Sell Me On a Level 23 Character

[Sunseeker]

At 23rd+ level, there's not much you can go wrong with. If you're looking to make your choices less daunting, start with the basics:

Complicated or simple?
Melee or ranged?
Defense, support/control, or damage?
Utility or focus?

These three choices will narrow you down to a fairly short list of 4e classes. If you were to say: Simple, Melee, Defense, Focused; then I'd say: Knight. It's a good solid class that while lacking the tricks of some other defenders, it excels at it's singular job: defense.

Or maybe you would say: Complicated, Support/Control, Ranged, Utility; then I'd probably suggest Psion.

But really I think if you can identify those 4 aspects for yourself, you'll narrow your list down to 3-4 classes and 2-3 varaints of them, which if they interest you, you can then ask us more specific questions about how to make X or Y class more awesome.

 

[keterys]

I'd really advise against psionic classes at Epic.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I'd really advise against psionic classes at Epic.

You mean power-point using psionics, right?

Yeah, they seem rather ... complicated. Too many powers and options to consider each turn. I prefer something simpler. Not Knight/Essentials simple, but...

 

[Abraxas]

For simple, but tactical, I like my Human Brutal Rogue/Daggermaster/Prison of the Winds. With high Dex, a Graceful Dagger, a Wraith blade dagger, a War Ring and the right selection of feats and powers you can really leverage the sneak attack damage and lay on debilitating conditions to your targets.

 

[keterys]

You mean power-point using psionics, right?

Yeah, they seem rather ... complicated. Too many powers and options to consider each turn. I prefer something simpler. Not Knight/Essentials simple, but...

I do mean power-point using psionics, yes. And not for the reason you think.

Psion PCs become one-trick ponies who do the same augmented power round over round for some ridiculousness (4 attacks on one target, -10 to attacks for all enemies in a burst 1, etc) and it's boring, and the other options aren't much better.

And at Epic you can just have a lot more fun with a PC that either has encounter powers, or doesn't get to that boring point in a complex and broken way, by just being an essentials PC (Elementalist or Thief, for example).

 

[sabrinathecat]

Dwarf weapon&shield fighter. Take the feats where if you push, the target is then slowed, and the epic one where slowed targets are instead dazed. Make your opportunity and fighter challenge attacks push. And take "Tide of Iron" for one of your at-wills. that means your fighter challenge, opportunity attacks, and several of your encounter powers, as well as an at-will, all daze when you hit. High-con is good too. In fact, I build my version as Con primary, STR secondary. Sure, there are holes in his defenses, but he is also a deadly juggernaut with melee, and a zone of crippling control. Oh, Craighammer.

 

[Unwise]

I was playing a game where I was running multiple level 24+ characters. I had to make them as simple as possible.

I found that a Knight was a pretty great option, I ended up with 9 damage reduction on all the time. It made minions cry. Their downside is that they need to be made with some way of ignoring pushes. Also with their aura it is a bit hard to keep more than 1-2 large creatures in it.

I made up a Hunter who was a good striker, but not a great controller. They can multiclass to Seeker and get +Dex to all their damage rolls via Primal Eye feat. As a human they can get twin-strike, but as a half-elf they can get a seeker power, like the one that gives -2 to hit as a basic attack. This lets them get that bonus on top of their normal controlling. Their downside is that they just don't compete with what a wizard can do as a controller at high levels. They are great at low level, ok at mid level, but once other controllers are pulling out stuns and dominates and they are stuck with the same heroic teir controls, they become less appealing.

The essentials Thief, Scout and Slayer are all very straight-forward and do very nice damage. I think that you are better of using a simpler class and not forgetting to use half of your abilities than having an overly complex one that is potentially more powerful. I played a Thief at level 24 and it was very easy as I pretty much always had CA from a lot of different ways to get it. An Eladrin dex-based slayer with Swordmage Advance, Gouge, Fey Charger and Surprising Charge is just brutal, Shadow Dancer PP gives CA when you teleport (every charge until you miss) and you get +W when you do.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Psion PCs become one-trick ponies who do the same augmented power round over round for some ridiculousness (4 attacks on one target, -10 to attacks for all enemies in a burst 1, etc) and it's boring, and the other options aren't much better.

Hm.

Personally, I don't mind limited options if my options are all good. I rather enjoyed rooting opponents to certain areas with some powers, while other powers let me Summon allies or duplicates of myself in some way. 3 basic options- all handy.

 

[Herschel]

Windsoul Genasi Resourceful or Tactical Warlord with a bow (or crossbow). Fly atop something and shout orders, watching every ally charge/attack an enemy on your turn while alternately shooting it and buffing your allies.

 

[the Jester]

I'm a dm, not a player.

I ran one 4e group to mid-high paragon level (about 16-18) and then moved. My next (and current) group just hit epic last weekend. I have found that generally, in 4e, as long as you have reasonably optimal stats, you are going to be at least adequate in your role.

A couple of especially effective pcs that I've seen:

-An Essentials Mage (enchantment specialist). Excellent control, though less effective against a single foe than in a target-rich environment.
-A pixie vampire. Yes, really- and the pc in question is looking at Prince of Hell for her epic destiny, so a pixie vampire devil.
-A fighter with the dreadnaught paragon path. The ability to negate, say, dazed (save ends) for 10 damage (or ongoing 10 damage!) is awesome, and the fighter is tremendous in 4e.
-A warden. Holy crap is the warden durable. The "one save at start of turn" ability is amazing. Personally, I'd go dwarf.
-An elven ranger focused on archery. Twin Strike ftw.