Swordmage- Assault or Shielding?

[Kinneus]

I've been drooling over the Swordmage ever since I discovered it. I finally have an opportunity to possibly play one, and I'm trying to decide whether to go with Aegis of Assault or Aegis of Shielding.

At first the choice seemed obvious; Aegis of Assault, right? It basically allows you to threaten two entirely separate areas of the battlefield. Strength will also allow you to take advantage of OAs, charges, etc.

But that's when I saw the 'Intelligent Blademaster' feat. Suddenly, the benefits of high Strength (besides maybe good Athletics Skill) became quite irrelevant. The higher HP, Surges and the damage reduction (for allies) afforded by a Shielding Aegis build could be really helpful. Plus, by selecting the right powers, you can even replicate some of the Assault Guy's fun teleportation-wackiness.

What say you? Is either build distinctly 'better' in your mind?

 

[Stalker0]

I think shielding is so much better than aegis its not even funny.

Shielding is imo the best mark in the game. It is true defending in every since of the world. You attack me, I'm defending my allies. You attack my allies, I'm still defending them by lowering your damage to almost nothing.

Aegis is more fun with the ability to teleport, but from a raw which one is better, I think its shielding by a mile.

 

[fba827]

all this is based on my own preferred playstyle. your milage may vary.

assult - it's fun to teleport around. but (at least when we play) once marked, an enemy doesn't usually get a chance to go very far so the swordmage wouldn't be leaping around a battlefield..

shielding - i get great joy from being able to tell an ally "my arcane warding deflects some of the damage so you take X less ..." and I don't have to roll to see if it works, it just does (where as an assault swordmage has to do a basic attack roll)


From a pure crunch standpoint, the shielding wins out simply because it's guarenteed whereas the assult one requires a to hit roll to see if you get your benefit out of it.

From a prsonal preference standpoint, even if it was weaker, I'd go for the sheidling just because I opt for defense over offense.

 

[Don Incognito]

shielding, then multiclass as a infernalock.

easy peasy.

 

[Kinneus]

shielding, then multiclass as a infernalock.

easy peasy.

Hmm... don't know about that. Multiclassing to Warlock requires that you have 13 Cha, and extra Cha isn't going to do a whole lot of good for a Swordmage. I'm already having trouble with my ability score spread, trying to make Heavy Blade Opportunity and such a possibility. Plus, I'm not sure on this, but I don't think you can use your sword as an implement for Warlock powers. To make use of those Warlock powers, you'd have to pick up a wand or rod, which would cause you to lose your Swordmage Warding class feature, and therefore between 1-3 points of AC... and AC's pretty darn important for a defender, methinks. Although I guess that could be mitigated by the Con-focused Swordmage taking armor proficiency feats.

With an Aegis of Assault Swordmage, however, you can choose from Ranger, Warlord, or Fighter multiclass. The Warlord in particular is pretty attractive; decent Strength and a fat Intelligence score makes for some pretty good synergy.

 

[yesnomu]

I really like the Assault (free flanking attack! teleporting!) but I think it is a weaker choice mechanically. Still, they're a lot of fun, and can do some nice damage with things like Flame Cyclone and Flame Blade, where you get to add extra ability scores to damage.

Pick whatever one seems more fun to you, you'll be fine either way.

 

[Kordeth]

Plus, I'm not sure on this, but I don't think you can use your sword as an implement for Warlock powers. To make use of those Warlock powers, you'd have to pick up a wand or rod, which would cause you to lose your Swordmage Warding class feature, and therefore between 1-3 points of AC... and AC's pretty darn important for a defender, methinks. Although I guess that could be mitigated by the Con-focused Swordmage taking armor proficiency feats.

You are correct, until you get a pact blade.

 

[Don Incognito]

grab a pact blade and go to town.

 

[Herschel]

I much prefer Assault, but that's just my style. I like zipping around the map, providing flanks for the rogue and pulling allies out of trouble. While it's fringe, here's an example:

Fighting rat swarms & a G-Cube. Warlord sucked in to cube and I have much more health. Marked rats swarm, dimensional warp, swapping spots with Warlord. Rats attack and hit Warlord's lower AC but he can handle that damage no problem, Aegis sucks Swordmage out of cube and now Cube is victimless.

Another example: Fighting enemies on tiers. Guarding ascent to high ground for wizard by taking on lower tier baddies while he climbs and area attacks. He's attacked two tiers up by hidden beatstick. I marked a guy one tier up on non-marking ally. He hits ally, I flank with free attack. Then my turn. I Dimensional Warp, pulling Wizard out.

While Dimension Warp is available to either build, the Assault Aegis was half the mobility used.

I built my Assault Swormages to be complementary with rogues. It's just one way to go.

There are a number of attractive reasons to go shielding also.

h

 

[aurance]

I love Aegis of Assault (I think it's more fun), but Aegis of Shielding is better for your group. Much better. Especially if you are the primary defender.