Bracers of Mighty Striking: Near Useless?

[James McMurray]

I think the 'lock is actually stabbing stuff ...

That makes entirely too much sense.

 

[James McMurray]

I'd say about half of your attacks will be basic attacks - You only have 4 encounter attacks a day from level 11+?

So I'd say its pretty decent.

At-Wills are not basic melee attacks. Unless you're ignoring your (usually better) at will abilities, you'll be making much more non-basic attacks.

 

[toxicspirit]

Bracers of the Perfect Shot seem pretty much useless for an Archer-Ranger.

 

[Nikodemus]

Bracers of the Perfect Shot seem pretty much useless for an Archer-Ranger.

Unless the have fox cunning, group with a warlord, or have any other abilities that grant basic attacks. Just because you don't see a use doesn't make them useless.

 

[keterys]

It's extremely useful if you expect to take OAs, are a fighter, have a warlord in the party, or have situational melee at-wills.

That seems like a good enough justification to me.

 

[Victoly]

What else are you going to put in that slot on a melee character that doesn't use a shield?

Bracers of Defense. Taking less damage is always kinda nice.

Charging and the Warlord abilities did kinda change my mind on this one, though - thanks for your suggestions, people. And the item is incredibly cheap as well.

And yeah - for the fighter who doesn't have Sure Strike or Reaping Strike it makes sense.

 

[Incenjucar]

I'm going to go with the "these are great" crowd on this one.

 

[Saeviomagy]

A brute rogue has a good use for them too - agile riposte is a great power if your strength is good.

 

[Sphyre]

Boosting basic melee attacks is not a bad thing.

Things you do without needing anyone else to gain benefit from them:

• Charging
• Basic attack - which you've now boosted to higher damage potential than your at wills. Use your at-wills only when you want the special effect and basic attack when you need to dish out the hurt. Effectively giving you another at will of "str vs AC, Hit: 1[W] + Str mod + x"

Things you can do with your ally's help

• Warlord granting extra attacks. If the warlord does this a lot, it'll be your best friend.

Things provoked from enemies

• Marked enemies or enemies passing by provoke opportunity attacks in which you get +wis mod (on provokers only) to hit and +x damage to it.

Near useless? No, not at all, by a long shot. Not useful for every character? Indeed, but pact blades and holy avengers aren't useful for every character either.

 

[Ganders]

These bracers might be near useless for a fighter. But for casters (ie Wizard, Warlock), their melee attacks are almost always basic attacks, so the +2 almost always applies. A warlock with a pact blade is a good example... but so is a warlock with a warhammer.

A warlock with a high CON (dwarf, perhaps) and the Hammer Rhythm feat does an average of at least 10 damage (sometimes more) against a cursed foe even on a miss, and considerably more on a hit -- so he should make plenty of basic attacks.