DDXP characters - unexpected tactics?

[Exen Trik]

Going over the pregen sheets from DDXP, I noticed that the warlock had a class(?) ability that gave them a +1 to hit a target if they were the closest opponent to the target.

Two thoughts on this:

First of all, I'm pretty sure this is a feat, since it is a passive ability applies to any ranged attack. It probably replaces point blank shot.

Second, it doesn't require you to be closest, just no further away than anyone else. So naturally this will result in multiple ranged attackers using this feat lining up against or circling in on their targets. These kinds of inherent tactics are deliciously themey.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Second, it doesn't require you to be closest, just no further away than anyone else. So naturally this will result in multiple ranged attackers using this feat lining up against or squaring in on their targets.

FIF4E.

-Hyp.

 

[RandomCitizenX]

Oi. I'll try to be more clear, now that I have a little more info. Here's the chronology as I understand it.

(1) Approximately five weeks ago, the pregen character sheets were printed with soon to be incorrect mechanics for the Paladin.
(2) The incorrect mechanics involved the Paladin using the marking ability, something also available to (as far as we know at this point) the Fighter, Rogue, Range and Warlock. Sure they call it something different, but it's basically the same thing.
(3) The reason for the needed change (without taking into account flavor issues related to cowardly Paladins) is that the Paladin's mark did damage if the creature doesn't attack the Paladin, ultimately creating a situation where a Paladin can kill just about anything simply by marking it and then making a quick getaway.

So, at this late stage of the game (four months to release and who knows how soon to printing) they had either:

(1) Only recently added this ability to the Paladin's suite of powers and just as quickly modified it.

Or

(2) Had only recently realized that a 1st level power that should at this point be thoroughly play-tested was suddenly discovered to have what seems like a pretty obvious glitch.

Like I said. It concerns me. They've been working on this for two years and they're adding glitchy powers to classes this late in the game?

You left out
(3) The tweaked version which allowed for the loophole had just been tested and found out to be lacking, but not quickly enough to make it for the DDXP sheet deadline

 

[Oldtimer]

First of all, I'm pretty sure this is a feat, since it is a passive ability applies to any ranged attack.

Nope, it's listed under Class Abilities for Tira (the warlock).

 

[ThirdWizard]

Dude. If you don't have anything worthwhile to contribute to the thread, please refrain from doing so.

Yeah, because yet another argument about this is so worthwhile when we could be talking about something original.. :\


So in the spirit of the thread:

- Because you can flank with ranged weapons, the ranger, with Nimble Strike could give flanking to other characters, use Nimble strike to shift, attack, then use her Move to shift back. If the enemy attacked, she could Fox’s Cunning away and retaliate, then Fey Step away on her turn.
- Bloodhunt and Infernal Wrath work great together, and it was often worth it to wait on using an encounter ability until after he hit with an at-will just to gain the bonus to hit for the big encounter or daily attack. This means not starting out with one's more powerful attacks and building up to them.

Those were the two I noticed that I didn't see coming.

 

[Exen Trik]

Nope, it's listed under Class Abilities for Tira (the warlock).

Huh. Seems too general use for a warlock specific feature, maybe it's derived from being a half-elf? Or an optional feat granted by the class? Well whatever, the effect is the same, even though bands of warlocks aren't quite what I had in mind...

squaring

Oh, bother.

I'm thinking of house ruling that to 1-2-2-2... , simple and sorta roundish. Octagon bursts beat squared ones any day.

 

[Wolfspider]

You left out
(3) The tweaked version which allowed for the loophole had just been tested and found out to be lacking, but not quickly enough to make it for the DDXP sheet deadline

Again, a massed email with a corrected attachment would have fixed this problem in minutes.

 

[The Little Raven]

Nope, it's listed under Class Abilities for Tira (the warlock).

Class and Race Abilities. That's the key component missing, since it may be a racial ability (seems to be some kind of variation of the elven accuracy power).

 

[Dausuul]

If I make a mistake on a handout or syllabus or whatever, I can get a corrected copy out to my students through the class website and/or email in less than 10 minutes. I can't believe that a major corporation would not also be able to do so at least as well as I can.

You clearly have never dealt with a major corporation.

Increased size does not mean quicker response time, rather the opposite.

 

[Wolfspider]

You clearly have never dealt with a major corporation.

Increased size does not mean quicker response time, rather the opposite.

Hmm.

I'm not totally convinced by this reasoning. I worked for a large corporation--one that is larger that Wizards of the Coast, I'm sure--and they weren't paralyzed by bureaucracy when it came to errata. Perhaps WotC is, but I don't think that would excuse them in this instance.

I would have thought that the importance of giving a good first impression of the new rules would have made making sure such mistakes were clarified as soon as possible.

Heck, even an email to each of the people running the game with a brief explanation of the problem and a quick fix would have done the job.

Again, it puzzles me.