archery Style 4th level Crossbow Expert (grants a bonus action Hand Crossbow attack if you attack with a melee weapon) 5th leve Extra Attack When you use the Attack action and you have Extra Attack you grant you Beast one attack.  Wolf Companions get Advantage if you're adjacent to the same enemy.  That's a reliable attack that can knock the enemy prone.  If it's prone then your attacks now have Advantage.  You make one melee attack with a Rapier then a bonus attack with a Hand Crossbow. Use Hunter's Mark for an additional +1D6 on each damage roll.  Overall that's a good amount of damage that lands regularly and can keep the enemy pinned down.  Technically not  a "defender".
#3 GladiusLegis Aug 10, 2014 10:49:30	Yeah, sadly, the days of locking down and/or punishing multiple enemies are over. Locking one enemy is as good as you'll get, but that's better than nothing.   Sentinel is pretty much a must for a defender-type. Polearm Master is great along with it, too, if you go that route.   As for actual classes:   Battle Master Fighter, with starting maneuvers Goading Attack, Menacing Attack and Trip Attack. At Lv. 7 add Parry and Riposte to help deal with attacks against you. Paladin, with Compelled Duel always prepared. Both have their points. Paladin will have a better OA/Reaction attack starting at Lv. 11 with Improved Divine Smite (plus can Smite on an OA/Reaction attack even before that anyway). Battle Master will reach 20 STR and any feats more quickly.
#4 reddaemon Aug 10, 2014 13:39:54	Protection Fighting Style is already amazing.  I would argue that this is all you really need to be a good tank.  You would have to choose between Protection Fighting Style or Sentinel as both use your reaction.
(Reply to #4) Overpromises	reddaemon wrote:
(Reply to #5) GladiusLegis	Overpromises wrote:
#7 mrpopstar Aug 10, 2014 14:12:46	Does it come up often that more than one adjacent enemy tries to leave a fighter's reach in a single round?
#8 ppaladin123 Aug 10, 2014 15:18:06	I think Oath of the Ancients paladin with protection fighting style and the sentinel feat is your best bet.
(Reply to #6) reddaemon	GladiusLegis wrote:
#10 Psikerlord Aug 10, 2014 15:35:59	A s ingle feat, sentinel, does everything you need for a 4e like defender.
(Reply to #9) GladiusLegis	reddaemon wrote:
(Reply to #8) GladiusLegis	ppaladin123 wrote:
(Reply to #11) reddaemon	GladiusLegis wrote:
#14 kimura121 Aug 10, 2014 16:50:40	The Protection Fighting Style with the sentinal feat and possibly the shield master feat to push them off of someone unless of course you are a battle master fighter then you could get the pushing attack manuever for that option.
#15 ppaladin123 Aug 10, 2014 17:36:18	GladiusLegis wrote:
#16 ZombieJ Aug 11, 2014 2:42:55	I'm considering Blade Warlock right now for tanking. The hold person spell can be pretty effective for holding enemies down. It might be enough when combined with the sentinel feat. Though the paladin can do that too, plus grab entangling strike. I don't have the PHB in hand right now, so I will have to take a closer look at it later.
#17 mellored Aug 11, 2014 6:17:15	Be a mountain dwarf (medium armor) Str/Con rogue with expertise in athletics, and tavern brawler.   Stab and and grab.  *remember, you can use finess weapons with Str attacks. Anyone who provokes an OA, takes full sneak attack damage.   Use your cunning action to drag people around, away from your allies. Reliable talent makes sure no one escapes your grasp. Get the Grappler feat at some point.  Otherwise boost Con and Str.     The only thing you loose over a fighter is 1 HP per level.  Uncanny doge, Evansion, Slippery Mind, and Elusive all make you pretty tough.   Possibly splash for heavy armor and protection style.  Depending on your DM's idea of improvised weapons.