Commanders Strike Range

[BobTheNob]

Just wondering with the at-will warlord power Commanders Strike. This does not actually involve and attack on behalf of the warlord and fail to specify a range. Therefore, what is the distance allowed between warlord and nominated target?

Yes, it has the melee keyword, but the warlord does not attack, so how far away from the target can the warlord be? (Please tell me this has been clarified)

 

[Tony Vargas]

The range is melee: weapon, so the target must be within the warlord's reach - typically adjacent, though reach weapons can certainly be used.

The ally taking the melee basic attack will also need to be within that 'power's range of the target, also melee: weapon.

A warlord & ally both armed with reach weapons could set up quite a lot of positioning variations to use the power, and, it can easily be one of the most damaging at-will powers in the game. A high-INT warlord, like a tiefling or eladrin, teamed with a high-STR greatweapon fighter dishes striker-like damage with a commander's strike. Now that 'Melee Training' is available, almost any ally can potentially be used to deliver some serious damage with Commander's Strike, too.

 

[DracoSuave]

fail to specify a range.

Yes, it has the melee keyword

The range of every power is the word immediately after the attack-type for all powers except Personal, where the range is Personal.

Melee weapon means that the range of the power is equal to the reach of your weapon, and that you must use a melee weapon to determine this.

The range is explicitly written in the power. The above poster is right. Also not the ally must also be in your own weapon range. So you can't use a non-reach weapon to flank with this power.


This is verified in the FAQ and as well in the How to Read a Power sections of both PHB and PHB2.

A warlord & ally both armed with reach weapons could set up quite a lot of positioning variations to use the power, and, it can easily be one of the most damaging at-will powers in the game. A high-INT warlord, like a tiefling or eladrin, teamed with a high-STR greatweapon fighter dishes striker-like damage with a commander's strike. Now that 'Melee Training' is available, almost any ally can potentially be used to deliver some serious damage with Commander's Strike, too.

Indeed. Warlords have some -very- good damage outlay with this at-will, as well as feats that give bonuses to granted basic attacks.

 

[Merlin the Tuna]

Also not the ally must also be in your own weapon range. So you can't use a non-reach weapon to flank with this power.

This is incorrect. The FAQ states "The target of the Commander's Strike must be within melee reach of both the Warlord and the chosen ally who will make the basic melee attack." There's no condition on where the warlord is relative to his ally, just that they both can reach the target.

 

[DracoSuave]

This is incorrect. The FAQ states "The target of the Commander's Strike must be within melee reach of both the Warlord and the chosen ally who will make the basic melee attack." There's no condition on where the warlord is relative to his ally, just that they both can reach the target.

Dur, Draco needs to learn to read! Editting my post above then!

 

[Eldorian]

We have a guy in our group who still refuses to understand this power.

 

[Amphimir Míriel]

A little narrative of a Commander's Strike example for those who don't "get" this power.

The Warlord boldly steps towards the enemy warrior, who looked intent on hewing the small halfling in two.

--"Hey, you! Pick on someone your own size!"

The Warlord feints and parries his opponent's sword, locking it for a few seconds with his weapon and shield.

--"Now, Lidda, NOW!"

The halfling smiles, seeing how the warrior is momentarily clinched in close combat with the Warlord and slides her dagger between the plates of his armor...
The big-headed Warlord can be a bit bossy, she thought, but he certainly can bring the team together...

 

[tiornys]

We have a guy in our group who still refuses to understand this power.

If he's willing to do the work, there's an excessively lengthy thread over on the WotC boards that has dissected the power down to approximately the quark level.

Personally, I suggest just accepting the FAQ ruling and moving on, but there's over 1,800 posts of discussion for those who want to get into the nitty-gritty.

t~

 

[BobTheNob]

If he's willing to do the work, there's an excessively lengthy thread over on the WotC boards that has dissected the power down to approximately the quark level.

Personally, I suggest just accepting the FAQ ruling and moving on, but there's over 1,800 posts of discussion for those who want to get into the nitty-gritty.

t~

Thanks, but no need.

I accept the general consensus. Weapon range it is. Thx all for contribution

 

[Legildur]

Yeah, thanks everyone for explaining this further. I thought it was odd when watching our Warlord sit back and generate free attacks for others. It didn't feel right at the time, but as we were in the middle of combat we didn't investigate too closely. He'll be disappointed on Friday when I tell him.