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4 months ago ::
Feb 09, 2013 - 4:54PM
#1
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Hi guys I'm a 3.5er just getting back into the swing of things in 4th so here is my attempt at a meat shield for our LA 3 man group. ====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
gabe scenario, level 7
Shield Dwarf, Fighter/Runepriest
Runic Artistry Option: Wrathful Hammer
FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 18, CON 20, DEX 15, INT 11, WIS 18, CHA 12
STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 17, CON 17, DEX 15, INT 11, WIS 16, CHA 12
AC: 26 Fort: 21 Ref: 19 Will: 20
HP: 63 Surges: 13 Surge Value: 15
TRAINED SKILLS
Athletics +8, Endurance +13, Heal +12
UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +1, Arcana +3, Bluff +4, Diplomacy +4, Dungeoneering +9, History +3, Insight +7, Intimidate +4, Nature +7, Perception +7, Religion +3, Stealth +1, Streetwise +4, Thievery +1
POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Dwarf Racial Power: Dwarven Resilience
Fighter Attack: Combat Challenge
Runepriest Feature: Rune of Mending
Runepriest Attack 1: Word of Shielding
Fighter Attack 1: Resolute Shield
Runepriest Attack 1: Executioner's Call
Fighter Attack 1: Villain's Menace
Fighter Utility 2: Unstoppable
Fighter Attack 3: Shield Edge Block
Runepriest Attack 5: Rune of the Final Act
Runepriest Utility 6: Words of Compassion
Fighter Attack 7: Iron Bulwark
FEATS
Level 1: Armor Proficiency: Plate
Level 2: Resilient Focus
Level 4: Shield Proficiency: Heavy
Level 6: Weapon Expertise (Hammer)
ITEMS
Shield of Defiance Heavy Shield (heroic tier) x1
Dwarven Layered Plate Armor +2 x1
Amulet of Protection +2 x1
Adventurer's Kit
Flesh Seeker Warhammer +2 x1
====== End ======
yes it is a loose rules LA our rolls were approved because of the three man team and the armor was a quest reward from an adventure.
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4 months ago ::
Feb 09, 2013 - 5:14PM
#2
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So, a few things that I can see.
First, you don't need plate armor. It's a wast of a feat, IMO.
Second, you want the feat Dwarven Weapon Training. It'll give you proficiency with hammers (no qualification, just hammers, meaning all of them), and a +2 feat bous to damage. That means you want a craghammer or a mordenkrad.
You want your highest ability score to be in strength and second highest in wisdom. You can leave constitution alone.
You want to take the background Auspicious Birth or Born Under A Bad Sign. Then you can use your strength score for your HP.
Don't bother with a magic shield. You want Iron Armbands of Power.
Resilient Focus isn't necessary. You want Superior Will.
I would say wait for heavy shield proficiency until you're sure you have the room for it.
Also, read the handbooks to get an idea of what powers you should take (Hint: Rain of Blows).
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4 months ago ::
Feb 09, 2013 - 6:04PM
#3
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Date Joined:
Feb 20, 2012
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If he's using a hammer and doesn't have DEX, why would he take rain of blows? It's for high-DEX spear (or flail, or light blade) users.
Anyway, you're putting way too much into defense here. Focusing on defenses to this extent is a trap, because it encourages enemies to ignore you. At the very least, trade plate proficiency for Dwarven Weapon Training, as babcock suggested, and trade Unstoppable for Glowering Threat. Superior Will is also a must on all defenders in high heroic. Further, since you're going heavy on the defender side of things here, you want Come And Get It for your level 7 fighter attack.
More generally, the big question is what you hope to gain by hybridizing runepriest rather than being a pure-classed fighter? Answer that and we can give more specific tips.
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4 months ago ::
Feb 09, 2013 - 7:04PM
#4
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Date Joined:
Jan 27, 2009
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Also some more info about the rest of the party and LA( Lair Assault?).
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4 months ago ::
Feb 09, 2013 - 11:31PM
#5
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Date Joined:
Apr 27, 2010
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Meatshield? Dwarf Battlerager Fighter or Earthstrength Warden. Done.
RIP George! 4-21-11
RIP Abie! 1-2-13 Funny Forum Quotes
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 "You notice a large piece of mold clinging to your toothbrush. What do you do?"
 "I cast Fireball."
 "I run like hell!
The standard d4 is somewhat (SOMEWHAT) rounded on the top, the older models are even flat. The Lego is shaped in such a way that in an emergency, you can use one as a makeshift surgical knife.
My wife asked me if her pants made her look fat. What do you think I said?
Wife: Do these pants make me look fat?
RedSiegfried: I just killed a bunch of orc women and children.
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4 months ago ::
Feb 09, 2013 - 11:32PM
#6
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Date Joined:
Feb 26, 2011
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Both of which are horribly subpar.
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4 months ago ::
Feb 09, 2013 - 11:56PM
#7
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Switch out Wrathfull Hammer for Defiant Word. Though I do want to state that the idea of soaking damage is not a very good idea in 4e in general, and you may hog party healing resources in a Lair Assault style setting, since as I understand it, runs basically as one long encounter.
I would recommend starting starts of 17/10/13/8/15/10, ending you at level 7 for 20/12/13/8/16/10.
EDIT: upon rereading, I am assuming your stats were the result of some really lucky rolls? Not sure if Lair Assault allows anything that is not a standard array, based on 8/10/10/10/10/10 and 22 point buy.
Pick Wisdom based powers for the runepriest, for example as at-will Word of Exchange.
If you want to draw / keep your enemies attention, you should give them a reason to. For that, I would suggest at-will Threatening Rush, and level 2 utility Glowering Threat.
For U6, because of the special nature of Lair Assault, please read Rune of Meritorious Alacrity.
Further I want to echo much of the advice already given. Armbands of Iron Power, Dwarven Weapon Training, don't take plate proficiency, don't spend a feat on heavy shield.
As one of the feat slots that now opened up, I would take hybrid talent. Either for combat superiority, so that enemies adjacent are guaranteed not to go anywhere, or for Fighter Combat Talent, for a +1 to hit.
Total result is that you seem a lot less like a meatshield, and enemies have more of a reason to attack you. If you have impenetrable defenses, and no mark punishment, enemies will just leave you well alone, and target the rest of the party.
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4 months ago ::
Feb 10, 2013 - 12:34AM
#8
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Date Joined:
Apr 27, 2010
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Both of which are horribly subpar.
Since when? I've played both, and even a standard Dwarf Fighter as perfectly fine meatshields several times.
RIP George! 4-21-11
RIP Abie! 1-2-13 Funny Forum Quotes
Show
"You notice a large piece of mold clinging to your toothbrush. What do you do?"
"I cast Fireball."
"I run like hell!
The standard d4 is somewhat (SOMEWHAT) rounded on the top, the older models are even flat. The Lego is shaped in such a way that in an emergency, you can use one as a makeshift surgical knife.
My wife asked me if her pants made her look fat. What do you think I said?
Wife: Do these pants make me look fat?
RedSiegfried: I just killed a bunch of orc women and children.
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4 months ago ::
Feb 10, 2013 - 12:44AM
#9
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Date Joined:
Jun 19, 2004
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Both of which are horribly subpar.
Since when? I've played both, and even a standard Dwarf Fighter as perfectly fine meatshields several times.
I think what he is saying is sub-par as a defender in general not as a damage soaker. If your definition of "meatshield" is someone who takes a ton of damage and is still standing those are two of the better combinations. But I think the step of "Don't be a meatshield, but a useful defender instead" was automatically skipped in this instance.
Currently working on making a Dex based defender. Check it out hereSpoiler:
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Also, I've recently done an episode on "Refluffing". You can check that out here
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4 months ago ::
Feb 10, 2013 - 1:10AM
#10
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Both of which are horribly subpar.
Since when? I've played both, and even a standard Dwarf Fighter as perfectly fine meatshields several times.
Your anecdote is as meaningless as it was short.
Battlerager? Nerfed once and then Monsters getting buffed with MM3 basically killed that build's long-term viability. "Oh, you have 8 THP? That's half the damage a Brute deals per hit, and then another creature goes and pounds your low AC into the dirt"
Earthstrength Warden? Always sub-par, your prime feature makes enemies want to ignore you more than they already do, I guess it does fit "meat shield" but you're an ignorable meat shield.
Survivability is based on Damage taken per round which is based on times Hit per round which is based on incoming attacks per round and it all boils down to the Action Economy and the role you're trying to fill in the equation of "Damage+Control+Defenses". Defenders are reasonably high damage dealers that attempt to prevent enemies from attacking their allies, thus forcing enemies to contend with their higher defenses or waste their turn.
In Heroic: Swordmage (+Hybrids), standard Fighters (seriously, don't mess with flail and shield, it's just better), wildblood wardens (dwarf of course, still kinda weak), I'll even put Dragonborn Paladins here for their silly HP/Surges and Mass Marking with potentially relevant damage (13 autodamage with the right item/feat)
"Invokers are probably better round after round but Wizard dailies are devastating. Actually, devastating is too light a word. Wizard daily powers are soul crushing, encounter ending, havoc causing pieces of awesome." -AirPower25 Sear the Flesh, Purify the Soul; Harden the Heart, and Improve the Mind; Born of Blood, but Forged by Fire; The MECH warrior reaches perfection. My Guides
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