D&D 4E 4e Duskblade

[Deodanth]

Let me clarify. I am planning (and still intend to do this with my Duskblade variant) to pretty much rip off a bunch of Desert Wind maneuvers and make them into 4e duskblade powers, just as has been done for the other classes using Devoted Spirit, Iron Heart, Diamond Mind, Tiger Claw, and White Raven maneuvers.

The result might resemble Warlock mechanically, being that both are arcane strikers, but not in flavor. A Duskblade does not make pacts, nor does she need to. My Duskblade would not use implements, only weapons, and most of her powers would depend on having a weapon in hand.

Your suggestion of feat providing "competence" in a chosen damage type has merit, only I might make multiple feats, as well as a class feature. The damage buff would be proportional, like +1 per die of the key damage type rather than a single extra die. Other possible key-damage buffs include bonus to hit, extra crit, and (at higher tiers perhaps) higher DC for saving throws.

 

[Kinie]

Let me clarify. I am planning (and still intend to do this with my Duskblade variant) to pretty much rip off a bunch of Desert Wind maneuvers and make them into 4e duskblade powers, just as has been done for the other classes using Devoted Spirit, Iron Heart, Diamond Mind, Tiger Claw, and White Raven maneuvers.

The result might resemble Warlock mechanically, being that both are arcane strikers, but not in flavor. A Duskblade does not make pacts, nor does she need to. My Duskblade would not use implements, only weapons, and most of her powers would depend on having a weapon in hand.

Your suggestion of feat providing "competence" in a chosen damage type has merit, only I might make multiple feats, as well as a class feature. The damage buff would be proportional, like +1 per die of the key damage type rather than a single extra die. Other possible key-damage buffs include bonus to hit, extra crit, and (at higher tiers perhaps) higher DC for saving throws.

OK, I think I see what you're trying to do now. Just be careful as to when you go to convert the Tome of Battle descriptions into a 4e setting. I've learned that wording in these types of things can make a HUGE impact upon the potential strength - or weakness - of a class feature.

If you were going to take my idea of the feat and convert it to a class feature, be sure to list a clear difference in terms of what each one would benefit to the Duskblade. Perhaps have each damage type (fire, cold, acid, etc.) provide a specific effect along with a +1 damage roll. Assuming you do something like that, perhaps have them look something like this:

Fire: the target is marked until the end of your next turn.
Cold: the target is slowed until the end of your next turn.
Acid: -2 to target's AC until the end of your next turn.
Force: You can push the target 1 square.
Thunder: The target is stunned until the end of your next turn.
Lightning: The target is knocked prone until the end of your next turn.
Radiant: -2 to target's attack roll until the end of your next turn.

And if they wanted to change their focus from one type onto another, they have to rest for 6 hours then wake up and decide what to focus on for the day, similar as to what the Wizard has to decide what spells he can cast for the day.

Have any feats they can learn that may work off the above description I gave you for the arcane types try and focus upon either strengthening their effects or adding more damage, either through an extra crit dice or some sort of ongoing damage (save ends).

 

[Kinie]

Just giving this a bump so others can see this.

 

[Klaus]

He explains why in the first paragraph of his post; did you not get that far?

No, he doesn't explain it in the first paragraph. Did YOU make it that far?


The Duskblade works perfectly as a Fighter with the Wizard multiclass feats. For arcane training take Scorching Burst (rminiscent of the old Kelgore's Fiery Bolt) and for the later feats get more damaging spells. As your Paragon Path choose Wizard of the Spiral Tower and you're good to go. The "spell" selection will still be very limited, but you back that up with good old-fashioned fighting prowess.

The "store spell" ability is easily mimicked by describing the Fighter's attacks in a flashy way.

 

[Kinie]

The Duskblade works perfectly as a Fighter with the Wizard multiclass feats. For arcane training take Scorching Burst (rminiscent of the old Kelgore's Fiery Bolt) and for the later feats get more damaging spells. As your Paragon Path choose Wizard of the Spiral Tower and you're good to go. The "spell" selection will still be very limited, but you back that up with good old-fashioned fighting prowess.

The "store spell" ability is easily mimicked by describing the Fighter's attacks in a flashy way.

But then you need to have a DM who will allow you to do the Duskblade-type thing of the "store spell" to do all that flashy extra damage. With this all you need to do is ask the DM if you can play as this, because its all written up and you don't need to do any extra story-telling or flashy stuff; the flash is built into the class.

 

[Klaus]

But then you need to have a DM who will allow you to do the Duskblade-type thing of the "store spell" to do all that flashy extra damage. With this all you need to do is ask the DM if you can play as this, because its all written up and you don't need to do any extra story-telling or flashy stuff; the flash is built into the class.

You misunderstand me. When I say "descrine it in a flashy way", I mean something like saying that "Steel Serpent Strike" slows the target not because you attacked its leg, but because your weapon was enveloped in shadow energy, or that when you use "Sweeping Blow" (a burst 1 effect), you actually let go of your weapon and it flies a circle around you attacking your enemies.

No additional effect, just special FX.

 

[Kinie]

You misunderstand me. When I say "descrine it in a flashy way", I mean something like saying that "Steel Serpent Strike" slows the target not because you attacked its leg, but because your weapon was enveloped in shadow energy, or that when you use "Sweeping Blow" (a burst 1 effect), you actually let go of your weapon and it flies a circle around you attacking your enemies.

No additional effect, just special FX.

Ahh. But other than maybe some extra bonus exp., that's not gonna do you much good.

Like I said, this class is meant for those who want to use both blades and spells, like you could with the Duskblade in 3.5, without having to multiclass as a Fighter into Wizard.

Now, is there any way you can see improvements made to this class to make it not just look like a combination of Fighter and Wizard?

 

[generalhenry]

The Duskblade works perfectly as a Fighter with the Wizard multiclass feats.

yep. The 3E duskblade existed because 3E fighter/wizard multiclassing didn't work at low level.

In 4E there's no real need for it.

 

[Klaus]

Ahh. But other than maybe some extra bonus exp., that's not gonna do you much good.

Like I said, this class is meant for those who want to use both blades and spells, like you could with the Duskblade in 3.5, without having to multiclass as a Fighter into Wizard.

Now, is there any way you can see improvements made to this class to make it not just look like a combination of Fighter and Wizard?

If it's meant as a striker, it needs something on par with Hunter's Quarry (ranger), Sneak Attack (rogue) or Warlock's Curse (warlock), i.e., something to increase the damage of an opponent.

Something like this:

Arcane Slash
If you hit an opponent with your melee weapon and then hit him with an arcane spell before the end of your next turn, you deal extra damage (+1d6 per tier).

This takes care of the "spell + weapon" aspect of the 3.5e Duskblade.

 

[Baumi]

I haven't read the powers yet, but just two small points:

-) the Hit Points should be 12+Con like every other striker
-) you should have at least 3 Skills to choose (and in my opinion not automatically athletic, since not even the fighter, rogue or ranger has that)