Level 6 discussion

[Shiz]

At level 6:

1) +hps
2) +1 to hit, AC/FOR/REF/WIL, Init, all skills
3) new feat
4) new utility power
5) swap one feat OR skill OR power

[Shiz]

Trask:

1) +5hps
3) Implement Expertise: Symbol (+1 to hit with implement powers)
4) Bastion of Health (encounter, minor): you or an ally w/in 10 can spend a healing surge, adding Trask's CHA mod (+1) to the amount
5) swap At-Will Sacred Flame for At-Will Righteous Brand
6) Novice Power feat: swap Cause Fear for Evasive Strike instead of Command for Thundertusk Boar Strike

Sacred Flame (implement, radiant)
Ranged 5
Target: One creature
Attack: Wisdom vs. Reflex
Hit: 1d6 + Wisdom modifier radiant damage, and one ally
you can see chooses either to gain temporary hit points
equal to your Charisma modifier + one-half your level (1+3) or
to make a saving throw.

We seem to need saving throws more as we level so this power allows me to grant them before the end of a someone's turn. This leaves me with no melee at-will but the need for that has been few and far between.

[DinbinFanfoom]

Are we THAT close already?

I was thinkin...

Utility (one of):
- Unbreakable (PHB) - Encounter, Immediate Reaction - Trigger: You are hit by an attack. - Effect: Reduce the damage from the attack by 5 + con mod (or 11)
- Battle Awareness (PHB) - Daily - +10 to initiative AFTER rolling it (her init would be insane; as this is a power and not a feat, it would stack and give her a whopping +21 if she wanted to use it.)

I'm kind of leaning towards the first one... it's KIND of like a piddly self-heal... second is quite situational and her init is already +11... dunno.

Feat (one of):
- Armour Proficiency (Plate) - I've been putting this off for a while. Would open up some future possibilities for AC upgrades...
- Fast Runner (+2 speed to charge/run) (PHB) - Brun hates her speed 5.
- Human Perseverance (+1 to saves) (PHB) - Don't know if +1 is a big deal, but might be good in a pinch
- Powerful Charge (+2 to damage, +2 to bull rush) (PHB) - Not bad, but situational
- Skill Training: Perception (PHB) - Her perc sucks, though we have others in the party who can cover this

Haven't looked at PHB2 or MP yet... can we use those from now on?

[Shiz]

Yeah, MP and AP are allowed. For Brun these feast look interesting from MP:

Sideways Defense

Prerequisites:
Human, fighter, Combat Challenge
class feature
Benefit:

Allies adjacent to you gain a +1 bonus to
all defenses against any creature marked by you.

Victor’s Confidence
Prerequisites:

Con 15, fighter
Benefit:

When you reduce an enemy to 0 hit
points with a melee attack, you gain a +1 bonus to
saving throws until the end of the encounter.

Then others:

Action Surge, +3 on an attack when an AP is spent (humans only and the best human only feat)
Weapon Expertise (Heavy Blades), +1 to hit

[Zyzzyx]

I've been looking at L6 for awhile, via the character creator. Got a short list of feats and powers that I'm looking at. Will post my thoughts when I get home.

I remember one of them was that I get a 'ranged' CA when an enemy is flanked. Could be useful. Also had one for +1 For/Wil defenses.

[Lycos]

+6 hps
One Heart, One Mind (Magic Walkie Talkies) :D
Feat - Improved Initiative

[Zyzzyx]

Feats under contemplation:

Arcane Fire: Hit with a fire power, the target gains 5 cold vulnerability against my first arcane attack by the end of my next turn. A bit of a setup, but if I hit with fire, then I could follow up with a cold power, gaining 5dmg. Hmm... doesn't sound so good now.

Distant Advantage: Gain CA with ranged or AoE attacks against enemy that is flanked by allies. Really like the idea of this one. With Fandango often flanking for CA, could see some use out of this one.

Linguist: Choose three languages to speak, read, and write fluently. A bit of an RP choice, but could also end up being rather useful.

Scion of the Gods: +1 to Fortitude and Will defenses A bit obvious.

Implement Expertise - Staff: +1 to attacks with Staff implement. Mmm... better attack rolls...

Initiate of the Faith: Multiclass cleric. Get to use Healing Word once/day. Plan to do this at some point for my paragon path choice.



Utility Power choice, I get to choose two, mem/use one.

Dispel Magic: Yeah, does that. Destroy magical effects.

Fire Shield: Gain resist 10 fire/cold. Melee against me takes 2d6+4 fire damage. Interesting, but I don't see melee range too often.

Wall of Fog: Wall 8 squares long that blocks Line of Sight. Sustainable. Oooh... this could be fun.

Wizard's Escape: Immediate interrupt: Hit by melee attack, teleport 5 squares. Another damage avoidance power, encounter use, but I already have two that don't always get used.

Invisibility: Make a target invisible. Sustainable. maybe...




Most likely choices:

Feats: Linguist or Implement Expertise
Powers: Wall of Fog and Invisibility

[Asharad]

I was thinking of one of these powers:

True Arrow Style
Prerequisite: Dex 13, any martial class
Benefit: You gain a benefit with any of the following exploits you possess.

Associated Powers:
Careful Attack (http://www.wizards.com/dndinsider/compendium/power.aspx?id=917): If you are wielding a ranged weapon and this attack misses, you can grant combat advantage to all enemies until the start of your next turn to make a ranged basic attack against the same target as a free action.
Sly Flourish (http://www.wizards.com/dndinsider/compendium/power.aspx?id=970): With this exploit, you take no penalty to your attack roll for attacking targets at long range.

Bardic Dilettante

Prerequisite: Cha 13
Benefit: You gain training in one skill from the bard’s class skills list. Once per day, you can use the bard’s majestic word power.
In addition, you can wield bard implements.


True arrow gives me (theoretically) unlimited range with my sly flourish. The bard thing is nice because it gives me a heal as a minor action.

[Shiz]

If you all take Healing powers, then I can take a different utility. Just remember that we have only had one fight where we actually ran out of healing to the point of almost failing.

[DinbinFanfoom]

Sideways DefenseOnly problem with that is very RARELY do marked mobs attack someone other than their marker. Has that even happened yet? But yeah, it sounds good.
Action Surge, +3 on an attack when an AP is spent (humans only and the best human only feat)Yeah, I like that one.
Weapon Expertise (Heavy Blades), +1 to hit
Would that stack with my weapon focus? Looks like it would... WE is +1 ATK, WF is +1 DAM. Hrm..

I'm still wondering about biting the bullet and finally taking plate profiency... my AC is less than my FORT save, currently... it'd be a "long term" investment... as the +1 scale I've been wearing since level 1 is still pretty decent. (that free heal is a life-saver)

I'm also thinking of swapping out "Sure Strike" (+2 ATK, removes damage mod) as the default fighter hit is Reaping Strike (guaranteed minimum damage) and I've only used the former ONCE (mostly for RP effect).

Was thinking of starting to throw in some "Invigourating" stuff to replace it... temp HP (even a little bit) fit Brun's shock-trooper style. 7 temp hp is NICE (con bonus = 4, level mod = 3).

Maybe "Crushing Surge" (MP) 1W+str mod, 7 temp hp on a hit.

The other option would be the nasty "Brash Strike" which does not grant temp HP but does amplify the damage with a con bonus...

Damage would be 1d12+5(str mod)+4(con mod)+1(enh)+1(feat) so up to 22 on a hit. +11 dam is never bad!

So damage (BS) or durability (CS)? Hrm.

Back to Utility Powers... an old level 2 figher utility from PHB1 is not bad either:

"Boundless Endurance" - daily - Regenerate 2+con mod(4)=6 hp when bloodied). Edit: Bleah, it's a stance. I like my existing damage stance. :D

"Unbreakable" is still good - encounter - Interrupt - Reduce damage taken by a hit by 5+4=9
"Settling the Score" - daily - Immediate - +2 ATK to enemy until end of encounter

I'm now thinking:

1) +hps (9)
2) +1 to hit, AC/FOR/REF/WIL, Init, all skills (yay!)
3) new feat (Weapon Expertise: +1 ATK)
4) new utility power (Unbreakable)
5) swap one feat OR skill OR power (Swap Sure Strike for Crushing Surge)

[EricStratton]

Not too many stand out choices for Amaril for either Feats or Utility spells but here's what I'm thinking:

Feats:

1. Empowering Shadows - When you have Concealment from Shadow Walk, you gain +1 to dmg rolls.

2. Reaper's Touch - Eldritch Blast gains a range of Melee Touch in addition to its normal range, and it can be used as a melee basic attack.

3. Sacrifice to Caiphon - When you attack w/ an encounter power that has targets and you miss all targets, then you can deal dmg to yourself equal to the level of the power. If you do, immediately recover the power.

Down side of StC is that I only have 2 encounter powers that target something. And I'm not sure if "targets" means it has to have more than 1 target, b/c I've only got one of those.

4. Distance Advantage - Gain CA against ranged or area attacks against any enemy flanked by your allies.

5. Arcane Familiar - Gain a familiar.

But this would require me to go buy Arcane Power so I'd know WTF a familiar is/does.

Utility spells:

1. Dark One's Own Luck - Daily, Free Action; Reroll an attack roll, skill check, ability check, or saving throw that I don't like. Use the higher of the two rolls.

2. Fey Switch - Encounter, Move Action; You and a willing ally (w/in 10 squares) trade places.

3. Racing Fire of Ulban - Encounter, Move Action; Move twice your speed.

4. Shadowslip - Encounter; When an enemy misses you w/ a melee or ranged attack, teleport CHA mod number of squares (4).

---

Right now I'm thinking Empowering Shadows or Reaper's Touch and Dark One's Own Luck.

[Shiz]

Familiars give no combat benefits usually, but here are some examples that sound cool:

Dragonling: +2hps when you use a healing surge, once per encounter use the familiar's location as the origin square for a close blast arcane power.

Falcon: +2 bonus to Perception, +2 bonus to all defenses from OAs, once per encounter you can use your falcon's location to determine range for a ranged attack, falcon familiar can be 40 squares away versus the normal familiar limit of 20.

Serpent: +2 bonus to Bluff, ignore 1 square of difficult terrain when you shift, once per encounter as a minor action all creatures adjacent to the serpent cannot make OAs until the end of your next turn.

Spider: +2 to Climb checks, enemies take a -1 penalty on saving throws against your arcane powers that slow or immobolize, as a minor action a spider can slide one unattended 5lb object within 5 squares 2 squares.

Familiars have your defenses and behave like a minion if attacked: a hit kills, a miss never damages. They have 1 hp. A familiar cannot be hit by its master's attacks (unless you want to). Then the normal telepathy with your familiar as one would expect. Some of them give language proficiency.

[Shiz]

Well, playing with the Character Builder it is clear that I can change my Ranger power separately from the retraining associated with levelling. The Novice Power feat let's me change the swap every level independent of the normal retraining. This is good since Command is better than Cause Fear in retrospect.

[Greebo]

Casters can also use familiars as the point of origin for their spells for determining distance. I don't think they can do it for line of sight or effect, however.

But it does mean in a large area a familiar can be sent far down range and effectively extend the range of its master to an unholy distance.

[Shiz]

Divine POwer is out although I am not sure everything is in the Character Builder yet.

New cleric feats focused on healing >

Battle Healer: +str mod to Healing Word (+3 for Trask)

Pacifist Healer: targets of your divine healing powers regain an extra 1d6+cha mod, but if you deal damage to a bloodied enemy at any time, you are stunned for one round.

Pacifist is a non-starter, of course.

I am still looking at Domains and other stuff.

[Greebo]

Divine power isn't out till the 20th. How do you come to have a copy?

[DinbinFanfoom]

Divine power isn't out till the 20th. How do you come to have a copy?
Insider trading.

*badumpching*

[Shiz]

Divine power isn't out till the 20th. How do you come to have a copy?

I don't but there are threads all over the official forums by people who do.

[Greebo]

Hmm. That's even odder.

[Shiz]

Divine Power now in the Character Builder. This brings up some serious options for Trask that I want the group to see.

1) Turn Undead vs Healer's Mercy: each bloodied ally in a CB5 can spend a Healing Surge and Trask is weakened (1/2 dmg) for one turn). Remember. Turn does 1d10 and pushes and immobilizes.

Comment: I think we have enough healing.

2) Does Trask need a melee at-will? It is nice to have but Trask can usually shift away. There are some nice new ranged at-wills

- Sacred Flame: d6+wis radiant, grant temp hps or a save to an ally
- Gaze of Defiance: d8+wis vs WIL, all allies gain +1 atk vs the target for one turn
- Astral Seal: WIS+2 vs REF (very easy to hit usually), no dmg, target is -2 to all defenses, next ally to hit regain 3hps (CHA+2).

Comment: Gaze of Defiance is pretty good. Righteous Brand's bonus only applies to melee attacks. Lance of Faith (which I will keep) give +2 to one ally but it is vs REF which is harder to hit that WIL usually.

3) Cascade of Light (vs WIL, 3d8 + WIS dmg, vulnerability 5 to my attacks) might have to go.

- Astral Condemnation: 3d6 + WIS vs REF, target takes a 5 + CHA (6) penalty to all damage rolls for one turn, minor: sustain!
- Moment of Glory: Close Burst 5 vs WIL, enemies pushed 3 and knocked prone, all allies gain resist 5 to all damage, minor: sustain the resistance

Comment: Glory sounds nice in a pinch if we get surprised, but zero dmg doesn't attract me. Astral is very nice against a boss but REF is harder to hit.

[DinbinFanfoom]

I assume some of us dinged after that last 300xp fight? I also assume we can't "upgrade" until we get out of this mission?

[Sagar]

I think you were just short, Din. But you are correct, you won't be able to level until you are done with this mission.

[DinbinFanfoom]

I think you were just short, Din. But you are correct, you won't be able to level until you are done with this mission.Coolio.

[Lycos]

Comment: I think we have enough healing.


Really?

[Lycos]

+6 hps
One Heart, One Mind (Magic Walkie Talkies) :D
Feat - Improved Initiative

Also, I was thinking that this might be an option as well.


Wrath of the Gods
Paladin Utility 6
A halo of divine light emanates from you, enabling you
and nearby allies to strike down your enemies with greater
determination.
Daily

✦ Divine
Minor Action Close

burst 1
Targets:

You and each ally in burst
Effect:

The targets add your Charisma modifier to damage
rolls until the end of the encounter.

The only problem is that you have to be very close to me for this to take effect. Basically, Brun and myself. The casters would never get it in most normal circumstances. It would be a +4 to damage for the encounter.

So, magic walkie talkies or the +4 to damage. I like the idea of magic walkie talkies that add to any aid that you do with another persons skill check. It makes it +4 instead of +2.

[Shiz]

I think we do have a lot of healing. These last two fights have been tough but we have still done ok. I will keep thinking about it.

[Shiz]

Think I am set now.

Switch Novice Power feat power swaps: Cause Fear > Evasive Strike (a 2W bow attack that lets me shift 5 squares.) I get Command back which is a WIL attack that dazes the target and let's me slide it. The OAs that can be triggered by Cause Fear never lived up to the hype and the slide from Command is more reliable than the fear.

Retrain Power: Cascade of Light > Moment of Glory

New feat: Implement Expertise (Holy Symbol). +1 to hit with Implement powers

New Power: Bastion of Health (minor, encounter, ranged) - you or an ally can spend a healing surge. Add my CHA bonus (+1) to the amount healed. This also gets the normal WIS (+4) so surge +5

Regular Healing Word is still surge+1d6+4

[Shiz]

Exp thread updated. Everyone has enough for 6th but we need an extended rest.

[Asharad]

You guys thought I was amazingly deadly before....

Swapping: My Level 5 daily Deep Cut (which is damage + ongoing damage) for Staggering Assault (which is damage +slow and which reapplies the slow for the duration of the encounter every time I hit). Good crowd control, I think.

Level 6 power: Hidden Blade- encounter power which gives me CA when I use my off hand weapon- which is now my +1 dagger that I use in my off hand for ranged attack.

Level 6 feat- Two weapon fighting. Since I got my new sword I switched my dagger to my off hand and now get an addition +1 to damage on my main hand.

[Shiz]

Moment of Glory gives all of us Resist 5, sustain minor!

[DinbinFanfoom]

Just updated my char sheet with my level 6 stuff. Brun's ATK/DAM mods are lovely. +13 and +8 respectively. Woo!

[EricStratton]

Updated mine as well.

It looks like they got rid of Reaper's Touch so I went with Distance Advantage - whenever you all have a mob flanked, I get CA too.

I thought about taking Empowering Shadows (+1 dmg when I've Shadow Walked) but my problem lately has been hitting, not dmg.

And for my utility power I went with Shadowslip - When an enemy misses you w/ a melee or ranged attack, teleport CHA mod number of squares (4). I decided I wanted to stick w/ the "teleport" theme I've got going on.

[Shiz]

Could someone pdf this CB file?

[Asharad]

I can. I'm really busy today but I'll do it this afternoon.

[Asharad]

here ya go, Shiz.

[Shiz]

Tghanks.

[EricStratton]

Could everyone could attach their level 6 PDFs to their stat post (this thread (http://www.legendsofwestwood.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14472))? I like having everyone's updated PDFs personally. Altho I still have Fandango's level 4 one as his most updated one.

[Lycos]

It will take me some time since I don't have Baladir in the D&D manager program from the beginning. I'll have to start from scratch.

[Shiz]

I can build him quick, Lycos

[Lycos]

I can build him quick, Lycos

That would be cool. Just don't let the wife catch you. I'd appreciate it. :D

[EricStratton]

Thanks, Shiz.

[Shiz]

Baladir's dnd4e file appended to his character post.

Guys, we all have to remember that we get +1 init from his feat Group Insight. We constantly forget.

[DinbinFanfoom]

I'll have to double-check Brun's tonight. I don't have the character builder here.

[Lycos]

Baladir's dnd4e file appended to his character post.


Thanks Shiz! :D

[EricStratton]

Baladir's PDF is now appended to his character post.

[EricStratton]

In fact, while I was at it I went ahead and updated Brun's level 5 dnd4e file to level 6 and attached that and the resultant PDF file to Brun's character post. You should probably check it, Din, just to make sure I got everything right.

Ash, do you have a .dnd4e file for Fandango?

[Asharad]

I already attached the pdf to my post.

[EricStratton]

I already attached the pdf to my post.
I know. I'm asking for the dnd4e file. If you have it, great. If not, no biggie.

[Asharad]

yeah, I got it somewhere.

I'll find it and upload it.

[Shiz]

yeah, I got it somewhere.

You might want to check your computer.

[Asharad]

You might want to check your computer.

Computer?

those big things that Nasa uses to put our boys on the moon?

Yeah, right!