1st Level Wizard Defenses

[glectin]

Hey everyone, recently I tried building a hybrid avenger/wizard (haven't played them yet mind you) I went hybrid avenger mostly to use the avenger's armor of faith talent thing, and the point of the build was to see if I could make a character with a similar AC to my friends level 1 earthstrength warden (AC 20 Fort 16 Ref 12 Wil 12) which he will be using in an upcoming campaign we'll be playing. So I was wondering how I could modify the defenses of my Wizard/avenger to make it better, like is higher in one defense better or relatively even in all? Also any advice would be highly appreciated on other parts (especially powers).

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Erik, level 1
Human, Wizard|Avenger
Hybrid Talent: Armor of Faith
Hybrid Avenger: Hybrid Avenger Will
Human Power Selection: Bonus At-Will Power
Background: Auspicious Birth (Auspicious Birth Benefit)


FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 10, Con 14, Dex 10, Int 20, Wis 11, Cha 8.


STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 10, Con 14, Dex 10, Int 18, Wis 11, Cha 8.




AC: 20 Fort: 13 Reflex: 16 Will: 13
HP: 32 Surges: 8 Surge Value: 8


TRAINED SKILLS
Nature +5, History +10, Religion +10, Arcana +10


UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics, Bluff -1, Diplomacy -1, Dungeoneering, Endurance +2, Heal, Insight, Intimidate -1, Perception, Stealth, Streetwise -1, Thievery, Athletics


FEATS
Human: Hybrid Talent
Level 1: Unarmored Agility


POWERS
Bonus At-Will Power: Cloud of Daggers
Hybrid at-will 1: Bond of Censure
Hybrid at-will 1: Magic Missile
Hybrid encounter 1: Force Orb
Hybrid daily 1: Horrid Whispers


ITEMS
Cloth Armor (Basic Clothing), Adventurer's Kit, Guardian staff
====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======


p.s. The reason it as a Guardian Staff was because I had thought of getting the "Superior Implement Training (Guardian staff)" feat at level 2.

 

[Lindeloef]

if you only have the Avenger part for that one feat, you maybe want to switch that out to maybe swordmage (and take the sm warding Hybrid talent).

Assuming you want to be mainly a Wizard and therefor controller, you don't gain anything of worth from the Hybrid Avenger part. (And Hybrid Avenger is also bad)

 

[glectin]

if you only have the Avenger part for that one feat, you maybe want to switch that out to maybe swordmage (and take the sm warding Hybrid talent).

Assuming you want to be mainly a Wizard and therefor controller, you don't gain anything of worth from the Hybrid Avenger part. (And Hybrid Avenger is also bad)

Thanks that is a great idea
The only thing I have with it is having to wield a blade, and not being able to wield a staff in the other hand..

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

Thanks that is a great idea
The only thing I have with it is having to wield a blade, and not being able to wield a staff in the other hand..

Yeah, sadly swordmage warding is just not compatible with staff wizard. It requires having a blade in one hand, and I don't know of a way to make a weapliment that is both staff and blade, and even if you could get past that hurdle you'd have to use some cheese to deal with the going from two-handed weapon wielding to one-handed implement wielding as a free action.

Of course there ARE ways to ease the pain of switching between sword and staff, battle harness for instance (luckily you can always call the staff a weapon in any situation where it is convenient to do so). I think there's also an Essentials Expertise feat that can help you out there.

That being said, swordmage is the most potent of all hybrids. It loses ALMOST none of its full-strength potency or tactical utility in hybrid form. In essence you are gaining a second full class. Use Aegis of Shielding and just run away from your Aegis target and do other things until your target gives up and chases you.

 

[Storminator]

Is this just a character building exercise? Is there some reason you need a 20 AC? In general 4e tends to work better when every class sticks to their schtick. So maximize the secondary effects on your powers, make sure your NADs are pretty good (and as even as you can get) and let your friends worry about getting hit in the face.

PS

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

Is this just a character building exercise? Is there some reason you need a 20 AC? In general 4e tends to work better when every class sticks to their schtick. So maximize the secondary effects on your powers, make sure your NADs are pretty good (and as even as you can get) and let your friends worry about getting hit in the face.

PS

He's probably going for one of those 'in your face' front-line staff wizard builds that uses Staff of Defense, a high AC, and knocks things around with Thunderwave and Beguiling Strands. Later on you drop on a nice Stinking Cloud and then maybe Wall of Fire, etc, pump up your area damage as much as possible and find lots of ways to get an extra action. If the rest of the party tosses in some forced movement as well then it becomes quite vicious.

HOWEVER, you don't need to mix in another class to get a good AC. Consider, with a 20 INT you already have AC15, and Staff of Defense gives you a +1 AC, Hafted Defense will add a +1 Shield Bonus to that, and as a human you can start with another feat, there are a few that can work for you. The simplest would be Leather Armor Proficiency, which is good for another 2 points of AC. That gets you to 19, not quite 20, but damned close. A better option is probably Staff Expertise, which will let you make attacks without provoking (on top of the golden +1 attack bonus). That gives you AC17, and any marked enemy will be attacking with a penalty of -2, meaning if your warden friend does his job your AC is effectively only one short of his. There are ways to get another +1 I believe, like taking the feat that lets you treat a staff as a double weapon and then taking Two Weapon Defense I think will work. In any case Shield is also your friend, so it should be quite possible to be effective with starting AC17 on the front line. Chances are the rogue will draw more fire than you will.

 

[Storminator]

Yeah, but he took all ranged attack powers. The only part of this PC that says "in your face" is his AC. Hence my question.

With the powers he picked he'd be better off with a wand - which is totally contrary to his build (no DEX, AC priority, etc). I say "rethink!"

PS

 

[Lindeloef]

Thanks that is a great idea
The only thing I have with it is having to wield a blade, and not being able to wield a staff in the other hand..

Or take Cleric as your hybrid part and get the Battle Cleric Lore for your Scale Armor and +2 Shield Bonus

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

Or take Cleric as your hybrid part and get the Battle Cleric Lore for your Scale Armor and +2 Shield Bonus

Invoker would be another choice, there are several invoker feats that can help your AC, or you could get the hybrid armor proficiency and wear chain armor. Channel Divinity could be fun too.

 

[cavalier973]

I think there's also an Essentials Expertise feat that can help you out there.

Martial Expertise, I think it's called. You gain a +1 bonus to all weapon attacks, and can use a minor action to stow a weapon and then draw a different weapon.