FR Preview-Sword Mage and Genasi

[Rechan]

Is there anything requiring the Swordmage to use a Sword?

Also, as to the potential that the "Swordmage makes a better Defender", I don't think so. The Fighter is best at dishing out the damage, and being very fighter-y. A monster runs from a Fighter, it's going to get Hurt. A monster runs from a Swordmage, and the swordmage says 'Uh uh, next round you're coming Right back here, pal.' Swordmages look best at: Defending Friends by Moving Enemies and Friends around the battlefield. They're very 'Controllery Defenders'.

I suspect that the Assault Swordmage is going to focus on close blast powers.

Dragonborn, with their breath weapon damage depending on Con, and with their +2 Str, are going to make good Assault Swordmages.

 

[Zsig]

But what if you have Aegis of Assault; does it just mean that you can teleport the enemy into any of your 8 adjacent squares?


Reach means you can hit someone two squares away, and move them around, rather than having to be adjacent.

Ahh, I see what you're talking about now.

Yeah, it works that way. (Short answer: Yes, any square adjacent. And yes, it's good with a reach weapon)

Though, it's still alot better if you have Aegis of Shielding, and in that case, reach won't make any difference.

I got a question about that spell though.

If I hit (and I have Aegis of Shielding on the target), does my ally get any damage, or is the attack canceled (since it's an interrupt)? Or since the Aegis responds to someone who's already been hit, it just reduces the damage, regardless of whther Transposing Lunge hit or not?

Am I making myself clear?

Is there anything requiring the Swordmage to use a Sword?

Except for the Warding and his implement, I don't think so. (also, note that he's not really proficient with any good military weapons aside from blades)

They're very 'Controllery Defenders'.

That's exactly how it felt when I played that dwarf on a local event. While the paladins are more "Leaderish Defenders".

 

[Rechan]

If I hit (and I have Aegis of Shielding on the target), does my ally get any damage, or is the attack canceled (since it's an interrupt)? Or since the Aegis responds to someone who's already been hit, it just reduces the damage, regardless of whther Transposing Lunge hit or not?

Am I making myself clear?

The only thing that would suggest that Transposing Lunge could stop the attack is the fact that it's an interrupt, instead of a reaction. However, I think that if it stopped the attack all together, then the power would say as much.

That's what I think. It's entirely possible that's the implication but it's not spelled out.

 

[Falling Icicle]

The Drow stats confuse me. In previous editions females favored the cleric class while males favored the wizard class, but the 4e drow isn't good at either class.

 

[Zsig]

The only thing that would suggest that Transposing Lunge could stop the attack is the fact that it's an interrupt, instead of a reaction. However, I think that if it stopped the attack all together, then the power would say as much.

That's what I think. It's entirely possible that's the implication but it's not spelled out.

Hum, I went ahead and looked out for some similar powers on the PHB, and I'm almost sure it does indeed prevent the attack altogether.

Look at Evade the Blow (ranger utility 16).
It also kicks in after the enemy has hit with the attack, and because you shift as an interrupt, target's hit is canceled. (Even though the descriptive text is irrelevant, I believe in this case it helps understanding it)

I think it's pretty much the same case we're seeing here.

• Enemy hits ally
• Interrupt kicks in (along with Transposing Lunge)
• I roll the attack
• On a hit, target is teleported, and thus have no range to ally, cancelling foe's attack
• On a miss, target is still close (provided he was in melee) to my ally, his attack proceeds
• Aegis reduces foe's damage. (Now irrelevant if Transposing Lunge was a hit)

 

[Fedifensor]

Except for the Warding and his implement, I don't think so. (also, note that he's not really proficient with any good military weapons aside from blades)

Note that a glaive is a 'heavy blade'...

 

[small pumpkin man]

The Drow stats confuse me. In previous editions females favored the cleric class while males favored the wizard class, but the 4e drow isn't good at either class.

I find their similarity to Halflings hilarious. Same stats, bonus to stealth, cloud of darkness seems similar in effect to the halfling bonuses. Oh, and both are going to be running around with dual scimitars.

 

[Branduil]

Greenflame Blade is overpowered. It's a super-cleave.

 

[WhatGravitas]

Also, as to the potential that the "Swordmage makes a better Defender", I don't think so. The Fighter is best at dishing out the damage, and being very fighter-y. A monster runs from a Fighter, it's going to get Hurt.

Also: The fighter has an easier time marking his opponents - he only has to attack them. With his encounter powers, a fighter can easily mark all enemies in reach, with a ranged weapon he can mark from range... and once you get close to a fighter, you simply need teleport or get hurt - a lot.

I only have the feel that the dailies and perhaps utilities of a fighter don't shine that much on first/second level.

Greenflame Blade is overpowered. It's a super-cleave.

When I read that, I thought so as well... but then: How often do you get so many minions in such a small region that it's really better than cleave? And if they're so packed... why aren't they roasted by your wizard's Scorching Burst already? Otherwise, cleave will to more damage on straight-up monsters.

It looks strong, but I won't cry overpowered... yet. But Sword Burst... that's very, very good. I so want that for my fighter! Marking power like crazy!

Cheers, LT.

 

[Branduil]

When I read that, I thought so as well... but then: How often do you get so many minions in such a small region that it's really better than cleave? And if they're so packed... why aren't they roasted by your wizard's Scorching Burst already? Otherwise, cleave will to more damage on straight-up monsters.

It looks strong, but I won't cry overpowered... yet. But Sword Burst... that's very, very good. I so want that for my fighter! Marking power like crazy!

Cheers, LT.

A Swordmage still needs a good strength so his modifier is unlikely to be much lower that the fighter's. Probably about 1 point of difference. I don't think one less point of damage is enough to make up for being able to apply that damage to all adjacent enemies.