4e Combat Playtest [FULL]

[Annalist]

Ata, what software do you use for your maps? I may, at some point in the future, try my hand at running a D&D game online. But I'd like to get good at making and editing maps first.

 

[Leif]

Maps!

Yes, I'm also very interested in your mapping software! So far, for the games that I dm, I've made do with just a basic spreadsheet program (MS Excel). All you have to do is adjust the column width/height until it looks like a sheet of graph paper, and then you can use symbols/colors and write notes in the cells, as well. Of course, you don't get the fantastic graphics like Ata has. But since the solftware is included free on most every computer, it's really not a bad deal, imho.

 

[Atanatotatos]

I use MapTool, but really, this is the second map I made with it, so I suck. You can get much better results with it. You find it at RPTools.net along with other utilities and a few great tutorials. It's very easy, and if you really don't get it, you can simply use it to stick a grid and some tokens on a pre-made map.

 

[Leif]

Thanks, Atanatotatos! I just looked at the RPTools site, and I can already tell that I'm going to get much use out of that! Why had I never heard about that site before???

 

[Victim]

Thanks, cuz!! I appreciate the +4 very, very, very much! Especially now that I'm trying to rely on my "At-Will" powers for the rest of the fight that have low bonuses. And, hey, I think we've just learned something very important about 4e tactics - save those buffs for later rounds of the combat!

Huh?

Encounter powers are generally much weaker when they miss compared to at wills, since you're out not only the action but also the power (some dailies have Reliable or Miss half to reduce the sting of missing - others not so much) . So it's generally better to back those bigger, more expensive attacks up with Righteous Brand. Especially when they have multiple attacks or actions to make use of that bonus more times - a ranger using some 2 weapon attacks plus Disruptive Strike or a Fighter with Rain of Blows backed with a huge power bonus to attack from Righteous Brand is a thing of beauty. That's the sort of combo that is worth jumping through some hoops to set up.

Buffing an encounter or Daily attack is much better than an at will.

In this case, it's more a matter of opportunity cost. Brudd probably doesn't want to use another Daily, and Righteous Brand is a clear upgrade from a basic attack.

 

[Leif]

Huh?

Encounter powers are generally much weaker when they miss compared to at wills, since you're out not only the action but also the power (some dailies have Reliable or Miss half to reduce the sting of missing - others not so much) . So it's generally better to back those bigger, more expensive attacks up with Righteous Brand. Especially when they have multiple attacks or actions to make use of that bonus more times - a ranger using some 2 weapon attacks plus Disruptive Strike or a Fighter with Rain of Blows backed with a huge power bonus to attack from Righteous Brand is a thing of beauty. That's the sort of combo that is worth jumping through some hoops to set up.

Buffing an encounter or Daily attack is much better than an at will.

In this case, it's more a matter of opportunity cost. Brudd probably doesn't want to use another Daily, and Righteous Brand is a clear upgrade from a basic attack.

At this point in the fight, Sharm has a few dailies left, but, otherwise, he's all "at will" attacks now. And I am reluctant to use more than one or two of his dailies in this fight, since we know that there's a tougher fight coming up next. I agree, buffing at encounter or a daily is OBVIOUSLY much better than buffing at "at will", but once you get this far into the fight, if you keep using your dailies, you risk the chance that you may miss them greatly in your next combat of the day. The enounters are made just for that. But, sadly, Sharm has now expended his Encounter powers, so dailies and at wills are all that he has left. Given this dilemma, I'll choose at wills over dialies (when I know that we've got more fighting to do later this day) every time.

 

[Victim]

Sharm can just charge instead of total D.

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I'm talking about the combination of actions.

(Righteous Brand + buffed encounter THEN cleric encounter + fighter at will) is often greater than (cleric encounter + fighter encounter THEN Righteous Brand + fighter at will).

 

[Hammerhead]

Hey, any chance I can get a Bastion of Health as a minor? I'm down to 15 here.

Good thing I have a lot of surges.

 

[Halford]

Well after finally hitting the Goristo I am pretty sure Brudd just downed him, does Sharm want a Healing Word? I still have a minor action so if you want Leif I can use that which will heal significantly more than your secondwind.

 

[Atanatotatos]

Would have been bad if the Goristro got another action. Uhm, we have our first unconscious character, but it shouldn't be too bad if you heal him fast...