Scourge - Shadow Defender

[Szatany]

My first stab at a class. I will be making updates to this class slowly and it is obviously unfinished. If you want to add anything, please feel free to do so.

Here's the scourge:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcx3dp8f_089jqfgt

 

[ryryguy]

So, no marking? That seems like a defender must-have. (Though personally I'm finding it difficult to come up with new and interesting marking mechanics.)

Life Trap sort of seems like a marking feature without marking. I'm not sure how it would work out in play. The damage is pretty low compared to the paladin's Divine Challenge. I guess it potentially affects multiple enemies at once without any marking... but how well will it actually prevent the enemies from attacking your buddies? I'm just not sure. The -2 to hit from marking is not insignificant.

Fatal Wound's add on "target cannot regain Hit Points until the beginning of your next turn" - this would probably be overpowered if you were fighting other players, but monsters don't actually regain hit points very often, so I'm not sure. I guess it would completely shut down regeneration, which is fairly strong.

 

[ryryguy]

Also, regarding Heartbleed - should a Defender have a ranged at-will? Sure it's only got a range of 2, but it still seems strange. Since it would provoke opportunity attacks, it seems like it would be pretty difficult to use if you're on the front lines.

 

[Szatany]

About marking - I definitely don't want it with Scourge because I dislike the idea that defender must have a marking ability. Surely there are other ways to fulfil that role and Life Trap is an attempt at one.

Also, regarding Heartbleed - should a Defender have a ranged at-will? Sure it's only got a range of 2, but it still seems strange. Since it would provoke opportunity attacks, it seems like it would be pretty difficult to use if you're on the front lines.

It's not yet put in the text, but Scourge will be a Defender with controller twist, same way paladin is a defender with a leader twist. Some shrouds are like fighter's attacks, others are like spells.
Maybe give Scourge a class ability that helps against AAOs caused by shrouds?

 

[generalhenry]

I agree marking is a defender trait, but I don't think all defenders need it.

So long as they have ways of defending the rest of the party

 

[generalhenry]

Maybe give Scourge a class ability that helps against AAOs caused by shrouds?

One target in a close burst 2

same target, same range, no OA

 

[Szatany]

Changed to burst, added encounter 1 power.

 

[generalhenry]

Paladin powers are called shrouds.

One note. Since str is a dump stat for them, their OAs will suck.

 

[Szatany]

Maybe a class ability to add X damage with OAs?

Anyway, added a 2nd level utility power, Boneblade.

 

[Terwox]

Life trap is a melee minion destroyer. A DM against a party with a scourge would not be able to use many minions, as well as many pre-statted encounters in the book.

However, if you don't have a wizard, this would be fine probably.

You've also got an at-will weapon-based power that gains bonuses from weapon proficiency that does 1W+Shift 1 and also targets the will defense -- this is fairly OP. Having weapon powers target non-AC is problematic.

EDIT: Boneblade is awesome. -4 penalties from powers such as in Darklight are also non-common, -2 is more typical.