Hesitation Slash - awesome Lvl. 3 Power from Dragon

[Tale]

I've seen it come up a couple times. I kind of wonder, though, how long the characters can survive under that situation. Or how long they can play until they get bored.

 

[gtoasnt3]

I know we've all had our misconceptions. Mine mostly came from clinging to earlier editions rules. I can only wonder how hard encounters were for the PC's in a campaign where you can only use 1 encounter power! That's a hard misconception where the PC's lives are concerned!

 

[Lizard]

I've seen it come up a couple times. I kind of wonder, though, how long the characters can survive under that situation. Or how long they can play until they get bored.

I dunno. Given that 90% of the time I use Twin Strike anyway...I kind of have to force myself to use my encounter powers, but it always seems a risk... with Twin Strike, the odds are good I'll hit at least once and get to use my Quarry damage, but with encounter powers, if I whiff on one roll, nada. Two rolls are always better than one...

 

[ObsidianCrane]

Hesitation is an excellent power, one day I wil even get to use it.

And I've not run into the encounter power misconception since the first month or so of the game comming out. But I've definately seen the Twin Strike problem rear its ugly head in games.

 

[Dracorat]

And he's a DM. Oh lordy.

Yes thanks for the requirement that all DMs be infallible.

I look forward to hearing about how you never are wrong on anything.

 

[Orcus Porkus]

I decided to dump Powerful Charge and the Barbarian Lvl 3 Encounter power for Hesitation Slash. The +4 on attack and CA benefit is just too beautiful. I think if there was a feat that would give you "+4 on attack and CA for one turn once per encounter" it would be hailed a no-brainer everywhere.
With the reach weapon and boots of adept charging, plus action point, I should be able to take out Lvl 6 soldiers in one round if I don't roll too badly.

 

[Orcus Porkus]

Yes thanks for the requirement that all DMs be infallible.

I look forward to hearing about how you never are wrong on anything.

Hey I'm glad my thread made you learn something.
There are tons of things that can be misinterpreted, particularly if no one else in the group you play has read the rule book (happened to me.)

 

[Dracorat]

Hey I'm glad my thread made you learn something.

That's half the reason Im here.

The other half is for my daily crack fix.

 

[chitzk0i]

Rain of Blows is a maximum of 2 attacks right? I remember there was some discussion of whether it actuall grants up to 4 attacks.

If you use anything but a spear, light blade, or flail, it's a max of two attacks.

 

[Orcus Porkus]

Well I looked up "Rain of Blows" regarding 4 attacks or not.
There is a heated debate on several threads, Customer Service gave an answer:

Rain of Blows works as follows:

You make two primary attacks against target A that do 1[W] + Str to them.

If you meet the requirements for the secondary attack, you may also make the secondary attacks against target A or target B, which is the same damage as the primary attack. You can one secondary attack per primary attack, so a total of 4 attacks if you meet the requirements.

That's good news for me. Here is the original power description:

Fighter Attack 3

Rain of Blows

You become a blur of motion, raining a series of blows upon your opponent.
Encounter

Martial, Weapon
Standard Action Melee weapon
Primary Target: One creature
Attack: Strength vs. AC, two attacks
Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier damage.
Weapon: If you're wielding a light blade, spear, or flail and have Dexterity 15 or higher, make a secondary attack.
Secondary Target: The same or a different target
Secondary Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier damage.

This is of course better than Hesitation Slash then. 4 attacks means more chances to hit and crit than one attack with +4 bonus. I also have the option to attack 2 targets. I can add modifier damager 4 times instead of one. I just did the math, it outperforms all other dailies, encounter powers, or howling strike charging combos, with a damage range of 9 to 72 (one attack hits with damage dice roll 1, to all attacks hit with damage dice rolls of 10 each).
No-brainer.
In level 7 I'll also ditch the rather lame Barbarian encounter power and take Hesitation Slash instead.