Sapphire is a pure defender (no multiclass) shielding swordmage who acts in second line of the battlefield, with high control features/powers all oriented to protect his allies and himself giving the enemies a big headache all the turns when deciding what to do.
He uses Arcane Reach for hit as many enemies as possible with Swordbust (its a close blast 3 with arcane reach so being behind his allies is not a problem), imposing a -2 to hit with Psychic lock, allies get +2 to all defenses if they are adjacent to Sapphire. (the original build had Arcane Admixture/Resounding Thunder for he hit more enemies, but this doesnt work with Psychic Lock), and he activates white lotus Hindrance / Master Hindrance / Riposte = damage when this enemies attack him (hit or miss) and difficult terrain around him and allies.
This features, plus the Sigil Carver level 16 punishment, and aegis of shielding, makes attack his allies a desesperating option, and attack him a bad choice also.
Encounter powers are interrupts for negate or mitigate attacks or mass marking powers for the first rounds, and daily powers complete a very well balanced build in defensive/control terms. Damage is not great, but has been improved with Githzerai and other little changes. and he will hit lots of enemies and will get extra attacks from lvl 16 feature, so overall is ok.
Sapphire's epic destiny is Draconic Incarnation, pretty cool for him (level 24 feature and 26 power makes him be large and Huge -> increases burst radius and reach and helps your allies to be in good positions), increase INT + other stat and level 30 feature is a fun sweet. Sapphire gets 2 of the best daily powers in the game (Prismatic spray and Summon Abyssal Horde). Also Sapphire can become a Gargantuan dragon with level 22 giant's might power and level 26 daily. 4x4 size dragon, reach 4 and Swordbust and marking can be a 6x6 squares for a fun epic combat!
I considered Ceaseless guardian, it was the obvious choice for the level 24 feature, but doesnt match with the build as good as Draconic Incarnation does, and i wanted to do something different. Planeshaper is also a good option because the level 24 feature can negate attacks (keep in mind the level 16 feature is an opportunity action) and has big control. If you go Planeshaper, take Swordmage Implement expertise at level 24 for 19-20 crits.
Daze/stun is a nightmare for all defenders, but even more for Sapphire (Sigil Carver punishment is an opportunity action). He have some powers/feats/items to avoid this without big problems.
He gets Superior Will and +2 racial to daze, dominate and stun, Arcane student who saw too much background (+1 untyped to daze/stun/inmobilize/restrain saves) and item with +2 bonus. So he can make a saving throws at the start of his turn, and this saves are +5. Also items helps him to avoid this conditions. If you want to improve this, pick Resilient Focus and/or Focused Mind.
If you think this is not enough you can go Topaz Crusader. Multiclass psionic with Awakened Potential instead Superior Will. Or take Ceaseless Guardian. Both boring (but effective) and you wont be a dragon
Enemies have to choice who attack. All are bad choices. In a normal scenario (marked enemy):
A marked enemy trying hit Sapphire's adjacent alies is like have a -6 to hit. (-2 mark, -2 Pshychic Lock +2 to all defenses), provoking a basic attack as opportunity action (another chance to activate Psychic Lock if the enemy is not affected), and damage reduced by his aegis or negate the entire attack with some encounter powers. This attack works on a burst 5 (Aegis is a burst 10)
If they try to attack Sapphire with melee, he should be in second line behind his alies, so they get opportunity attacks (if not already adyacent), they must attack his high defenses, and they have a -2 to hit (Psychic Lock), difficult terrain, and get damage from White Lotus Riposte. He also have bots for avoid multiattackers teleporting as a reaction (when miss) and taking good positions. Also he have the racial interrupt to negate 1 attack/encounter.
If they attack Sapphire and his allies with ranged area or burst / blast and they are in 5 squares range, they activate white lotus riposte and sigil carver puhishment, maybe get a -2 to attack (if no Psychic Lock active) if he hits (allies also have +2 to defenses), and he can prevent 21 damage (Armor of Aegis Expansion) to all!!!
If they attack Sapphire and his allies with ranged area out of the 5 squares deadly perimeter, they activate White Lotus Riposte, Sapphire has +6 to all defenses (Cloack of Distortion) and -4 to hit allies and he can prevent 21 damage (Armor of Aegis Expansion) to all!!!
If they ONLY attack Sapphire with ranged attack in 5 square radius is the best option, then Sapphire is doing his job as defender, he has high defenses and they have -2 to hit him (Psychic Lock) and get damaged from White Lotus Riposte. If they are away more than 5 squares from Sapphire, he gets +6 to all defenses. Also he have the racial interrupt to negate 1 attack/encounter
If they only attack his allies with a ranged attack (or ranged area), they are crazy. Sapphire can first teleport the enemy to an adjacent position (allies say HI!) with Foe Caller Gauntlets (encounter interrupt power) and then make a melee basic attack -> Psychic Lock, and then ranged attack provoques opportunity attacks (from you and allies), and he maybe affected by his own spell (if it was an area spell) and you can use Rapid Aegis Reaction to prevent damage to 1 ally!
If an enemy is not marked, he have a -4 to hit adjacent allies (-2 Psychic Lock +2 all defenses), Shapphire have powers for deny the attack and he will have difficult terrain around his allies.
In adition, our fey companion, gives he and the allies in his aura, protection to combat advantage.
For combats with various ranged artilleries Sapphire have also a daily ring power to get total concealment (stance if milestone) or the Impenetrable Warding power (+3 to all defenses for an stance). Or both :D.
Aegis damage reduction is not maximized but really is not needed because attack allies is very very bad option. Still we take Greater Aegis of Shielding at level 20, and You can take Shared Warding (epic) give +1 to AC to adyacent allies if you want to improve this.
Sapphire has excellent control over the battlefield. The first round and maybe second will be more chaotic, with some mobility, marking all what he can and then getting good position adjacent and behind his allies. Swordburst is his main control tool activating Psychic Lock, White Lotus Riposte, Hindrance and Master Hindrance. Also he have tools for teleport and push enemies in bad positions of the battlefield. Use your fey companion to take good positions.
Sapphire works well for any team composition, but even better with some melee allies with good opportunity attacks, because they will get opportunity attacks when melee enemies try to get in melee with Sapphire. A leader who grants heal and saving throws is welcome too.
The accuracy is high (+38 to hit with weapon powers and +35 with implement powers). We have permanent CA since level 5 because our fey companion (so +40/+37) If you need more accuracy (with Swordbust), pick Coordinated Explosion.
Sapphire has very good defenses (can be higher, see alternative items/feats) and he have permanent concealment and stances to improve defenses or AC even more.
Sapphire has high initiative but not stellar. Feytouched Armor is an option for +6 initiative and invisibility (as standard :/), or another item, but I think Armor of Aegis Expansion is better for the build, and I didnt find another way to improve initiative whithout losing a better item. Comments are wellcome. Still, swordmages doesnt need to go first because Dimensional Vortex exists.
The build is not item dependent, only githyanki silver sword is necessary. Opal Ring of Remembrance is awesome (and now Rare), and other items work well with the build but arent mandatory.
Sapphire needs a rare array of stats, because of feats. He needs INT (obvious), CON (obvious), DEX 15 for Arcane Reach (14 at start), WIS 15 for Superior Will and will defense (14 at start) and STR 13 in epic for Greater Swordmage Warding (11 at start). He doesnt pick this feat until epic because in paragon is better Improved Defenses. He improve INT and CON every level except in level 14 and 18, he improves INT and WIS to balance defenses.
Amulet of life (30), if you need to heal more in all the encounters. Or cloack of the walking wounded (29) Timeless Locket (24) if you want a +6 initiative and an extra starndard action 1/day for second wind or another non-attack action. Flowform Armor for an extra encounter no-action save. Starleather instead Swording Armor for +1 AC and -2 REF Great Hero's Gauntlets (27) for surge temp hp when action point (you will hit something with swordbust with +2 to attack) Baldric of Shielding (19) for temp HP when reduce damage from aegis. Ring of Free Time (29) for resist 5 all. You can get 3 rings too with hands slot (many-fingered gloves) (20) Bots of Teleportation (28) for at-will teleportation Head slot items for improve will defense for example circlet of indomability(28) +3 to Will. Shielding Blade Wrist Razors for a +1 to AC instead +4 damage (IAoP)
Shared warding +1 to AC for all adjacent allies. Solid Sound +2 untyped to a NAD all the rounds. Great. Toughness +5 hp / tier Improved Swordmage Warding +1 to AC Improved Defenses +1 to NADs -2 to armor Epic reflexes Strenght Through Challenge to resist 5 all when 2 enemies or more marked Triumphant attack to make the mark punishment even nastier when crit Righteous Fury for get -2 to basic attacks and attack gets rattling keyword (another -2 to hit)
In heroic, Sapphire is near to the typical shielding swordmage, cleaning minions with swordbust, marking enemys and chasing other with booming blade and using his fey companion tactically, marking 1 enemy adjacent to the panther, and go for other with Booming Blade. White lotus riposte for being a bad targed and high defenses. He will be in first line of the combat, preventing damage with aegis of shielding, Channeling shield, Dimensional Vortex and Trasposing lunge. At level 6 he can mark 2 targets/encounter with Swordmage Decree and 1 more with Swormage Shielding Fire daily. Also Sword of Sigils is multimarking. Fey beast companion helps a lot in heroic.
Some of the heroic feats will be retrained soon because he need a lot of paragon stuff.
The fun starts here, at level 11, Sapphire will start to play different to other shielding swordmages. Arcane Reach and Psychic Lock (Githyanki Silver bastard sword needed) come in level 11, and he gets Sigil Carver level 11 feature (+2 to all defenses for adjacent allies). With Arcane Reach, Swordbust can be now a close blast 3, a nice friendly tool to hit many enemies and activate Psychic Lock and White Lotus Riposte (and Hindrance / Master Hindrance in late paragon).
Sapphire gets the other important feats (Double Aegis, White Lotus Hindrance / Master Hindrance) and level 16 mark punishment. When he gets a good position behind his allies, some enemies will cry deciding what to do. Allies get fun also with opportunity attacks, because difficult terrain and trying to attack you.
He improve the encounter and daily powers to better area/mark/defend powers.
They fey companion helps a lot because he takes a position between you and a melee enemy, avoiding CA for you and allies in the aura, and giving you CA to enemies in the aura.
He gets the sweet epic feats and powers, being more effective doing what he wants. Total Aegis, Rapid Aegis Reaction, and Quickened Spellcasting, nice for spam Swordbust and another power in the first round. Swordmage Implement Expertise is for fun, but effective because he does lots of attacks.
He also gets nice epic encounter and daily powers, more control and protection tools. In level 24 he gets one of the best resurrection features in the game, he becomes a dragon spirit at maximun hit points, being large, phasing and insubstantial with all of his features, powers and items. Awesome.
At level 26, he has another way to become a dragon, size huge, breath weapon, and fly.
The level 30 feature is awesome and gives a lot of versatility. He picks 2 level 25 or lower arcane daily powers for any class. Summon Abyssal Horde and Prismatic Spray are his crazy choices but there are other great powers too.
Race: Human Class: Swordmage Swordmage aegis: Aegis of shielding Paragon Path: Sigil Carver Epic Destiny: Draconic incarnation Background: Arcane student who saw too much Theme: Waiting for all of the standard themes to be released
Here is a variant of the build with polearm (glaive). Much more control, but very stat-intensive. Changed epic destiny to planeshaper, which is awesome for control. 1 more encounter power, crit (19-20) -> out of play (more chance to deny attacks), etc.
He gets Polearm momentum on level 4, but you can get it in level 11 and have better ability scores. With polearm gamble and heavy blade opportunity, is really a pain for melee enemies. High mobility also.
The power for PM is luring strike, and is very powerfull. You can swap githzerai for other int + (str, dex, wis) race, but gitzerai are great for defenders (+2 vs daze, stun, +2 init, defensive power...).
The fort is a little low, but it can be fixed.
Theme - Guardian.
Shin - Plane Defender, level 30 (PM at level 4)Show
Looks solid. Though i think you overestimating positioning (people want to flank, and can get pushed) and your ability to hit (which you need to do for white lotus).
F-111 Interdictor Long (200+ squares) distance ally teleporter. With some warlord stuff. Broken in a plot way, not a power way. Thought Switch Higher level build that grants upto 14 attacks on turn 1. If your allies play along, it's broken. Elven Critters Crit op with crit generation. 5 of these will end anything. Broken. King Fisher Does an excellent job at keeping an enemy disabled in a few ways. Strong. Boominator Fun catch-22 booming blade build with either strong or completely broken damage depending on your reading. Very Distracting Warlock Lot's of dazing and major penalties to hit. Overpowered. Pocket Protector Pixie Stealth Knight. Maximizing the defender's aura by being in an ally's/enemy's square. Yakuza NinjIntimiAdin: Perma-stealth Striker that offers a little protection for ally's, and can intimidate bloodied enemies. Very Strong. Chargeburgler with cheese Ranged attacks at the end of a charge along with perma-stealth. Solid, could be overpowered if tweaked. Void Defender Defends giving a penalty to hit anyone but him, then removing himself from play. Can get somewhat broken in epic. Scry and Die Attacking from around corners, while staying hidden. Moderate to broken, depending on the situation. Skimisher Fly in, attack, and fly away. Also prevents enemies from coming close. Moderate to Broken depending on the enemy, but shouldn't make the game un-fun, as the rest of your team is at risk, and you have enough weaknesses. Indestructible Simply won't die, even if you sleep though combat. Sir Robin (Bravely Charge Away) He automatically slows and pushes an enemy (5 squares), while charging away. Hard to rate it's power level, since it's terrain dependent. Death's Gatekeeper A fun twist on a healic, making your party "unkillable". Overpowered to Broken, but shouldn't actually make the game un-fun, just TPK proof. Death's Gatekeeper mk2, (Stealth Edition) Make your party "unkillable", and you hidden, while doing solid damage. Stronger then the above, but also easier for a DM to shut down. Broken, until your DM get's enough of it. Domination and Death Dominate everything then kill them quickly. Only works @ 30, but is broken multiple ways. Battlemind Mc Prone-Daze Protecting your allies by keeping enemies away. Quite powerful. The Retaliator Getting hit deals more damage to the enemy then you receive yourself, and you can take plenty of hits. Heavy item dependency, Broken. Dead Kobold Transit Teleports 98 squares a turn, and can bring someone along for the ride. Not fully built, so i can't judge the power Psilent Guardian Protect your allies, while being invisible. Overpowered, possibly broken Unnamed Avenger|Runepriest/Hammer of Vengance Do lot's of damage while boosting your teams. Strong to slightly overpowered. Charedent BarrageA charging ardent. Fine in a normal team, overpowered if there are 2 together, and easily broken in teams of 5. Super Knight A tough, sticky, high damage knight. Strong. Super Duper Knight Basically the same as super knight, only far more broken. Mora, the unkillable avenger Solid damage, while being neigh indestuctable. Overpowered, but not broken. Swordburst Maximus At-Will Close Burst 3 that slide and prones. Protects allies with off actions. Strong, possibly over powered with the right party.
Looks solid. Though i think you overestimating positioning (people want to flank, and can get pushed) and your ability to hit (which you need to do for white lotus).
Yes i was thinking on this while doing the character build. Is not mandatory for all the allies to be adjacent to him, is not a problem (and sometimes better) if 1 or 2 melee defenders or strikers are flanking (difficult terrain, etc) or going after some dangerous enemies. Rememeber he is a swordmage, and his damage reduction works on distance (10 squares).
If not adjacent he lose +2 to defenses and no basic atack (level 16 feature) if attacked, but swordmage aegis or some powers can reduce the damage or negate the attack. Also foe caller gauntlets are very usefull.
Adjacent allies will be usually ranged leaders or controlers and weaker or hurt allies.
The important thing is mark and hit enemies (activate psychic lock and white lotus stuff) . Being adjacent is better but not mandatory and the build is very versatile depending on the battle.
Being pushed is the same, they can break the formation, but still you are efective as a swordmage, and you can take your good position fast (teleports or position swaps available)
I need to explain this better in the build, i will do when i have more time.
remember that white lotus master riposted got errataed, so it doesnt work if you mark the target. also why human? i think genasi or warforged is a much better choice of race, IMHO, both for the stat boost, the cool looks,and racial abilities/support
remember that white lotus master riposted got errataed, so it doesnt work if you mark the target. also why human? i think genasi or warforged is a much better choice of race, IMHO, both for the stat boost, the cool looks,and racial abilities/support
The build doesnt have white lotus master riposte, only white lotus riposte. After errata is only usefull in very few builds.
I went human because the extra feat and heroic effort. The build needs a lot of feats and the extra feat is great. Heroic effort is the best race power for me. Only muls have a better race power for defenders. Also I wanted a generic race, not setting-depending. Feats like dragonmarks are great too (but i didnt want to pick in the build example).
Another +2 con is not so much, but any race with +int can be used. And some races have great feats. I will revise this and maybe put some variants.
I tested the build a little in paragon, and arcane reach is awesome, really arcane admixture / resounding thunder is not a must, and white lotus hindrance / master hindrance is not really as good as i though.
So this can free 4 feat slots, any ideas to improbe the character? i was also thinking using a glaive but seems not a great idea (-2 ac and high stat req).
any ideas to improve the sigil carver mark punishment BASIC attack?
I only found Righteous Fury
Heroic Tier Prerequisite: Trained in Intimidate Benefit: When making a melee basic attack, you can choose to take a -2 penalty to your attack roll to add the rattling keyword to your attack.
this can be on a -8 to hit that ally for the monster but -2 to accuracy seems bad
What themes would you suggest to go with this build...I have been playing this build since level 6 (now 17). It is a great build, it has its issues, but in LFR, we pretty much have some decent support to help this build out.
