Feat - White Lotus Hindrance for Swordmage

afata5 · 9th October 2009, 03:28 AM

I have a question regarding this. How come its a really good feat? If I am a swordmage (Sheilding), and I use this when someone is next to me. It treats the squares next to me as difficult terrain.

Why is this good for a swordmage? I have heard that it is supposed to make you more sticky but i don't see it... It may stop others from approaching, but i'm the defender, i *want* them to stick around

Any thoughts?

Al

keterys · 9th October 2009, 03:41 AM

It prevents them from shifting around you.

And the paragon version is extra effective.

Nifft · 9th October 2009, 03:52 AM

The Paragon version is brilliant, but even the Heroic version changes the battlefield when combined with Sword Burst + Arcane Admixture (Thunder) + Resounding Thunder (another Paragon feat).

Cheers, -- N

DracoSuave · 9th October 2009, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keterys

It prevents them from shifting around you.

This. Can't shift out means you'll OA them if they want to do much other than deal with you.

And -that- makes it amazing.

Nichwee · 9th October 2009, 11:26 AM

They can shift out. They can't shift in, or within (no shifting to reach a flanking position).
Difficult Terrain only costs extra movement to enter the square not leave it. So if they are adjacent they can shift away as they are in the DT and looking to leave it.

The Heroic version is more of a 'don't come near me' thing, as the OP suggests, so not uber for a Defender - the Paragon version is definately more Defender-like.

keterys · 9th October 2009, 03:42 PM

If you fight in confined areas or have allies behind you that you're blocking for, the heroic version still helps out a defender a lot.

For example, put a wall behind an enemy then have the swordmage turn all the other squares around that enemy into difficult terrain.

The paragon one is ridiculously good for a defender, though, especially when you can stack it with other abilities to do burst 2s and 3s at-will.

Nifft · 9th October 2009, 04:26 PM

The Heroic version is best with ranged powers (so the Swordmage is a bit left out here), but it's okay for preventing Shifting around him.

At Paragon tier, the Heroic version paired with Heavy Blade Opportunity gives the Swordmage a Fighter-ish ability to stop foes from walking around him.

For a Swordmage, I prefer White Lotus Riposte. It leaves a marked target with a bad choice: attack my allies and do low damage, or attack me and injure yourself.

Cheers, -- N

keterys · 9th October 2009, 04:34 PM

Yeah, it's really pretty rude in that way.

Diirk · 9th October 2009, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nifft

For a Swordmage, I prefer White Lotus Riposte. It leaves a marked target with a bad choice: attack my allies and do low damage, or attack me and injure yourself.

Cheers, -- N

Yeah, you need to be careful with that though, particularly if they have the capacity to make multiple attacks. Would the Hydra want to bite you 5x and take damage each time (hit or miss), or just turn and chomp on the warlock 5x having one of the hits reduced in damage?

Also you can't really attack things you don't have marked (with at-wills, anyway) unless you want them to say hi to the party rogue in an unpleasant way.

Obryn · 9th October 2009, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nifft

For a Swordmage, I prefer White Lotus Riposte. It leaves a marked target with a bad choice: attack my allies and do low damage, or attack me and injure yourself.

It is really rude, but I don't know if it's necessarily best for a Defender to discourage creatures from attacking him.

Then again, a Shielding Swordmage can lock down an enemy's damage so completely it might not matter over-much.

-O

afata5 · 15th October 2009, 04:58 PM

Wow...this is what happens when you set the wrong notification type. Sorry for the delay.

Ok, so now i understand the advantages and disadvantages to the feat. Its not bad...but the next level up one is definetively better.

I am if there is mabey something better that I can take instead?

I currently have:
White Lotus Reposte
Imp Ini
Armor prof Hide
Eladrin Soldier

I'm lvl 8 as of now, Eladrin sheilding SM.

Any suggestions or do you think that White lotus Hinderance is best fit here?

Thanks,
Al

talarei07 · 15th October 2009, 06:25 PM

not for white lotus but do you have the abilities to take chain prof? if so you should consider it instead of hide and get a hold of eladrin chain mail

afata5 · 15th October 2009, 06:43 PM

But then I would lose my SwordMage ability...i thought that at least in heroic path it was best to stay with Hide or better leather..?

Klaus · 16th October 2009, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by talarei07

not for white lotus but do you have the abilities to take chain prof? if so you should consider it instead of hide and get a hold of eladrin chain mail

His primary stat is an AC-boosting one, so going for chainmail really hurts him there.

Eladrin Soldier is really wasted on you, as you already have proficiency in the longsword. You'd be better off taking Focused Expertise (longsword). For a swordmage accuracy is better than damage.

You could also look into multiclassing into Wizard (same primary stat) for some area/ranged attacks. Trading any Swordmage 2 utilities for Shield is a bargain.

Destil · 16th October 2009, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klaus

You could also look into multiclassing into Wizard (same primary stat) for some area/ranged attacks. Trading any Swordmage 2 utilities for Shield is a bargain.

Or pick up a Farbond Spellblade and take some Artificer feats. Nice synergy with both Int and Con (if you're shielding) and some solid options for melee/ranged weapon attacks.