Charismatic Swordmage?

[AlexS]

Hey, how's it going?

Short version:
Would changing the swordmage to being a charisma-based class throw up any major problems?

Long version:
I'm planning on running an introductory game of 4e for some friends as a spot of after-dinner entertainment. I was planning on statting up a few characters and making some power cards to make things easier to just pick up and play, and figured that making a character for each role would be sensible.

However, one girl wants to be an elf magic user, but doesn't really want to be the book-smart wizard type. (Besides, another player has already shotgunned the wizard.)

Now, I initially figured that going with a feypact warlock would do the job, but I've heard here and there online that warlocks are difficult to use well, and, looking at it, it seems maybe a touch complicated for a complete beginner, with all the concealment and having to think about flanking and so on. (She's not the most tactically-minded person.)

My second idea to keep her happy was to replace the swordmage's intelligence requirements with charisma- like a 3e sorceror vs wizard. Fluff-wise, a bit more swashbuckling, a little less jedi. I've figured that they will be missing out on some armour class bonus (Or at least a bit more MAD). Is that a big deal? Is there anything else I haven't thought of?

Using the standard point buy, I would probably run with an elf assault swordmage with:

S:14 D:16 Con:13 I:10 W:10 Ch:16

FWIW, the rest of the party will probably be a human warlord, an eladrin wizard, and a human ranger. (Or a human paladin, if I decide to go with the warlock.)

I'm not too worried about sticking too closely to RAW or the long-term consequences for higher levels, as this is meant to be a spot of after-dinner entertainment- I just want to make sure I'm not going to horribly break the game for everyone else, as I'm not hugely familiar with the 4e rules just yet.

 

[FireLance]

I doubt that making a swordmage's abilities key off Charisma instead of Intelligence would cause any major problems. To further emphasize the swashbuckler aspect, you might also want to consider removing History from the class skill list and replacing it with Bluff instead.

 

[scarik]

Swordmage doesn't really say 'elf magic user' to me at all either way.

I also don't think Swordmage is much less complicated than Warlock for a rank newb.

I'd go with an Eladrin teleportation machine and give her plenty of minions to kill and bounce around all over the place.

 

[Nifft]

From a strictly mechanical standpoint, the Int -> Cha switch would bring about one huge change: the PC could dump Int and Dex, put everything in Cha and Str, and wear heavy armor. The Swordmage is a lightly armored PC precisely because Int adds to AC in light armor. Allowing Int to be a dump stat removes that conflict. So, expect a Cha-based Swordmage to play more like a heavy Paladin than like a Rogue.

On that note, I'd suggest using a Warlock or Rogue. Strikers are easier to handle for newbies than Defenders, since Defenders are all about team play, while the Striker can add value even if played "naively".

Cheers, -- N

 

[DracoSuave]

Let's face it, Swordmage is a much more complicated class to figure out than Warlock.

Warlock: Add your bonuses once, maybe twice, proceed to blast face.

Swordmage: Add your bonus once, then again, then compare to feats, then see which get the bonus, which don't, then consult the updates for any changes to how certain feats work and don't work regarding weapon/implements...

As it stands, Swordmages are slaves to errata.

 

[AlexS]

Hmm, I had figured that a defender would probably be more straightforward, but the consensus seems to be that the warlock would be easier to use than the swordmage. Back to the drawing board, I suppose. Thanks guys!

 

[dammitbiscuit]

As it stands, Swordmages are slaves to errata.

I lol'ed.

And then... a tear escaped my eye. Claustrophobia gripped my heart. I feared.

 

[Squizzle]

Sounds like a Cunning Bard, definitely. If you have DDI, the preview is worth checking out.

 

[AlexS]

Sounds like a Cunning Bard, definitely. If you have DDI, the preview is worth checking out.

Cheers, that seems a pretty good fit!