D&D 4E 4e is BROKEN if you ignore a major rule

[Yair]

Destructive Salutation + Orb of Inevitable Continuance + Quick Draw = BROKEN.

I've just run a game with Pydruhs, a level 22 human wizard bloodmage archamge, as the PC. He's got Destructive Salutation, indeed twice (from his Archmage), plus Arcane Mastery to let him cast it more times. He also got some 240 Orbs of Inevitable Continuance, and the Quick Draw feat.

When the opportunity comes, he casts Destructuve Salutation, trying to miss. Good chances he'll suceed missing. When he does, all the opponents in the (large) areas of effect are stunned until the end of his next turn. (He can cast this "daily" spell lots of times per day.) On the next turn, he uses an Orb of Inevitable Continuance as a minor action to prolong the stunning to until the end of his next turn, and got a turn to wreck havoc while everyone's stunned. Rinse, repeat.

If he gets the drop on Orcus, he'll drop him too.

So... my conclusion is twofold:
1) Destructive Salutation is broken. Getting a stun effect on a miss is a no-no; way too powerful. Monsters need to get a fair chance of avoiding a stun.
2) Magic items are broken. Allowing PCs to gain multiple Daily or even Encounter powers from using several identical items is legal, but just bad. A rule should be in place to limit this, even if the rule makes no sense.

 

[nogray]

I suppose that someone missed the fact that the Orb's power is a daily, and no matter how many orbs you have, you can only use a very limited number of item daily powers. I believe at level 22, that would be 3 plus 1/milestone. 240 orbs could only be used with 237 milestones.

(Edit to add) It is also questionable as to whether Arcane Mastery can be applied to Destructive Salutation. Arcane Mastery specifies a Wizard daily power and Destructive Salutation is, quite specifically, a "Blood Mage Attack 20."

 

[CapnZapp]

4E is BROKEN

Shock! Gasp!

I never suspected it!! Could it really be true!?

After all, all other editions of the game have been completely flawless, with all options perfectly balanced in all possible combinations...

 

[chitzk0i]

Check out page 226 in the PHB for the daily magic items use limits.

 

[mach1.9pants]

One combo does not make a broken game. However a lot of Wiz related save stuff is certainly broken, orb Wiz at high level is pretty awful for that!
Well he can only do it 3 times per day plus another one per milestone as it is a daily magic item power.
So I take it he has many +1 orbs (cos the are really cheap)?

 

[mach1.9pants]

...

(Edit to add) It is also questionable as to whether Arcane Mastery can be applied to Destructive Salutation. Arcane Mastery specifies a Wizard daily power and Destructive Salutation is, quite specifically, a "Blood Mage Attack 20."

ooooh good point! that is one for Cust Serv, but I think you are right. It in NOT a Wiz daily power LOL.
There you go Yair, an end to your Wizards cheese combo!

 

[Piratecat]

Yair, I slightly adjusted the thread title for you.

 

[mach1.9pants]

Yair, I slightly adjusted the thread title for you.

Another keyboard ruined! Coffee spat all over it during belly guffaw

 

[Yair]

I suppose that someone missed the fact that the Orb's power is a daily, and no matter how many orbs you have, you can only use a very limited number of item daily powers. I believe at level 22, that would be 3 plus 1/milestone. 240 orbs could only be used with 237 milestones.

(Edit to add) It is also questionable as to whether Arcane Mastery can be applied to Destructive Salutation. Arcane Mastery specifies a Wizard daily power and Destructive Salutation is, quite specifically, a "Blood Mage Attack 20."

Ouch! You're very right. Thanks.

I'm glad to see WotC did put in that rule on Daily-use of magic items. I'm sad I wasn't familiar with it...

(I suspect a similar limit on Encounter powers is probably wise...)

Yair, I slightly adjusted the thread title for you.

LOL

I still maintain that Destructive Salutation is too powerful when it allows a stun-condition on a miss. And even with all the above nerfs, the combo is still far too powerful. But it's a far cry from "broken" now, I'll grant.

Thanks all

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

I still maintain that Destructive Salutation is too powerful when it allows a stun-condition on a miss.

Amazing.

I can only find my DMG at the moment, so I can't double check, but if the power really lets you stun opponents on a miss, it's broken.

By the way, why is the PC trying to miss? What happens if he hits?