Consequences of simplifying marking

[Kzach]

This thread asks the question: what would the consequences be within 4e if the mark mechanic were to be changed using the rules presented in this post?

The rule change I'm thinking of is that you do away with the mark as a pseudo-condition and instead incorporate it into the role of the defender, ie. any creature adjacent to a character with this class trait (call it Defender Training or something) is automatically affected by the conditions of the mark rules, but it does not require having the pseudo-condition of 'marked' being placed upon it.

This would rid the table of a lot of bottle rings, for one thing, and be one less thing that needs to be micro-managed. No forgetting which creature is or isn't marked. You could still have things like Divine Sanction, it's simply that they operate outside of the new mark mechanic as independent powers.

Thoughts?

 

[Kzach]

After thinking on this a bit, I've come up with another question: why have marking as a mechanic at all? More often than not, it's the opportunity attack or immediate reaction or interrupt of the defender that is the real disincentive to attack a defender's ally, and on top of that, a mark is very... boring. All the fun comes from the powers, not the mark itself. It would be easy to rewrite all the powers as not requiring a marked opponent at all. The inherent requirements of opportunity attacks and the powers themselves are enough to cover all the bases that marks do.

 

[Rune]

It seems that you're describing the defender aura that Essentials-style defenders get. Do you mean that you'd like to expand on that philosophy?

 

[Kzach]

It seems that you're describing the defender aura that Essentials-style defenders get. Do you mean that you'd like to expand on that philosophy?

No, it means that I'd like to do away with the power structure altogether and simply say a class that is designated as a defender gets the 'Mark' characteristic that means any enemy adjacent to them suffers the marked condition.

 

[Rune]

No, it means that I'd like to do away with the power structure altogether and simply say a class that is designated as a defender gets the 'Mark' characteristic that means any enemy adjacent to them suffers the marked condition.

That's pretty much what the Defender Aura does. Yeah, it's a power (and it costs a minor action to activate), but if you just adjust it to always on, it's not really a power, anymore. Of course, the punishment still is...

 

[the Jester]

Yeah, that's functionally what the Essentials defenders have.

 

[Kzach]

That's pretty much what the Defender Aura does.

Sigh.

Yeah, it's a power (and it costs a minor action to activate), but if you just adjust it to always on, it's not really a power, anymore. Of course, the punishment still is...

Gee, really, ya think?

And it only took three posts for you to get it...

 

[El Mahdi]

Thoughts?

My thought is that I think it's very not cool to invite peoples thoughts, and then act rude toward those who provide them. Just because replies don't adhere to expectations, is no reason to be a jerk to those that take the time and effort to reply.

Gee, really, ya think?

And it only took three posts for you to get it...

Can't imagine why nobody else has come along and offered their thoughs on your idea. Especially considering the friendly and open environment you've taken such great pains to cultivate in this thread...

 

[The Halfling]

I have to agree with the other posters. Why reinvent the wheel?

While you could write it up as a class ability, it is better to write it up as a power as it is more concise to write it as a power. Keywords, such as Aura, contain rules that can be several paragraphs in length.

It's just a better communication tool to utilize the power format.

I also disagree with the premise that the -2 from marking is not the primary disincentive. I feel that is is, since most or the really cool triggered effects/powers are immediate actions anyway, so you only get your special trick once per round.

Now, as to your OP, I agree with the premise of removing marking, to a certain extent. I think it should be removed from Martial classes, and replaced with a reworded Defender's Aura. Leave "true" marking to the more mystical classes, like the paladin, swordmage, and warden.

Reword the Defender Aura to say "Any enemy that enters or starts it's turn in the aura". This coupled with the rules detailed under the Aura keyword, gives stickyness that the Knight is currently missing. This is because as written the -2 to attack does not linger. With the reword, it lingers UEONT for the enemy, due to the rules for Auras. Now its a condition.