Martial Controller: Auxiliary (Version 0.11) -Updated Preview Character (Aug. 9th)

Important Note: The name of the class has changed from Skirmisher to Harrier to Auxiliary! I think this is the best name available that fits the concept of the class without stepping on the toes of an already defined term (i.e. the Skirmisher is monster role; Harrier is a racial trait of a hyena)

I have also added the following Design Goals for the Auxiliary so you can see what my approach currently is. Some of these design goals might change as more of the rules become available, but this is what I'm leaning toward at the moment.

Design Goals for the Auxiliary:
1) Create a Martial Controller
2) A Auxiliary Should be Able to:
3) Powers should be:

If you have comments, suggestions, etc... for the Auxiliary class, then feel free to post them to this thread.

I have uploaded a preview character of my martial controller Auxiliary class (Version 0.11/levels 1-30) to this first post for easier access. Furture updates and previews of the Auxiliary class will be found in this first post. I will be posting the design changes in future posts, but this one will be specifically set aside for Auxiliary class related downloads.

You are welcome to playtest the preview character while running through the Keep on the Shadowfell or other homebrew adventures. If you have any feedback based off of your experiences with the class, then please feel free to post them to this thread for further discussion or send it to me directly via email.

However, I will only be releasing the full details on the class through an NDA since I plan on publishing it via 3PP or D&DI. If you are interested in the full 1st to 3rd level class features and powers, then feel free to email me and I'll send you the NDA. Once its returned, either electronically or via snail mail I'll send the most current design your way.

Good Gaming,
Joseph

The Preview Character has been viewed 439 times!

Well I'm almost ready to unveil my martial controller class (levels 1-3)... and I'd love to have a few groups to playtest it while running through the Keep on the Shadowfell.

I am planning on posting one preview character for use with the Keep on the Shadowfell adventure before May 20th.

However I will only be releasing the full details on the class through an NDA since I plan on publishing it via 3PP or D&DI.

If you are interested in the preview character, then just keep your eyes peeled on this thread.

If you are interested in the full 1st to 3rd level class features and powers, then feel free to email me and I'll send you the NDA. Once its returned, either electronically or via snail mail I'll send the most current design your way.

I've uploaded a preview of the Skirmisher (levels 1-3) for use in your prerelease adventures (such as Keep on the Shadowfell). I would appreciate any feedback you might be willing to give regarding this martial controller class concept, the preview character in particular, and especially how it plays in your home games. This preview character needs to be playtested in order to see how effective it is at being a controller versus a wizard.

If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, etc... then please feel free to send them my way.

If the preview perks your interest in seeing how the class is designed (with complete 1st-3rd level powers), then email me and I'll get the NDA to you ASAP.

I hope you all enjoy the preview and I look forward to your comments.

Important Note: Moved updated preview character to first post for easy access. All future updates will be placed in 1st post.

The character looks fine; but shouldn't the 3rd level ability be an encounter power? The information we have is daily powers don't go up until 5. It's technical, but if you're looking to make it real, it's important .

GL, I'll try to include one in my playtests.

malcolm_n said:

The character looks fine; but shouldn't the 3rd level ability be an encounter power? The information we have is daily powers don't go up until 5. It's technical, but if you're looking to make it real, it's important .

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Nice catch... I of course choose the only Attack 3 in my document that said daily instead of encounter.

malcolm_n said:

GL, I'll try to include one in my playtests.

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Thanks a bunch! I'll keep my eyes out for feedback

Hi Joseph!
Nice work on the skirmisher class. I'd like to see the rest of the class (e-mail me at aaronil [at] yahoo [dot] com with NDA) but from reading the preview here are my thoughts...

This class captures the feel of a trick archer/peltast/slinger very well, and could also work for a ninja or musketeer. I wonder if it steps on the ranger's toes? Also, even though this is a martial class, it's going to get it's butt kicked in melee (unless 4e has different rules about using ranged weapons in melee), so it'll need protection like the wizard.

The class features are great! I especially like Overwatch, though I wonder if the feature which augments it by +2 squares is necessary?

The powers make sense for the concept and seem well balanced. I especially like Coralling Volley - powers which use masses of minions against each other should fill a healthy amount of the class' power options. I was surprised not to see more powers interacting with Opportunity Attack rules, but I'm only looking at the preview.

All in all, good job!

This is shaping up to be a really neat concept. I'm not quite as sure of it fitting the role of a controller though, it looks like a solid striker/controller hybrid. If you really want a stronger controller aspect put more focus into area effects and action manipulation, especially for the at-will powers.

Glancing volley and the piercing power aren't too bad, as it does effect more than one target, but the others are very much striker abilities. Instead of a power to slow one target, how about shooting a few arrows to push a burst of targets one square, or delivering a demoralizing attack that gives a penalty to the targets nearby allies next round? Or build off of you overseer concept, and prevent certain motions or actions of a area of targets by virtue of getting an arrow in the face if they do.

Quickleaf said:

Nice work on the skirmisher class. I'd like to see the rest of the class (e-mail me at aaronil [at] yahoo [dot] com with NDA)

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The NDA has been sent.

Quickleaf said:

This class captures the feel of a trick archer/peltast/slinger very well, and could also work for a ninja or musketeer. I wonder if it steps on the ranger's toes? Also, even though this is a martial class, it's going to get it's butt kicked in melee (unless 4e has different rules about using ranged weapons in melee), so it'll need protection like the wizard.

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Thanks the trick archerer/peltast/slinger, etc... is definately the theme I'm going with.

As for stepping on the toes of the ranger, I don't think it does because it focuses on doing less damage to more creatures (controller), whereas the ranger deals more damage to single creatures (striker). It is also not meant to be in melee, just like a wizard. It's utilities are designed to protect the skirmisher or allow him to use ranged weapons in melee.

Quickleaf said:

The class features are great! I especially like Overwatch, though I wonder if the feature which augments it by +2 squares is necessary?

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The +2 squares are for being an attentive skirmisher and is the Wisdom build for the class. The other build is adaptive skirmisher and is based on Intelligence.

Quickleaf said:

The powers make sense for the concept and seem well balanced. I especially like Coralling Volley - powers which use masses of minions against each other should fill a healthy amount of the class' power options. I was surprised not to see more powers interacting with Opportunity Attack rules, but I'm only looking at the preview.

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Yeah, I'm thinking of adding in some more opportunity attack options, but being limited to 4 or 5 powers at each power level makes it difficult to fit every concept in. I'm trying to keep the class with about as many options as the classes in the PHB. Although I might include a few extra powers each level beyond the norm considering that this will probably come out in October and the Martial book from WotC might add some additional powers for each level.

Quickleaf said:

All in all, good job!

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Thanks... I look forward to your feedback

Exen Trik said:

This is shaping up to be a really neat concept. I'm not quite as sure of it fitting the role of a controller though, it looks like a solid striker/controller hybrid. If you really want a stronger controller aspect put more focus into area effects and action manipulation, especially for the at-will powers.

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I think its about on par with the striker ability of a wizard (which also has some single target at-will spells), but I agree that most of its encounter/daily powers need to affect multiple creatures (or a single creature for at least a couple of rounds). You will probably notice that its encounter and daily powers deal a die less damage than a striker because it is affecting multiple targets. This is because from what I can tell the wizard class trades off a die of damage to get his area of effect powers. So controllers in general should have a similar loss of a damage die when affecting multiple targets.

Exen Trik said:

Glancing volley and the piercing power aren't too bad, as it does effect more than one target, but the others are very much striker abilities. Instead of a power to slow one target, how about shooting a few arrows to push a burst of targets one square, or delivering a demoralizing attack that gives a penalty to the targets nearby allies next round? Or build off of you overseer concept, and prevent certain motions or actions of a area of targets by virtue of getting an arrow in the face if they do.

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Other then the at-will Slowing and Retreating Volley powers all the other powers target multiple creatures... I choose to limit the at-wills to single targets because most of the wizard's at-will spells we know of target a single target. I do have a snap shot at-will power for the skirmisher that allows for an extra attack, but I really would need to see how the ranger's two-weapon at-will attack works as it would be a good point of reference for the power's balance.

I am considering building some overwatch based powers, but I want to get the base of the class down first before I get too clever with the design

Thanks to everyone for the feedback... I'm working on version 0.02 and should be releasing an updated preview character in the next day or so. If you have any feedback for the class, then please feel free to post it here and I'll look it over and work it in ASAP.

PS: How many of you would be interested in a second skirmisher character with the adaptive skirmisher build option? I'm considering working one up, but I would want to know both characters would get used in some playtesting.