Race Character Optimisation: Just Choose Dwarf

[Jools]

Dwarfs have always been strong. Wisdom and Con are useful for many classes and Con adds to HP and healing surges. Their racial abilities are exceptional with the ability to second wind as a minor being the jewel in their crown. Their feat support is top class; Dwarven Weapon Training being so good that they're toe to toe with the +str races at melee combat.

Now the red box has revealed that they can opt to exchange their +2 wis for a +2 in str. My, oh my that gives them a boost! Dwarven wardens are going to unstoppable. Surely a nerf/errata is on the way? I'd be amazed if DWT survives in its current form.

 

[Obryn]

I'd be amazed if DWT survives in its current form.

If it weren't for other Weapon Training feats, which are even better, I'd agree. Githzerai get the cherry on top with their Blade Master feat. Valenar Weapon Training is also pretty great, if you're thinking scimitars.

I was originally thinking there'd be balance issues if Dwarves got a Strength bonus, but now that there are classes which fit their stats even better - like the Battlemind - I'm no longer convinced....

Devoted Challenge is a bigger concern, but since they need to sack Wisdom to get Strength, it's not a big deal, in the end - just robbing Peter to pay Paul.

-O

 

[BobTheNob]

Really, they are putting in stat swaps like PHB3 for pre-PHB3 races! Awesome

On the dwarf front, yea dwarfs are good. But some things they still dont do well. Some...Funnily enough, for the hundreds of builds I have put together in the character builder (not the ones I play, just the ones I "tinker around" with) none have been dwarves. There just not my flavor.

 

[Sunseeker]

Sadly, I agree, I like the numbers the dwarf brings, but I hate their flavor. They're like, the sum total of everything stereotyped about the Irish.

 

[dvvega]

In my playgroup we have all come to the conclusion that Dwarves are the best race for a lot of things.

As for the feat choices they seem to have the most racially based feats of the system - and a Dwarf battlerage vigor with an ability exchange is going to be scary also.

We have not tried out the Psionic races at this time, however.

I do remember that in 3.5 the Dwarf was a strong candidate for a lot of classes anyway. For example the Dwarven Necromancer - hit points out there, add in a Toad(?) and then cast the temporary hit point spell (cannot remember it).

D

 

[nnms]

I think the real dark horse of the red box is the +2 Dex +2 Con halfling. Tough little bastards.

 

[Obryn]

I'm no longer convinced that a Strength bonus is any better than any other bonus these days. Well, a little, due to the basic attacks - but not much. Now that you have weapon-using classes that are CON-primary and WIS-primary, the thought of dwarves getting a STR bonus isn't so scary.

I think they'll make insane Fighters, mind you. But to get the Strength bonus, they need to sack the Wisdom bonus that most of those feats depend on.

-O

 

[Jools]

If it weren't for other Weapon Training feats, which are even better, I'd agree. Githzerai get the cherry on top with their Blade Master feat. -O

Githzerai are the only race that gets a better weapon training feat and even that isn't from the books (its from a DDI article - which many groups don't use/allow). Even allowing that feat a Gith isn't any where near as good as a dwarf for melee classes when you consider the whole package of amazing feats and race features they get. Someone at Wizards is definitely fond of dwarfs!

 

[Jools]

I'm no longer convinced that a Strength bonus is any better than any other bonus these days. Well, a little, due to the basic attacks - but not much. Now that you have weapon-using classes that are CON-primary and WIS-primary, the thought of dwarves getting a STR bonus isn't so scary.

I think they'll make insane Fighters, mind you. But to get the Strength bonus, they need to sack the Wisdom bonus that most of those feats depend on.

-O

Dwarven weapon training doesn't rely on Wis, the whole path of hammer feats (which do all sorts of damage) rely on Con, the whole slew of second wind related feats don't rely on Wis. I could go on. Really.

 

[Shin Okada]

Yep dwarfs are great. Still, there are times people want to max out stats dwarfs cant have 20 at level 1. And there is time when players want other races racial power (say, reroll, extra feat, etc.).

Also, they are slow. Yeah they ignore heavy armor. But some classes don't wear heavy armor and some magical heavy armor don't have speed penalty.