Battle Mage's Arcane Ripose is still useless

[MadLordOfMilk]

IMHO damage should tend to be lower than what you could get using other Wizard at-will powers. This should be a situational bonus, not a primary staple.

Cheers, -- N

Rather than make it a standard action, why not make it an opportunity action? Wouldn't that solve the problem, without having to gimp its effectiveness?

 

[On Puget Sound]

I think I will just add the Implement keyword. Yes, it's 3 points worse than a fighter with a longsword. Guess what, you're a wizard in melee. You should be 3 points worse than a fighter with a longsword.

 

[DracoSuave]

The thing is... who cares about Arcane Riposte?

+4 to attack when you action point is HUGE. Imagine a human with this doing that. You simply don't miss with an action point. Your dailies WILL devastate.

Battle Edge. A free at-will as an immediate reaction when you first get bloodied can be -very- handy as well. It doesn't even have to be against the target that bloodied you. Very nice for getting out of a pickle.

Forceful Retort. Enemy only short burst that knocks prone and pushes 1. Not too shabby for an encounter.

Closing Spell. Let's see. 8d10+stuff damage in Area burst 5, enemies only, so long as you used your dailies... something you might do often given you have +4 to AP spent...


Who cares about Arcane Riposte when the rest is gravy sauce and bacon?

 

[Atlatl Jones]

Who cares about Arcane Riposte when the rest is gravy sauce and bacon?

I don't think anyone is arguing that it should be a powerful option, just that it shouldn't be completely useless.

 

[Nifft]

I don't think anyone is arguing that it should be a powerful option, just that it shouldn't be completely useless.

This, exactly and precisely.

Given how rarely Opportunity Attacks will matter for a Wizard -- who is usually someone towards whom critters will try to incur such attacks, not away from whom they'll flee -- I've chosen to give critters a potential reason to run away (i.e. a tolerable melee attack option). IMHO having the latter will make the former more relevant, and the net result isn't overpowered. (Not compared to a Blood Mage, that's for certain.)

Cheers, -- N

 

[MrMyth]

I think outright giving them a melee basic attack is way too much, and clearly beyond the original intention. Giving them instead just an opportunity action along those lines, or letting them add their implement bonus (or an appropriate +4/+6 equivalent with the current version) would be pretty much perfect, in my book. Fits the original goal of the power, doesn't change anything too dramatically, but makes the ability usable rather than meaningless.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Arcane Riposte •Battle Mage Attack 11
At-will • Arcane, Implement, and Cold, Fire, Force or Lightning (see below)
Opporty Action • Melee
Trigger: An enemy provokes an opportunity attack from you by moving or making an area or ranged attack.
Target: The triggering creature
Attack: Intelligence +2 vs. AC.
Damage: 1d6 + Int damage.
Level 21: 2d6 + Int damage.
Special: When you use this power, choose cold, fire, force, or lightning. This power deals that type of damage (and has that keyword).

I prefer to keep it an opportunity attack and not to make it a regular attack.

 

[sfedi]

As DM I frequently provoque OAs from Wizards and the like to position the monsters better around him, or when using certain attacks like Trample.
It's typical to do that for monsters that rush through the front line to reach the squishies in the back.

 

[DracoSuave]

I don't think anyone is arguing that it should be a powerful option, just that it shouldn't be completely useless.

I wouldn't call it useless. It's an improvement for a wizard who's a tome-and-orb dual wielding phenomenon. Not -all- wizards worship at the alter of Staff of Defense.

 

[Nifft]

I prefer to keep it an opportunity attack and not to make it a regular attack.

In that case, I'd suggest you make it slightly better than a single-target at-will power.

Cheers, -- N