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7 months ago ::
Oct 26, 2012 - 4:36PM
#11
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Have you done the cost-benefit analysis on the whole shield thing? You are spending what looks like:
1 class feature (Battlefront Leader instead of Combat Leader)
4 feats (Student of the Sword, Stout Shield, Encouraging Shield, Ubiquitous Shield)
1 item slot (Shield of Fellowship)
to gain:
+2 Fort
+2 Will
+2 Reflex (inherantly from heavy shields)
negate combat advantage
option to grant ally 25 THP on use of aegis interrupt instead of taking it yourself
.
Thanks for the input AtG (both on this thread and the earlier edition) The combat leader version is burning a 5th feat for proficiency (instead of the class feature) I think that is what you are referring to.
Figuring out the cost-benefit ratio of the shield has been a nightmare. It becoming like a overly complicated game of Jenga where trying to simpify (ie remove) one facet causes a cascade failure in other elements. The first version of the build was running swordmage warding instead of shield proficiencies. It does warrant a re-examiniation since I only looked at it with a 18-12-12-12-10-8 array, a weaker PP and somehow didnt include masterwork armor. At a quick glance I might be able to mantain similar defenses and shave off a few defensive feat slots (right now, 9/16 feats are dedicated to personal defenses which is more than I like)
The problem ive got with removing the shield is that right now it is boosting both sides of the defender catch-22 (I am exceedinly hard to hit so they will be strongly inclined to go after my allies) . Assuming I am able to free up 1-2 feat slots by swapping back to SM warding, Is there something I could fill that gap in with, I might be able to free up the mutliclass as well.
As an example of the Jenga effect: I eliminate the 5 shield feats (All defenses drop by 2 and CA is no longer ignored) I can bounce that back up via the psychic lock combo (net change +3 free feats , - personal damage, +Improved debuff on attacks vs everyone) The problem with this is I need to regulary be hitting multiple targets. The cascading problem is that my at-will teleport source requires hitting with a melee attack (swordburst does not apply) That means I end up with only 2 reliable encounter based teleports (and a few dailys) for a build that requires a teleport every round.
Is there a way to get at-will teleportation with 2 or less feats (MC feat is available) and a 16-16-12-12-10-8 array?
I think i will take a step back and look at the build with no shield at all, maybee i can find a better alternative. What would I be looking at for expected epic level monster damage? Would 27 damage reduction cover most of it?
Edit (11/1/2012)
I discovered the Helm of Able Defense. Using it frees up 2 defensive feats (Ubiquitas and Stout Sheld) getting my feat investment down to 7/16. Using those slots for Eladrin Swordmage Advance and Fight On (More healing YAY)
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7 months ago ::
Oct 26, 2012 - 11:16PM
#12
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I hadn't realized you weren't running Swordmage Warding; now that I see what you are doing (actually forgoing the Warding and making it work) I think the shield is great. Especially since you can interrupt twice in Epic so you double the benefit from Shield of Fellowship.
re: at-will teleportation, MC warlock + powerswap for Ethereal Sidestep is the traditional way.
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7 months ago ::
Nov 07, 2012 - 1:54PM
#13
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Minor Tweak:
Mark Of Warding was originally placed in a paragon tier slot. I did that because I mistakenly thought that the LFR substitute (Eladrin's Challenge) was a paragon tier feat. I was wrong. Since It was a heroic feat, I was able to replace Eladrin Swordmage Advance with it, and squeeze in Psychic Lock. Damage is low now but being pratically unhittable with a -5 debuff on much/most of the field is a reasonable tradeoff.
The one Concern I have if if I somehow get knocked unconcious after using the Shielding minor action power. Based on my understanding of marking rules, marks disapear if I go unconcious and I only regain usage of the power if a target marked by it dies or has its mark replaced. Solo's who can remove marks on themselves are a problem I dont know how to address.
Edit: Concerned about # teleports /encounter. Replaced Pshyhic Lock with Skill Power in order to make the original Level 2 utility Dimensional Warp. (Giving me 3 + Sprial Dance in Epic excluding items)
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3 months ago ::
Mar 04, 2013 - 9:44AM
#14
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Date Joined:
Jun 27, 2012
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Some people in our home campaign wanted to roll new characters, so to accomadate that I'm switching from a pixie killswitch to something like this build. One character is staying the same, so we're continuing the campaign from level 9, and don't know how far it will go. We'll continue with a human monk (has some homebrew stuff for a decent MBA), a revenant assassin, a changling bard (likely Lifesinger PP), and me. We may be joined in a few weeks by another player, who will likely make a controller of some type. It's a mid-op group, where character flavour and skill challenges are pretty important. We get 28 build points (can go below 8 in a score with a role-playing justification), free Expertise, free improved defenses in Paragon, and standard starting gear (magic 8,9,10, gold of level 9). In paragon I'll likely go Sigil Carver PP, Githyanki Silver blade + Psychic Lock, and maybe Sorceror MC and Sorcerous Vision as perception/insight won't be great in the party. I may be able to get Mark of Warding, but the DM said it'd involve a quest reward or something. I'm taking Arcane Familiar: Gallant Hawk for some similar effect, switching to Rakshasa Claw when I get Mark of Warding. Thoughts and advice are appreciated. Build: Spoiler:
Show
===== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Cinder, level 9
Genasi, Swordmage|Warlord
Swordmage Aegis (Hybrid): Aegis of Shielding
Warlord Leadership: Combat Leader (Hybrid)
Hybrid Warlord: Hybrid Warlord Will
Versatile Expertise: Versatile Expertise (Heavy Blade)
Versatile Expertise: Versatile Expertise (Light Blade)
Hybrid Talent: Swordmage Warding
Elemental Manifestation: Cindersoul
Background: High Imaskar (High Imaskar Benefit)
FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 11, Con 20, Dex 11, Int 22, Wis 6, Cha 13.
STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 11, Con 16, Dex 11, Int 18, Wis 6, Cha 13.
AC: 27 Fort: 22 Reflex: 22 Will: 19
HP: 73 Surges: 12 Surge Value: 18
TRAINED SKILLS
Endurance +19, History +15, Arcana +15
UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +4, Bluff +5, Diplomacy +5, Dungeoneering +2, Heal +2, Insight +2, Intimidate +5, Nature +4, Perception +4, Religion +10, Stealth +4, Streetwise +5, Thievery +4, Athletics +5
FEATS
Level 1 Free: War Wizard's Expertise (DM rule to apply to Warlord powers too)
Level 1: Hybrid Talent
Level 2: Intelligent Blademaster
Level 4: Rose King's Shield
Level 6: Arcane Familiar (Gallant Hawk)
Level 8: Improved Defenses (becomes free in Paragon)
POWERS
Hybrid at-will 1: Commander's Strike
Hybrid at-will 1: Booming Blade
Hybrid encounter 1: Vengeance is Mine
Hybrid daily 1: Dimensional Thunder
Hybrid utility 2: Channeling Shield
Hybrid encounter 3: Dimensional Vortex
Hybrid daily 5: Swordmage Shielding Fire
Hybrid utility 6: Reorient the Axis
Hybrid encounter 7: Transposing Lunge
Hybrid daily 9: Warlord's Recovery
ITEMS
Strikebacks (heroic tier), Hero's Leather Armor +2, Cloak of Translocation +2, Farbond Spellblade Longsword +2, Power Jewel (heroic tier), Feyleaf Sandals (heroic tier), Adventurer's Kit
====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======
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3 months ago ::
Mar 04, 2013 - 10:26AM
#15
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Soooo.... you took TWO free expertise feats ?
Whats with the 11 in Strength instead of Dex 12, why would any expertise feat need to apply to lazy warlord powers ?
Direct the Strike being ranged is probably better for you than Commanders Strike.
Is your use of Booming Blade so common that you want to take a feat to get something extra out of it? And does 5 THP really help ? Perhaps Elemental Echo helps you more, +1 to attackseems much better of a feat.
Personally not a fan of Cindersoul, I'd rather see a more aggressive power chosen, but that's up to you.
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3 months ago ::
Mar 04, 2013 - 12:28PM
#16
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Date Joined:
Jun 27, 2012
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Soooo.... you took TWO free expertise feats ?
My bad with the character builder, no versatile expertise (my attempt to mimic a house rule.)
Whats with the 11 in Strength instead of Dex 12, why would any expertise feat need to apply to lazy warlord powers ?
11 Str gets me 13 in epic for Greater Swordmage Warding. The expertise for warlord powers will be useful with Hail of Steel (via Bracers of Mental Might)
Is your use of Booming Blade so common that you want to take a feat to get something extra out of it? And does 5 THP really help ? Perhaps Elemental Echo helps you more, +1 to attackseems much better of a feat.
Not sure how much use it'll get, but since most of my encounter powers are non-standard action I expect it'll get some. The 10 THP trigger doesn't seem that hard to get. If I'm not using it much I may switch to swordburst.
Thanks for the suggestions on Elemental Echo and Cindersoul. Right now Cindersoul fits his backstory ... born a firesoul, named Cinder, because a Cindersoul after trauma, and is working that out. I expect it'll change as he grows up.
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