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Message: <blockquote data-quote="WalterKovacs" data-source="post: 4689734" data-attributes="member: 63763">One thing you left out of the equation that is also important: 1 completely vanilla thing he can do every round ... that every other class is also doing. Part of at-wills is that it helps make classes seem different. Once the fight reaches basic attack only mode every class suddenly plays exactly the same, the only differences being stats. The only thing really defined by class is weapon proficiencies, but that is one feat away from not mattering. VERY few classes rely on a single at-will exclusively. There is the ranger, which basically twin strikes unless they need to get away. That however has to do with lack of compelling options for the ranger's at-wills more than anything else. However, even in the current system, there are quite a few uses for basic attacks: 1 - Charging. Extremely important during the surprise round, and when you are getting up from prone. With many STR based characters focussing on melee combat, it's basically a ranged attack which they would otherwise lack. 2 - Heavy thrown. Similar to the above, in situations where a STR based character needs to attack from ranged, such as against flying foes, they will rarely have an at-will power that can give them the distance they need, so a javelin or throwing hammer, etc is needed. 3 - Opportunity attacks, and with them stuff like the fighter's interupt, and the swordmage's reaction. This is a situation where characters that don't focus on STR end up being "ignorable" as threats in terms of OAs. 4 - Warlords, more than any other class, provide basic attacks (although there are some magic items, etc, that provide free basic attacks). It is, in part, because of this that there are many spellcasting classes that have at-wills which are usable as basic attacks, so that those classes can benefit from a warlord as well. Still, there are situations where classes are rewarded for their STR. One great example is the rogue, as the warlord can often give a strong rogue extra chances to hit his sneak attack damage in the event he missed earlier. Heck one of their at-wills is another PCs basic attack with a bonus. Now basic attacks aren't going to be what people go to as their first choice, but it will come up in play. And the characters that choose to completely ignore their basic attacks (specifically str) will end up being completely non-threatening in terms of OAs, and enemies will probably treat them accordingly as far as walking past them, etc.</blockquote>

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