D&D 4E Are 4E Paladins and Clerics MAD?

[Fiendish Dire Weasel]

Looking at 4E sample characters, we see classes seemingly being able to survive only on one stat really to do their jobs (Wizards:Int, Warlocks:Cha, maybe Rangersex) and can get by with little to no bonuses in their other stats. Most other classes need 2 stats (some with an option for the second) (Fighter:Str+Con, Rogueex+Str/Cha, Warlord:Str+Int/Cha). It appears though, that Paladins (and melee Clerics) seem to require 3 stats.

It is hard to be certain due to the sample Paladin haveing a 16 Wis and Cha, but will a Paladin need Str/Wis/Cha? I believe it has been shown that Cleric Powers are based on Charisma and Wisdom, so if you want to melee will you need all 3?

Or perhaps I should have faith that the design of the Paladin and Cleric will work like we see the Rogue and Warlock: Where there is a stat for each, and an option between two for the second stat.

For example: Maybe Paladin is Strength + either Charisma (offense focus?) or Wisdom (defense focus?) and Cleric is Wisdom + either Strength (melee focus?) or Charisma (casting focus?)

Just somthing I was thinking over after finally being able to play in a demo this weekend (as a paladin).

 

[Mal Malenkirk]

We already know that the warlord benefit from both INT and CHA for his powers but that in practice you can focus on one. It simply make a handful of powers poor choice if the keyed attribute is low but you just select something else.

I expect it's the same thing for the cleric and paladin.

 

[Scholar & Brutalman]

I think everyone will want to have three good stats to cover the three defences; the problem classes will be those where two of the class's preferred stats cover the same defence. Like Wisdom and Charisma for Paladins and Clerics.

The Multiclass preview from last week might be telling us something about the classes. These are the prerequisiutes for the multiclass feats

Cleric Wis 13
Fighter Str 13
Paladin Str 13, Cha 13
Ranger Str 13 or Dex 13
Thief Dex 13
Warlock Cha 13
Warlord Str 13
Wizard Int 13

Only the Paladin has to have two stats. My guess is the Ranger can be built with different primary stats: Str for TWF or Dex for bow.

 

[Stalker0]

All paladin powers we've seen work on charisma, so paladin's don't need good strength. They would probably go for con for more healing surges, and rely on charisma for damage.

 

[Darth Cyric]

All paladin powers we've seen work on charisma, so paladin's don't need good strength. They would probably go for con for more healing surges, and rely on charisma for damage.

Holy Strike seemed to rely on Strength, actually.

 

[small pumpkin man]

All paladin powers we've seen work on charisma, so paladin's don't need good strength. They would probably go for con for more healing surges, and rely on charisma for damage.

There is a str based Paladin at will that we've seen, although it does add chr/wis damage on top if you've marked the target.

-edit Damn Ninjas

 

[keterys]

And many paladin powers use wisdom - the pregen character just has equal amounts of wisdom and charisma, so you can't tell from his powers.

 

[MindWanderer]

The pattern so far is that each class has one primary stat and two secondary stats; you might be able to go with only one secondary stat depending on which build option you go with.

- Some of these we know (Warlord is Str primary, Int and/or Cha secondary; Rogue is Dex primary, Str and/or Cha secondary).
- Some we have enough to make educated guesses (Ranger is Dex and/or Str primary [archery or 2WF], Wis secondary; Paladin is Cha primary, Str and/or Wis secondary).
- Some we can make vague guesses about (Fighter seems to be Str primary, Con and/or Wis secondary, based on the very first preview article; Cleric seems to be Wis primary, Str and/or Cha secondary)
- Some we really have no idea (Wizard is Int primary and Wis, maybe Dex secondary? Warlock...?)

MAD will depend on your power selection, in some cases your feat selection (especially multiclassing), your paragon path, and potentially your race (e.g. the Dragonborn's breath weapon).

 

[Dark080matter]

Looking at 4E sample characters, we see classes seemingly being able to survive only on one stat really to do their jobs (Wizards:Int, Warlocks:Cha, maybe Rangersex) and can get by with little to no bonuses in their other stats. Most other classes need 2 stats (some with an option for the second) (Fighter:Str+Con, Rogueex+Str/Cha, Warlord:Str+Int/Cha). It appears though, that Paladins (and melee Clerics) seem to require 3 stats....<snip>

Rangers and Rogues are, indeed the ex.

 

[AtomicPope]

I don't see how this would be different from any other classes that really want to mix it up. It's pretty much been that way for a long time. Fortunately unlike previous editions, we can build characters from the ground up and choose the one or two stats they'll need to be effective throughout their existance.

In 4e Paladins really have it easy. In all previous editions a Paladin needed good stats in everything but Int and a Phenomenal Charisma. That's 4 good stats, one uber stat, and only one dump stat. Furthermore, in all other editions everyone needed to have at least a 10 Constitution. In 3e it was suicidal to have less than a 12 Con for an adventurer, regardless of class. Now that's not the case. Fourth Edition has limited the stat requirement as an Absolute necessity more than ever.

If you investigate the At Will powers it will tell you how the class is designed. They typically give only two stats for their attack base. From the PHB Lite it seems that Clerics only need Wis, and Str is a "woundn't it be nice" stat. Paladins really only need Cha, since that's the focus for their powers, but Str would be nice. That's a far cry from 3e where everyone needed Str in HtH, Dex at Range, and Con to survive.