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2 years ago ::
Sep 22, 2011 - 10:19PM
#1
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So after beginning to play the Privateer Press miniature war game "Warmachine/Hordes" I've come across a mini (and for that matter her character) that I'd love to use in a game of 4e. The general over all premise of the character is a female wearing leather, that wields a hand crossbow as the primary weapon, and a short sword in her off-hand. But aside from that, her whole thing is being a "mage-hunter" Either her crossbow (or ammunition) are arcane in nature and severely hurts casters. This is the part I'm trying to figure out.
The basis can be easily built with what there is for Ranger, Rogue, and Thief using an elf or some such (she's elven). But the big thing that makes her not just another ranger or stealthy person with a crossbow is that sure she can hurt normal things, but is extremely deadly against casters.
Is there any items or feats or anything that is good against specifically arcane users, or casters, or anything? I want to be useful all around of course, but when we come up against a caster I want that to be "my" specialty. Even if it's just ammo. Anyone??
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2 years ago ::
Sep 22, 2011 - 11:28PM
#2
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Date Joined:
Aug 19, 2007
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There's no specific "anti-mage" builds in 4E... No class gains any abilities specifically targeted against "spellcasters". In fact, no class gains any sort of target-specific abilities of the sort you're looking for. I think that pretty much the closest thing you'd find would be certain powers that have extra effects or do more damage against certain tyoes of creatures, usually undead or dragons.
What you'd probably want to do is emphasize tactics and powers that cause ranged attackers (most spellcasters are ranged classes) to be less effective. Grab powers that either get you up in the spellcaster's face quickly (most of their powers would provoke opportunity attacks from you being next to them) or force them to move to you, as well as powers that block line of sight or limit their actions per turn (most sustainable powers require at least a minor action to sustain them, so dazing, stunning and dominating are all very effective at keeping them off their best game).
Quite honestly, though, none of the classes you listed are particularly effective at any of this. Martial power source strikers don't impose many conditions or status effects other than "dead".
If you're looking for a lightly-armored martial-themed character that can debuff enemies, you might look into playing a Warlord.
If you want to be particularly effective with your hand crossbow, you might pop over to the Character Optimization forum and ask about the viability of a warlord|artificer hybrid, since artificers use intelligence as their attack stat, and certain warlord builds get a fair amount of use out of intelligence - artificers can take a feat to use a crossbow as their implement, and warlords can be built as a "lazy" build which never attacks on it's own (but allows others to attack more often) so that you wouldn't need to put nearly as much effort into maintaining two attack stats. You could fluff the extra attacks you grant your allies as using your in-depth knowledge of fighting spellcasters to give them an advantage.
You might also consider going with drow as your race in order to take advantage of their race-specific handcrossbow feats (I think there's at least two) as well as the two-fisted shooter feat.
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2 years ago ::
Sep 23, 2011 - 12:19AM
#3
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Date Joined:
Jun 19, 2008
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Depends what you want to focus on:
Fighter is a good anti-ranged type if you get adjacent to an enemy. Perhaps the new build that grabs enemies could work, since wizards are not that great in getting out of grab (poor athletics and acrobatics). An agile light armored dude could also use the fighter build from the dark sun campaign guide (Arena fighter). Fighters are great at preventing the enemy from leaving, as you can stop their move with OA and hit them if they shift.
Fluff wise, swordmages have some PP's that are a bit of the "mage hunter" type. I can't recall a specific one, but I think there are some that apply.
A rogue,, ranger, monk, assassin or avenger might work as an anti-mage type that can try to get into enemy's back ranks to decimate casters. Again, the "anti-caster" is more in the fluff and using your PC's abilities to play out your intended motivation in the game.
There is plenty of stuff to use, but for a very specific purpose of being great vs. casters, there is very little. 4e is a lot about refluffing and reskinning things. Take the parts that suit you and make a PC out of them.
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2 years ago ::
Sep 23, 2011 - 12:47AM
#4
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Date Joined:
May 13, 2009
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At the very least consider the following:
- Focus on your neckslot, you'll want good NADs more then good AC, since spellcasters attack the former and not the latter
- Make sure you have a good Arcana, Nature and probably Insight. You'll want to be able to sniff out, track, and identify magic users
- Try to get your hands on a Feyslaughter weapon. Preventing annoying mages from teleporting away sounds like a good idea
- Focus on mobility. Once a mage realises what you are, he'll run for it. (With that Feyslaughter weapon, he certainly won't teleport) Don't let him.
- Try to get Proning effects off. They're terrible for mobility, so your enemy can't get away (or has to sac their attack for it)
Now... I know of a character that might get very close to what you want, and allows you to incorperate all of the above. But it's a bit unconventional, I think. It won't also be super powerful, but I think it'll be very flavorful. On the other hand; it might be too magical itself for your purposes.
Assault Swordmage/Ranger hybrid. Powerful in close combat with swords, good damage output, and a Swordmage's ability to not only lock down an opponent, but to actually harrow the target. Cast a spell not at me? Great, I'll teleport in your face, pound you on the head, deny you the ability to teleport and then hack you to shreds when my turn comes up. Also gives you the exact stats you need (Int/Str and Wis tertiary) for those skills.
Your crossbow might not be magical on its own; but you can easily flavor your Swordmage magic as arcane bolts with various effects. Just switch out to two blades in melee or your ranger powers don't work.
You could even reflavor the entire crossbow; you're actually holding a sword but as a Swordmage you can cast magic through it anyway. You won't have much range, but then a magehunter only shoots the Mage if it helps him get closer, because that's where they're vulnerable.
You'll also have the advantage of having all good NADs (though poor AC) and you can even tally a bit on your accuracy since usually Mages have lower AC anyway (though don't tally too much! But I'd suggest a +2 neckslot item over a +2 weapon)
It'll really lock down mages. Cast at you; nothing happens most likely and if it does; you can take it. Cast at your friends, and suddenly you teleport in their face and hack them down. Plus you can have powers that daze, prone, slow or immobilise to slow them down further. There is no escape.
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2 years ago ::
Sep 23, 2011 - 12:52AM
#5
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Date Joined:
Dec 24, 2008
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Rogue and two-fisted shooter sounds like it'll match the mini perfectly. As for ammunition: Dispelling Bolt and Bolt of Transit can (situationally) ruin a caster's day. Also, casters tend to be kinda teleporty, so you may want to get a Feyslaughter Weapon to shut that down.
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2 years ago ::
Sep 23, 2011 - 2:07AM
#6
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Date Joined:
Jan 29, 2005
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A Pursuit Avenger can harass anything that focuses primarily on ranged attacks better than anyone.
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2 years ago ::
Sep 23, 2011 - 10:38AM
#7
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Date Joined:
Jan 15, 2009
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There is an Arcane Hunter (Could that mean Witch Hunter? why yes yes it could) under Paragon paths for swordmages ... whose schtick is finding vulnerabilities. Might go with Pluisgens ideas..
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