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A Rock and A Hard Place: A Warden Handbook (By Alphaant)
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<blockquote data-quote="Veep" data-source="post: 6707996" data-attributes="member: 6793297"><p><span style="font-size: 18px"><strong>Ability Scores: What you bring to the table</strong></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff">Strength </span>— Mandatory. This is your primary stat for all attacks. It gets a stat bump every 4 and 8, no excuses. Though, as Akhorahil points out, you could feasibly start with a 16 or 17 here at level 1, since your zones, as well as Warden's Grasp, don't require attack rolls to be effective.</p><p>Recommended Starting Score: 16-18, before racial adjustments</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Constitution</span> — Secondary stat for <span style="color: #00ccff">Earthstrength</span> and <span style="color: #0000ff">Stormheart</span>. Tertiary for others, though <span style="color: #0000ff">Wildblood</span> may want to make sure this is decent regardless.</p><p>Recommended Starting Score: 14-16 for Earthstrength and Stormheart, 12-14 for Lifespirit and Wildblood, before racial adjustments</p><p></p><p>Dexterity — You gotta put something in this or Intelligence, or your Reflex defense will be garbage. I recommend Dexterity, as it also bumps Initiative. If you're an +Int race, this can be your dump stat instead. If you want a mastery feat in Epic that requires Dex, you might think about this early.</p><p>Recommended Starting Score: 10-12, before racial adjustments</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #ff0000">Intelligence</span> — Dump unless you're a +Int race, then dump Dex or Cha instead.</p><p>Recommended Starting Score: 8-10, before racial adjustments</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Wisdom</span> — Secondary stat for <span style="color: #0000ff">Lifespirit</span> and <span style="color: #00ccff">Wildblood</span>. Tertiary for others who care about their Will Defense, as well as Perception-based skills.</p><p>Recommended Starting Score: 14-16 for Lifespirit and Wildblood, 12-14 for Earthstrength and Stormheart, before racial adjustments</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #800080">Charisma</span> — This could very easily be a dump stat. If you don't care about Wisdom you could feasibly use this for your Will defense, but do so at your own expense.</p><p>Recommended Starting Score: 8-10, before racial adjustments</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 18px"><strong>Races: What makes you who you are</strong></span></p><p></p><p><strong>Player's Handbook</strong></p><p> </p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Dragonborn</span> — Bonus to Strength (or Constitution, though you're not likely to go that way), good racial traits, and good feat support.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff">Dwarf</span> — They were sky blue before you could get a bonus to strength. Now that they have a bonus to strength, they're still just sky blue. Why? Because they were also changed so that they only second wind as minor once per encounter.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #800080">Eladrin</span> — If you want a pointy-eared race, try the Elf instead. Ever so slightly redeemed by Eladrin's Challenge and synergy with the greatspear, but if you're looking to defend, Swordmage suits your nature sooo much better.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Elf</span> — Bonus to Wisdom, plus a boost to accuracy and speed, and can ignore difficult terrain. That almost makes up for your lack of Strength.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Half-Elf</span> — Bonus to both secondary stats. You don't really need the Dilettante, so you might find that Knack for Success is a better choice.</p><p></p><p>Halfling — Your lot in life certainly improved more than the gnome's. While you can now get a boost to a secondary stat, your feat support doesn't really fit the defender role at all.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff">Human</span> — Like every other class, the usefulness of being human is somewhat difficult to judge. You can certainly have a boost to strength, and the extra feat is nothing to laugh at. You don't get a boost to your secondary, so that costs you a point in AC. Wardens don't really benefit as much from the third at-will, so Heroic Effort might catch your eye. The +1 to your NADs and the ability to become immune to Save Ends effects are enough to cross them into the sky blue zone. This immunity doesn't come cheap, mind you. Once I find a link to a sample build demonstrating its use, I will add it here.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Tiefling </span>— This race gained the most from the change to having a choice of stats, as they can now get a boost to Constitution. You also have a high amount of fire resistance out of the gate (and fire is the most common damage type I've found), plus a retributive racial power and a bonus to attacks against bloodied foes. The feat support is also top notch.</p><p> </p><p></p><p><strong>Player's Handbook 2</strong></p><p> </p><p>Deva — Boost to Wisdom, boost to accuracy, and necrotic resistance. The Elf still has a leg up on you though.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #ff0000">Gnome</span> — It's not your lot in life to be amongst our ranks, I'm sorry.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff">Goliath</span> — Boost to Strength and then your choice of either secondary, perfect! Your racial traits are also awesome.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Half-Orc</span> — Boost to Strength (or Constitution, though you're not likely to go that way), and excellent racial traits. You're certainly welcome among our ranks.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff">Longtooth Shifter</span> — Boost to Strength and Wis, plus a boost to damage and regen once you go bloodied. You will do perfectly as a Lifespirit or Wildblood.</p><p></p><p>Razorclaw Shifter — Boost to Wisdom, and bonuses to speed and defenses once bloodied. Not quite as good as the Elf as a Lifespirit or Wildblood, but still good nonetheless.</p><p> </p><p></p><p><strong>Player's Handbook 3</strong></p><p> </p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Githzerai </span>— Despite your lack of strength, you get a boost to wisdom, and your racial traits include bonuses to saving throws, defenses, and an add-on to Second Wind. Another candidate for higher secondary than primary for Lifespirit and Wildblood.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff">Minotaur</span> — The minotaur is going to give the other top racial picks a run for their money. They get a boost to Strength, and then a boost to <em>either</em> Con or Wis, so you can pick any build without issue. An additional healing surge, and a free swipe every time you're dropped. The charge stuff is only somewhat useful, but is always fun.</p><p></p><p>Shardmind — You can optionally get a bonus to Wisdom, you're a Living Construct, and you resist psychic. Most of your other features (and racial paragon path) are keyed towards a psionic class though, so you're probably better off as a Battlemind.</p><p></p><p>Wilden — I want the Wilden to be better at this task. I really do. However, they're seriously lacking on the racial features side. A Wilden Warden would probably spend most of its time in the Wrath of the Destroyer aspect. They do have boosts to both secondaries, though.</p><p> </p><p></p><p><strong>Other Sources</strong></p><p> </p><p>Bladeling — Same stat boosts as the Elf, plus acid resistance and an encounter close burst attack.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #ff0000">Changeling</span> — This was the first race published with a variable stat boost, and even with that all three are worthless. So are the racial traits.</p><p></p><p>Drow — Along with Tiefling, the lowly (pun intended) drow got a choice of Wisdom instead of Charisma as a stat choice. Unlike the tiefling, the feat support just isn't there.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Genasi</span> — Bonus to Strength makes them blue even though their second stat boost is for a dump stat. Firesoul, Earthsoul, Causticsoul, Cindersoul, and Plaguesoul are all excellent elemental manifestations.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Gnoll</span> — Even though you're not as strong, your racial traits tell me that you understand what we're looking for here. You'll make a good Earthstrength or Stormheart.</p><p></p><p>Kalashtar — Bonus to Wisdom, but your secondary is wasted here completely. Dual Soul is mostly irrelevant with Font of Life (it only becomes useful if you have multiple Save Ends conditions affecting you). Bastion of Mental Clarity is very good for a Lifeblood, however.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Mul </span>— </strong>A lot like dwarves, except they don't get Dwarven Resilience. Still, what they lack in the second winding department, they make up for in the sheer toughness department.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Revenant</span> — You're hard to kill, because you're already dead. You also get a bonus to Constitution, and can select the racial features from any race.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #800080">Shadar-Kai</span> — Gaining a boost to one secondary doesn't elevate this race very far, they don't have a lot of support elsewhere.</p><p></p><p><strong>Thri-Kreen — </strong>These mantis-like creatures make better strikers than defenders (which still boggles my mind that the D&D Encounters pre-gen was a Battlemind), but they at least get a boost to strength.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff">Warforged</span> — A prime choice for Earthstrength and Stormheart. Your stats are perfect, and all your racial traits fit perfectly with how the Warden operates.</p><p> </p><p></p><p><strong>Monster Manual Races</strong></p><p> </p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Bugbear</span> — Bonus to Strength, plus the ability to wield oversize weapons and an encounter damage boost. If this ever gets a MM write-up, look for it to change drastically, but until then go to town.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #800080">Bullywug</span> — The aura is worthless as written, though swampwalk is situationally useful.</p><p></p><p>Duergar — Same statline as their surface brethren, their lack of decent racial traits is a severe detractor.</p><p></p><p>Githyanki — The opposite statline to the Githzerai, the racial traits just aren't as good.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #ff0000">Goblin</span> — Let your hobgoblin or bugbear friends do this instead.</p><p></p><p>Hobgoblin — You're pretty tough, we won't turn you away from being an Earthstrength or Stormheart.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #ff0000">Kenku</span> — You're squawking up the wrong tree.</p><p></p><p>Kobold — People actually want to play these things?</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Orc</span> — Similar to Half-Orcs, but their second stat boost is more appropriate for an Earthstrength or Stormheart. Their racial encounter power can be a lifesaver, though as a Warden, why aren't you using Second Wind instead?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Veep, post: 6707996, member: 6793297"] [Size=5][b]Ability Scores: What you bring to the table[/b][/size] [COLOR=#00ccff]Strength [/COLOR]— Mandatory. This is your primary stat for all attacks. It gets a stat bump every 4 and 8, no excuses. Though, as Akhorahil points out, you could feasibly start with a 16 or 17 here at level 1, since your zones, as well as Warden's Grasp, don't require attack rolls to be effective. Recommended Starting Score: 16-18, before racial adjustments [COLOR=#0000ff]Constitution[/COLOR] — Secondary stat for [COLOR=#00ccff]Earthstrength[/COLOR] and [COLOR=#0000ff]Stormheart[/COLOR]. Tertiary for others, though [COLOR=#0000ff]Wildblood[/COLOR] may want to make sure this is decent regardless. Recommended Starting Score: 14-16 for Earthstrength and Stormheart, 12-14 for Lifespirit and Wildblood, before racial adjustments Dexterity — You gotta put something in this or Intelligence, or your Reflex defense will be garbage. I recommend Dexterity, as it also bumps Initiative. If you're an +Int race, this can be your dump stat instead. If you want a mastery feat in Epic that requires Dex, you might think about this early. Recommended Starting Score: 10-12, before racial adjustments [COLOR=#ff0000]Intelligence[/COLOR] — Dump unless you're a +Int race, then dump Dex or Cha instead. Recommended Starting Score: 8-10, before racial adjustments [COLOR=#0000ff]Wisdom[/COLOR] — Secondary stat for [COLOR=#0000ff]Lifespirit[/COLOR] and [COLOR=#00ccff]Wildblood[/COLOR]. Tertiary for others who care about their Will Defense, as well as Perception-based skills. Recommended Starting Score: 14-16 for Lifespirit and Wildblood, 12-14 for Earthstrength and Stormheart, before racial adjustments [COLOR=#800080]Charisma[/COLOR] — This could very easily be a dump stat. If you don't care about Wisdom you could feasibly use this for your Will defense, but do so at your own expense. Recommended Starting Score: 8-10, before racial adjustments [Size=5][b]Races: What makes you who you are[/b][/size] [b]Player's Handbook[/b] [COLOR=#0000ff]Dragonborn[/COLOR] — Bonus to Strength (or Constitution, though you're not likely to go that way), good racial traits, and good feat support. [COLOR=#00ccff]Dwarf[/COLOR] — They were sky blue before you could get a bonus to strength. Now that they have a bonus to strength, they're still just sky blue. Why? Because they were also changed so that they only second wind as minor once per encounter. [COLOR=#800080]Eladrin[/COLOR] — If you want a pointy-eared race, try the Elf instead. Ever so slightly redeemed by Eladrin's Challenge and synergy with the greatspear, but if you're looking to defend, Swordmage suits your nature sooo much better. [COLOR=#0000ff]Elf[/COLOR] — Bonus to Wisdom, plus a boost to accuracy and speed, and can ignore difficult terrain. That almost makes up for your lack of Strength. [COLOR=#0000ff]Half-Elf[/COLOR] — Bonus to both secondary stats. You don't really need the Dilettante, so you might find that Knack for Success is a better choice. Halfling — Your lot in life certainly improved more than the gnome's. While you can now get a boost to a secondary stat, your feat support doesn't really fit the defender role at all. [COLOR=#00ccff]Human[/COLOR] — Like every other class, the usefulness of being human is somewhat difficult to judge. You can certainly have a boost to strength, and the extra feat is nothing to laugh at. You don't get a boost to your secondary, so that costs you a point in AC. Wardens don't really benefit as much from the third at-will, so Heroic Effort might catch your eye. The +1 to your NADs and the ability to become immune to Save Ends effects are enough to cross them into the sky blue zone. This immunity doesn't come cheap, mind you. Once I find a link to a sample build demonstrating its use, I will add it here. [COLOR=#0000ff]Tiefling [/COLOR]— This race gained the most from the change to having a choice of stats, as they can now get a boost to Constitution. You also have a high amount of fire resistance out of the gate (and fire is the most common damage type I've found), plus a retributive racial power and a bonus to attacks against bloodied foes. The feat support is also top notch. [b]Player's Handbook 2[/b] Deva — Boost to Wisdom, boost to accuracy, and necrotic resistance. The Elf still has a leg up on you though. [COLOR=#ff0000]Gnome[/COLOR] — It's not your lot in life to be amongst our ranks, I'm sorry. [COLOR=#00ccff]Goliath[/COLOR] — Boost to Strength and then your choice of either secondary, perfect! Your racial traits are also awesome. [COLOR=#0000ff]Half-Orc[/COLOR] — Boost to Strength (or Constitution, though you're not likely to go that way), and excellent racial traits. You're certainly welcome among our ranks. [COLOR=#00ccff]Longtooth Shifter[/COLOR] — Boost to Strength and Wis, plus a boost to damage and regen once you go bloodied. You will do perfectly as a Lifespirit or Wildblood. Razorclaw Shifter — Boost to Wisdom, and bonuses to speed and defenses once bloodied. Not quite as good as the Elf as a Lifespirit or Wildblood, but still good nonetheless. [b]Player's Handbook 3[/b] [COLOR=#0000ff]Githzerai [/COLOR]— Despite your lack of strength, you get a boost to wisdom, and your racial traits include bonuses to saving throws, defenses, and an add-on to Second Wind. Another candidate for higher secondary than primary for Lifespirit and Wildblood. [COLOR=#00ccff]Minotaur[/COLOR] — The minotaur is going to give the other top racial picks a run for their money. They get a boost to Strength, and then a boost to [i]either[/i] Con or Wis, so you can pick any build without issue. An additional healing surge, and a free swipe every time you're dropped. The charge stuff is only somewhat useful, but is always fun. Shardmind — You can optionally get a bonus to Wisdom, you're a Living Construct, and you resist psychic. Most of your other features (and racial paragon path) are keyed towards a psionic class though, so you're probably better off as a Battlemind. Wilden — I want the Wilden to be better at this task. I really do. However, they're seriously lacking on the racial features side. A Wilden Warden would probably spend most of its time in the Wrath of the Destroyer aspect. They do have boosts to both secondaries, though. [b]Other Sources[/b] Bladeling — Same stat boosts as the Elf, plus acid resistance and an encounter close burst attack. [COLOR=#ff0000]Changeling[/COLOR] — This was the first race published with a variable stat boost, and even with that all three are worthless. So are the racial traits. Drow — Along with Tiefling, the lowly (pun intended) drow got a choice of Wisdom instead of Charisma as a stat choice. Unlike the tiefling, the feat support just isn't there. [COLOR=#0000ff]Genasi[/COLOR] — Bonus to Strength makes them blue even though their second stat boost is for a dump stat. Firesoul, Earthsoul, Causticsoul, Cindersoul, and Plaguesoul are all excellent elemental manifestations. [COLOR=#0000ff]Gnoll[/COLOR] — Even though you're not as strong, your racial traits tell me that you understand what we're looking for here. You'll make a good Earthstrength or Stormheart. Kalashtar — Bonus to Wisdom, but your secondary is wasted here completely. Dual Soul is mostly irrelevant with Font of Life (it only becomes useful if you have multiple Save Ends conditions affecting you). Bastion of Mental Clarity is very good for a Lifeblood, however. [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Mul [/COLOR]— [/b]A lot like dwarves, except they don't get Dwarven Resilience. Still, what they lack in the second winding department, they make up for in the sheer toughness department. [COLOR=#0000ff]Revenant[/COLOR] — You're hard to kill, because you're already dead. You also get a bonus to Constitution, and can select the racial features from any race. [COLOR=#800080]Shadar-Kai[/COLOR] — Gaining a boost to one secondary doesn't elevate this race very far, they don't have a lot of support elsewhere. [b]Thri-Kreen — [/b]These mantis-like creatures make better strikers than defenders (which still boggles my mind that the D&D Encounters pre-gen was a Battlemind), but they at least get a boost to strength. [COLOR=#00ccff]Warforged[/COLOR] — A prime choice for Earthstrength and Stormheart. Your stats are perfect, and all your racial traits fit perfectly with how the Warden operates. [b]Monster Manual Races[/b] [COLOR=#0000ff]Bugbear[/COLOR] — Bonus to Strength, plus the ability to wield oversize weapons and an encounter damage boost. If this ever gets a MM write-up, look for it to change drastically, but until then go to town. [COLOR=#800080]Bullywug[/COLOR] — The aura is worthless as written, though swampwalk is situationally useful. Duergar — Same statline as their surface brethren, their lack of decent racial traits is a severe detractor. Githyanki — The opposite statline to the Githzerai, the racial traits just aren't as good. [COLOR=#ff0000]Goblin[/COLOR] — Let your hobgoblin or bugbear friends do this instead. Hobgoblin — You're pretty tough, we won't turn you away from being an Earthstrength or Stormheart. [COLOR=#ff0000]Kenku[/COLOR] — You're squawking up the wrong tree. Kobold — People actually want to play these things? [COLOR=#0000ff]Orc[/COLOR] — Similar to Half-Orcs, but their second stat boost is more appropriate for an Earthstrength or Stormheart. Their racial encounter power can be a lifesaver, though as a Warden, why aren't you using Second Wind instead? [/QUOTE]
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A Rock and A Hard Place: A Warden Handbook (By Alphaant)
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