Are there too few known encounter powers?

[Byronic]

There are always minions to kill at every level. Since they require a "Hit" to kill you can't count on "damage shield" abilities. There's no sense wasting an encounter power on a minion.

Well, some encounter powers might be nice, especially the AoE ones. A Dragon's breath or Acid arrow could take out quite a few minions which clears the field.

 

[Bold or Stupid]

Purpose? Is that in the MM?

No, but the dolphin stats should work just fine.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I don't think so. Encounter power spamming would be just as boring. Encounter and Daily powers only stay interesting if they still feel special, and you have to be careful when to use them.

That said, I am pretty sure that a lot of encounter powers are still used best in the first rounds of combat.

Since everyone has at least two at-will powers, this means each round people have still at least one power choice to make. In addition, some classes seem to have some extra features built in, that also require making choices and getting special abilities - marking, selecting a quarry, sneak attacking someone...

 

[Olfactatron]

That said, I am pretty sure that a lot of encounter powers are still used best in the first rounds of combat.

I don't know about that. For one reason, there are a number of E powers we've seen that dole out some healing. Clerics, paladins and warlords at the very least have access to these. Using them in the first round of combat would be a total waste.
Another thing is that when I'm using an encounter power I want to be sure it's going to work and to that end I want to be targeting the monsters weakest defense. At will powers are a good way of finding out which one of them it could be, and then once you have it narrowed down, go in for the kill.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I don't know about that. For one reason, there are a number of E powers we've seen that dole out some healing.

That's why I didn't say "all" of them. Healing powers are definitely powers you want to delay. But dealing massive damage should be done early. (but don't waste it on minions!)

 

[DeusExMachina]

But dealing massive damage should be done early. (but don't waste it on minions!)

Not quite, actually... Some monsters get way more nasty when they are bloodied because they deal extra damage or get healing, etc. In that case you should wait with your high damage powers until you get the enemy bloodied and then unleash all hell on him...

 

[Aloïsius]

4 adventurers. 4 encounter powers. That's 16 different encounter powers used in a fight, plus daily, utilities, items and at will powers. I think we have enough options...

 

[mmu1]

4 adventurers. 4 encounter powers. That's 16 different encounter powers used in a fight, plus daily, utilities, items and at will powers. I think we have enough options...

I think it's a stretch to assume that all 4 encounter powers will be useful in any given encounter.

They'd have to be pretty generic for that to be the case.

 

[hong]

I think it's a stretch to assume that all 4 encounter powers will be useful in any given encounter.

They'd have to be pretty generic for that to be the case.

I think it's a stretch that there are problems that cannot be fixed with a fireball.

 

[Pickles JG]

Lets say a fight lasts 10 rounds.

And lets say I have the following.

2 at will powers.
2 per encounter powers.
2 daily powers.
2 encounter powers from items.
1 racial per encounter power.

Is this going to be a problem?

The item & racial powers mostly seem to be reactive like rerolls or adding damage so they do not compete for the same actions as attack powers. I am not saying they will not give you options but you will still run out of dailies & encounters just as fast as if you did not have these powers.

FWIW I think there will be enough options & you can also buy another encounter power with a multiclass feat.