Discussion of Scotley's upcoming 4e Swashbuckler Game

[Shayuri]

We could always call Ireland "Avalon" and make it the strange homeland of the Eladrin. England/Wales/Scotland would be where most Elves (which are what happens when Eladrin take up residence outside Avalon) and Half-Elves come from.

Then all the historical baggage of Great Britain could be associated with elves. The Elf Empire. The unquestioned dominance of the Elf Navy. Etc.

 

[Grydan]

I'd love to play in a game like this (I've got a swashbuckler type rogue I built ages ago, the right campaign just has never come along), but I've never done play by post before, and it looks like you've already got a full roster.

Still, I'll be watching with interest.

(And Rhun, hoping you don't mind some tips from the peanut gallery, but yeah, you're probably going to want to take another shot at that fighter. A 4E fighter lives for a high strength score, and with a higher than standard point buy, I can't imagine going with a strength that low. Even with a 22 point buy, I'd be putting the strength at 16 pre-racial, and putting the human racial bonus there, not Dex. Strength is determining how often and how hard you hit, so it rarely pays to skimp.)

 

[Insight]

We could always call Ireland "Avalon" and make it the strange homeland of the Eladrin. England/Wales/Scotland would be where most Elves (which are what happens when Eladrin take up residence outside Avalon) and Half-Elves come from.

Then all the historical baggage of Great Britain could be associated with elves. The Elf Empire. The unquestioned dominance of the Elf Navy. Etc.

"Them soddin' elves not be takin' over me Alba!"

 

[Shayuri]

Work in progress sheet, putting it online so I can tinker with it. Suggestions and comments are also welcome.

[sblock=Thiefy]Name: ?
Class: Thief 4
Exp: 0
Alignment: Unaligned
Race: Human
Deity: Sehanine
Size: Medium
Age: 18
Gender: Female
Height: 5' 5"
Weight: 122 lbs
Eyes: Green
Hair: Short, windblown, orange

Abilities
Str: 10 [0], Dex: 19 [+4], Wis: 12 [+1]
Con: 14 [+2], Int: 10 [+0], Cha: 16 [+3]

Hit Points: 41/41 Bloodied: 20
Healing Surges: 8 out of 8/day Healing Surge hp gained :10 HP per level: 5
Action Points: 1
Speed: 6 squares

Armour Class: 21 (10 + 2 lvl + 4 dex + 3 armor + 2 shield)
Fortitude Defence: 17
Reflex Defence: 23
Will Defence: 18
Initiative: +6

Temp Bonuses:

Skills:
Acrobatics +11
Athletics +8
Bluff +10
Insight +8
Perception +8
Stealth +12
Streetwise +10
Thievery +11

Feats:
1 Weapon Proficiency: Rapier
1 Two Weapon Fighting
2 Two Weapon Defense
4 Improved Defenses

Race Traits:
Languages: Common, Elven
Bonus Feat
Bonus Skill
Human Defense Bonus
Heroic Effort

Class Abilities:
Sneak Attack 2d6
Backstab (2/enc)
Weapon Finesse (Use Dex for atk/dmg with lgt blades, +2 dmg)
First Strike (CA in 1st rnd vs enemies who have not acted yet)
Rogue's Trick
- Acrobat's Trick (move spd -2, gain climb speed, +2 dmg on next basic attack)
- Escape Artist's Trick (shift 2, shift 2 again at end of turn as free)
- Feinting Trick (Move spd, gain Cha mod bonus damage on next basic attack on non-CA target)
Thief Weapon Talent (+1 atk w/rogue weapons & lgt blades)
Skill Mastery (Gain trained skill, in skill challenge gain 2x successes on a natural 20)

At-Will
Melee Basic Attack (Rapier+dagger) +11 vs AC, 1d8+8
Fleeting Ghost (utility)

Encounter
Backstab (+3 to hit, +1d6 damage vs target granting CA)
Heroic Effort (Add 4 to a failed attack or saving throw)

Gear
Money:

"Glossolalia" Fey Strike Rapier +1 (lvl5)
Rhythm Blade Dagger +1 (lvl3)
Sylvan Leather Armor +1 (680gp)
Periapt of Proof Against Poison +1 (lvl4)

Thieves Tools, 20gp[/sblock]

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

OK, let's give this a try.

I don't have any backstory developed other than the general outlines I've already given, and haven't re-skinned the Dragonmark to fit this world. I suspect I'll work it into her being touched by her God, however; this shouldn't be a stretch at all.

Also, I haven't delved into the equipment and shopping rules - I'm hoping I've got that part right, but I don't know for sure.

.dnd4e file is attached for mechanical review and suggestions.

 

[renau1g]

I'll take a look at your PC's if you guys would like, after I blow some dust off the old Character Builder.

For Rhun - I'd recommend at least a 16 strength as well. You'll get a lot more mileage out of it than Dex. In 4e, if you wear heavy armor you can't add Dex so it's not helping AC (unless you stick to Hide). My recommendation would be to to put the Racial bonus to STR, and you would likely be better off. Also, for your at-will powers, if you have two weapons I'd recommend Dual Strike as it lets you make 2 attacks at-will (although it has to be different targets). In 4e anyone can pick up two weapons, but only certain classes can make use of them to their fullest extent (rangers, fighters, and barbarians).

For your 4th level feat you selected focused expertise in Rapier, but there's no benefit to it as you already get the bonus from Weapon Expertise (Light Blade). The rest of the feats are solid. You also don't have any items right now. Per the DMG you get a level 3,4, & 5 magic item + 680 gp. A decent one for your offhand is Rhythm Blade, grants an additional +1 shield bonus to AC/Ref when in Offhand (level 3 item). Also, you need to select which background benefit you are selecting for it to work.
Mowgli - your PC reminds me a bit of Kalidrev's Lanharath from the LEB game. He isn't going to be surprised by anyone! Maybe we'll nickname you radar Your gold seems a bit off though. You get 680 gp to start. I'd recommend a magic implement, perhaps either a Bard's Songblade, Harmonic Songblade, or Harsh Songblade? They function as implements for bard's and also nice to have a weapon just in case

Another potential suggestion is that Alertness may be a bit overkill as you'll have +15 to perception even without it and rolling twice you can expect to have approx. +5 bonus from that feature so realistically your average result will be 30 (and your passive one is 25). It'd free you up to grab a different feat if you wanted.

 

[Walking Dad]

I will wait until Scotley approves my class before posting stats

 

[Rhun]

(And Rhun, hoping you don't mind some tips from the peanut gallery, but yeah, you're probably going to want to take another shot at that fighter. A 4E fighter lives for a high strength score, and with a higher than standard point buy, I can't imagine going with a strength that low. Even with a 22 point buy, I'd be putting the strength at 16 pre-racial, and putting the human racial bonus there, not Dex. Strength is determining how often and how hard you hit, so it rarely pays to skimp.)

For Rhun - I'd recommend at least a 16 strength as well. You'll get a lot more mileage out of it than Dex. In 4e, if you wear heavy armor you can't add Dex so it's not helping AC (unless you stick to Hide). My recommendation would be to to put the Racial bonus to STR, and you would likely be better off. Also, for your at-will powers, if you have two weapons I'd recommend Dual Strike as it lets you make 2 attacks at-will (although it has to be different targets). In 4e anyone can pick up two weapons, but only certain classes can make use of them to their fullest extent (rangers, fighters, and barbarians).

For your 4th level feat you selected focused expertise in Rapier, but there's no benefit to it as you already get the bonus from Weapon Expertise (Light Blade). The rest of the feats are solid. You also don't have any items right now. Per the DMG you get a level 3,4, & 5 magic item + 680 gp. A decent one for your offhand is Rhythm Blade, grants an additional +1 shield bonus to AC/Ref when in Offhand (level 3 item). Also, you need to select which background benefit you are selecting for it to work.

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I will make a few changes this weekend, and repost once I have those done.

So, I went with the high dex because I was thinking more along the lines of a nimble, swashbuckling type fighter. Is that just not really possible in 4E? I mean, is STR that much more important for a Fighter in 4E than it was in 3E? And I was planning on the PC wearing light armor, like chainmail or such...is that not worth it in 4E? Heavy armor just doesn't seem to fit a swashbuckling game.

 

[Shayuri]

Yeah... In 4e, the powers key off whatever the main stat is envisioned to be for attack roll bonuss and damage. So Wizard powers key off Intelligence, Sorceror powers key off Charisma...etc.

A few classes, like Clerics, have builds that emphasize different stats. So a Cleric can use powers that key on Strength, or Wisdom. Depending on which powers the player chooses most of, the character should focus attribute raises accordingly.

So take a look at the powers you want your fighter to have. If most/all of them key on Str, then you'll want a good Str above all.

Nothing says you can't -also- have a good Dexterity though. It won't mix with heavy armor, but swashbucklers have no business in that anyway.

 

[Rhun]

Thanks Shayuri. What about Wisdom for a Fighter? I saw something about Combat Superiority keying off Wisdom, but I wasn't sure what that was all about?