Hahaha I wondered when Malph and Stahl would get into optimization stuff.

Storyteller, you're right that optimal builds can be cookie cutter, but you should let me tell you about some of my favorite builds sometime- my tenure with 4e was all about coming up with optimal builds that were mechanically novel. Ignatz is not one of them, he's pretty much standard for a Barbarian mechanically, but his personality is pretty unique. Stahl has seen my Seeker|Ranged hybrid Controller build in action though, that one is my crown jewel as far as non-cookiecutter builds go.

As someone quoted in a game I am part off.
"The GM should allow for any character to shine, without penalizing how they build themselves. Obvious bad choices in game is one thing, but selecting one ability over another is not the same".

And I agree with this sentiment. There should be room for all - and I know Malph asked since I am certain he wants to help and nothing else.

I'm not worried about being penalized in some way. If I was forced to take certain options or randomly roll my abilities, I'd expect some leeway from the GM. But except for having to take an expertise feat (at least I think that's why I have that listed), I made all my own choices. Please don't adjust anything for me. If I feel I'd like something to change, I'll retrain my character when I level up. Or, if the character is bad enough, it will die and I'll make another one, and make different choices.

Edit:

I believe that, and I was sincere in my offer of a PM discussion.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:00, Fri 01 Sept 2017.

Sorry all for being in and out of late. I got lost and couldn't figure out what was going on even with the summaries... I also was having a hard time with Saskan as a character. He's far more strategic than I am but I think I'm going to make one minor adjustment and remember that I can do things other than give out Commanders Strike and then I should have a lot more fun!

In reply to Saskan (msg # 52):

One thing I dig about the warlord is that they have an inherent degree of strategic ability even if they player is a poor strategist. A huge amount of strategic ability is contained in their initiative bonus and action point benefits. The most strategic player couldn't bring those about no matter how hard they tried.

It does help that I innately throw bonuses around, but that was part of the problem for me actually. I didn't really feel like I was doing anything... Something I'll have to work on as we enter combat and when someone uses an AP.

Ignatz offered a great piece of advice a while back regarding coming up with a few ways to describe the actions of giving another an action. It's a strange thing. Perhaps I should start rolling for others when I grant them an attack, I would just need to know their to hit bonuses and damage...

Rolling for people is exactly what I did when I played a taclord. I recommend it!

In another game, sadly long deceased, there was a permathread in which people could put there MBA/RBA stats so that the Taclord could do exactly that.  Maybe something we should consider.

Also perhaps in our posts er should include an OOC line detailing Immediate etc actions and, in particular, interrupts?

We could also add it into the table our GM has created for our enemies (assuming we wanted to add ourselves into that mix :)

In reply to Saskan (msg # 57):

I'm all for you rolling on the Commanders Strikes.  Though I feel like I hit more with yours thank my own attack;)

Anyway, been home like 8 of he past 48 hours, of which 7.5 has been sleeping.  Another long day ahead.  I hope to at least read threads today and maybe get posts up Monday.

oh man, sounds like a very long weekend :(.

If anyone wants to PM me their To Hit and Damage bonuses, I'll be happy to make that work.

Question, here's the wording for Commander's Strike, could I potentially initiate a charge from Ignatz with this?

In reply to Saskan (msg # 59):

Longsword+4 (1d8 damage)

lol

Much as Warfryn would like to partake...he doesn't actually have a melee weapon!!

He can shoot raw arcane energy out of his hand!

Oh and no, unfortunately that doesn't work Saskan haha
This message was last edited by the player at 17:10, Sun 03 Sept 2017.

It would be awesome if it did, especially coupled with Inevitable Wave :)

If there is a power that acts as an MBA, it can be replaced.  I'm pretty sure as long as you target within range, you could have Ignatz charge in with his MBA at-will power to send hm running back.  It says an ally of your choice.  As long at that ally targets your target with an MBA, it works.

That was what I was thinking. Ignatz, do you have an at will charge?

Hahaha if that were possible, I would have been begging Saskan to do that for a long time now. The problem is that I can only use Howling Strike in place of a MBA if it's at the end of a charge, and the power doesn't say I can charge when I use it. If Saskan has a power that lets me charge (which he can get as encounter and daily powers at higher levels), then I could use it.

"Special: When charging, you can use this power in place of a melee basic attack. If you are raging, you can move 2 extra squares as part of the charge."

Oh shit I actually forgot about the extra movement when raging. That might come in handy, that pushes my charge from 8 squares to 10.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:48, Tue 05 Sept 2017.

Where can this be found ?

A variety of sources. I don't believe Rangers get any. Paladins have Virtuous Strike, Warlocks get Eldritch Strike, Druids get a couple that only work in wildshape.

In reply to Ignatz (msg # 68):

These look like complete lists to me.

http://dnd4.wikia.com/wiki/Melee_basic_attack
http://dnd4.wikia.com/wiki/Charge
http://dnd4.wikia.com/wiki/Ranged_basic_attack

Besides these, many monsters have melee or ranged basic attacks that do a bit more than just damage.

Speaking of:

Stahl:
Melee basic attack:
Battleaxe
+7 (+3 Strength, +2 proficiency, + 1 level, + 1 expertise) vs. AC
Hit: 1d10+3 damage. May reroll 1 die resulting in a 1.

Ranged basic attack:
Magic longbow +1
+7 (+3 Dexterity, +2 proficiency, +1 level, +1 enhancement) vs. AC
Hit: 1d10+4 damage.

Prinz:
Melee basic attack:
Bite
+6 vs. AC
Hit: 1d8+2 damage, (1d8+4 with combat advantage)

If Stahl's hunter's quarry damage hasn't been dealt yet in a turn, either he or Prinz can add it to their damage against Stahl's quarry.

Thanks guys.

Hey GM, do I need to keep the book around to evade costs forever or is Stahl's suggestion possible ? Naturally, after intense study during some down-time :D

I wasn't quite clear on what the deal is with the book. Is it that the book lets a ritual caster perform comprehend languages for zero component cost?

If the book amounts to an endless font of information for the party (by effectively translating everything they might come across), Stahl doesn't care if the townsfolk ever receive it.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:11, Tue 05 Sept 2017.

Ignatz's MBA with his +1 Carnage Gouge is +9 to hit (4 STR+2 prof+1 expertise+1 enhancement+1 level) and 2d6(brutal 1)+6. The brutal 1 means that if I get a 1 rolling damage, that single d6 gets rerolled until it's not a 1. The Carnage enchantment means that if any of my weapon damage dice show a 6, the damage roll gets an extra 2 damage- that does not stack if I get multiple 6s. Also if you're rolling my Attack and it's a potentially lethal turn against a key target, you can have me add another +1[W] as a free action if my racial Furious Assault power hasn't been used yet. That can be added after you see if you hit, and the extra 2d6 brutal 1 can also trigger the Carnage property if the original damage roll didn't.