Two question for the Bard

[vhailor]

1. When a bard uses Ode to Sacrifice, he can transfer an effect to himself, make a save at the end of his turn with a bonus equal to his Constitution, and not suffer the penalties/damage (since they apply at the start of the turn) of the effect? Do I read the power right?

2. When a bard uses Misdirected Mark (Ranged 10), can he choose an ally 15 squares away from the target(you are 10 sq. away from the target, and the ally 5 sq. away from you, in the opposite derection)?

 

[Mort_Q]

1. Sounds right. Of course, if you still fail to save...
2. Right again.

 

[vhailor]

Thanks. I think I'm really going to like the bard, but some already say he is overpowered. We'll see.

 

[abyssaldeath]

You have to take overpowered claims with a grain of salt. Some people consider anything overpowered just because it may do one thing better than anything in the PHB1 or it gives you an option that wasn't available. Some people just haven't seemed to learn that what looks good on paper doesn't always work out the way you thought it would.

 

[Obryn]

You have to take overpowered claims with a grain of salt. Some people consider anything overpowered just because it may do one thing better than anything in the PHB1 or it gives you an option that wasn't available. Some people just haven't seemed to learn that what looks good on paper doesn't always work out the way you thought it would.

Yup. Everyone was convinced, for example, that the swordmage would be hugely overpowered. And, it turns out, they're really, really not even close.

-O

 

[Dan'L]

1. When a bard uses Ode to Sacrifice, he can transfer an effect to himself, make a save at the end of his turn with a bonus equal to his Constitution, and not suffer the penalties/damage (since they apply at the start of the turn) of the effect? Do I read the power right

This is not correct. The Bard is not his own ally, and so he cannot transfer the condition to himself.

-Dan'L

 

[Nikosandros]

This is not correct. The Bard is not his own ally, and so he cannot transfer the condition to himself.

The power states that the bard can transfer the condition either on himself or to another ally in the burst.

 

[fissionessence]

2. When a bard uses Misdirected Mark (Ranged 10), can he choose an ally 15 squares away from the target(you are 10 sq. away from the target, and the ally 5 sq. away from you, in the opposite derection)?

This question reminds me of an issue I was wondering when play with the bard 1-3 preview . . . how do misdirected mark and vicious mockery compare to each other?

Misdirected mark deals 1d8 damage over vicious mockery's 1d6, but vicious mockery is against Will; that seems to even out.

Now, vicious mockery gives a -2 penalty to the attacks against anyone, while misdirected mark gives the penalty to everyone except one of your allies. So I guess it kind of motivates the monster to attack one ally . . . but apart from having a fighter or warden to have the mark 'come from', these marks don't really work well with other defender classes (paladin or swordmage, and potentially future defenders).

Overall, I think I have to favor vicious mockery, but I guess having a fighter or warden around could change that.

~

 

[deleteme123456]

There's a nice Psychic wand in the AV which adds +1 per tier with Psychic & Implement keyword attacks, making viscous mockery's average damage = misdirected mark at heroic, and ahead at the other two tiers. (Max damage is behind at heroic and epic, but only by 1, and it's a 1d8 crit weapon).

 

[MatthewJHanson]

Overall, I think I have to favor vicious mockery, but I guess having a fighter or warden around could change that.

Most importantly, you have to consider the imagery. You say something so insulting that it potentially kills the enemy. How could you chose anything else?