Best of the Best - Guardian Fighter.

[Kzach]

Hmm, in the big empty space that is my head, I had pictured doing this as one thread but after realising that the poll would require 56 options that way, I had to make this four new threads.

Part of me feels bad about clogging up the forums but I really am enjoying the insights I'm getting from these threads. And now that it's half-way done, I need to complete the project!

So these four polls will be the last of them and are solely to determine which race is the best suit for each of the classes chosen. After these, I'll construct the iconics using one feedback thread in... err... house rules?

If I had to pin down only one thing I didn't like about 4e, it'd be static ability bonuses. In any game I run, I give the players two +2 floating ability bonuses to replace all the racial ones. That way, races aren't pigeon-holed into certain class options.

But, there you have it, the system as written does this, and what iconic character of this system wouldn't be optimised? We can't all play Rath.

 

[DracoSuave]

Sword and Board? Probably Human.

Polearm? Goliath.

 

[Mr. Wilson]

Hmm, I'd vote Warforged if I had that option.

It's between Human (3rd at-will, extra feat, + 2 one stat), Dwarf (SW as a minor is fabulous, bonuses to Wis and Con), Goliath (Str/Con bonus), and Warforged (Str/Con bonus, Warforged Resolve).

Since Warforged is not on the list, I'll go with Goliath.

 

[Turtlejay]

Guardian Fighter implies sword and shield. From the Compendium:

GUARDIAN FIGHTER

To fight better, you fight smarter. You’re willing to trade offense for superior defenses and better ability to control the battlefield around you. You fight with a heavy shield and a good one-handed weapon, such as a longsword, flail, or battleaxe. Like the great weapon fighter, you make Strength your best ability score. After that, prioritize your Dexterity to take advantage of weapons that can be improved by Dexterity-based feats, or your Wisdom to make the most of the combat superiority class feature. You’re hard to hurt and hard to move away from. Select powers that make use of your one-handed weapon and shield, as well as take advantage of your higher Dexterity score.

I went with human. Extra at-will is nice. It is hard not to bring flavor into this. I like Eladrin and Dwarven fighters a lot, but I'm not sure I think they are *best*.

Jay

 

[Garthanos]

Oh I might have picked warforged.. but Longtooth Shifter is Str Wis and regenerative(CON is less important at that point). I am also tempted to go through every class and pick human...(humans rock in 4e)

 

[DracoSuave]

True, but a Goliath/Stoneblessed/Eternal Defender is probably the best at guardian-style fightering, i.e. control and position denial.

Reach 4 melee attacks that knock dudes prone is pretty sweet.

Come to think of it tho, reach 3 sword-and-board goliath.... yes.

 

[Kzach]

I didn't put Warforged in there for two reasons: part of the purpose of this is to come up with an iconic set of heroes for 4e, and Warforged are specifically Eberron, not generic 4e.

That, and I truly despise them

My choice would be between Goliath, Dwarf, Human and Longtooth Shifter. I still haven't decided. Part of me abhors choosing the Longtooth Shifter despite being statistically very good for the role. I can't stand these weird new races being core. Human is great for the extra feat and at-will, making them a very versatile guardian fighter that has plate sooner than the other races. And dwarves... dwarves just rock.

Goliath's have the stats and the damage reduction is nice. This is a tough one. It's especially tough because you have to consider the racial feats and paragon paths as well. Guh! My head is spinning

 

[Flipguarder]

That, and I truly despise them

You are giving me a headache by saying this while using deadpool as your avatar...

 

[Turtlejay]

You are giving me a headache by saying this while using deadpool as your avatar...

This made me laugh a touch harder than I should have. Folks are looking at me and I can't explain what was so funny...

If the poll had shown great weapon fighters, I'm sure Goliath would be the runaway choice. It is just that using a shield and one handed weapon doesn't seem to be the territory of any one race. Enter Humans, jack of all trades, and they can make pretty much any build work.

Jay

 

[DracoSuave]

Not so fast tho.

It really comes down to the utility of Stoneblessed and Eternal Defender. Greatweapon doesn't -really- play into it, it's only one point of damage. Not even one per tier, just one point. But, the defensive benefits of a goliath, as well as that sweet sweet reach on your controlling movement lockdown... -that- is the advantage of Goliath.

No extra feat can give you a reach 3 1d12 bastard sword hit.


I personally laughed at Deadpool saying he didn't like Warforged, and that they were Eberron-specific, then going on to say a Shifter was A-OK.