Defenders, marking and reactions

[Mephistopheles]

I'm not a fan of how marks, particularly the application and tracking of them, have been used to represent the "taunting" mechanic of defenders and have been thinking about some ways to change them. The problem with changing marking mechanics is that they are entwined with much of the power design for defenders. The changes I'm proposing below would obsolete the component of powers that mark targets and so would necessitate some changes to those powers to make up for that.

Rather than tackling the powers right away I'll first propose some defender class feature changes: defender presence, and removing marking requirements on some features that require it in the RAW and instead relying on the limitation of immediate actions. While giving all defenders presence based marking makes them identical in that regard they are enabled to act against marked enemies in different ways by the RAW so shouldn't feel too much alike in play.

I haven't given much thought to overlapping defender presences. It probably wouldn't hurt to simply let the target be considered marked by multiple defenders but not stack the -2 to hit. In the case of immediate actions being triggered, either have the defenders react in initiative order or let the players choose the order.

FIGHTER

Martial Presence - Fighter Feature
Enemies adjacent to you are considered to be marked by you.

PALADIN

Divine Presence - Paladin Feature
Enemies adjacent to you are considered to be marked by you.

Divine Challenge (rewrite)
At-Will * Divine
Minor Action * Personal
Effect: You prime yourself to challenge an enemy. When an enemy within 10 squares of you makes an attack that does not include you as a target you can use an immediate interrupt to reduce the damage dealt by that attack to any one creature by an amount equal to 3 + your Wisdom modifier (6 + Wisdom modifier at 11th, 9 + Wisdom modifier at 21st).
Additionally, after the triggering attack is fully resolved, you may choose to shift 1 square or to pull the triggering enemy 1 square. If you choose to shift you must end the shift closer to the triggering enemy.

SWORDMAGE

Arcane Presence - Swordmage Feature
Enemies adjacent to you are considered to be marked by you.

Aegis of Assault/Ensarement/Shielding
The swordmage spends a minor on his turn to prime his aegis, but does not select a target and so no enemy is marked by this feature. Otherwise as written for each particular aegis, including the immediate interrupt or reaction to enact the effect.

WARDEN

Primal Presence - Warden Feature
Enemies adjacent to you are considered to be marked by you.

Warden's Grasp
As written but the triggering enemy does not have to be marked.

 

[Garthanos]

I'm not a fan of how marks, particularly the application and tracking of them, have been used to represent the "taunting" mechanic of defenders and have been thinking about some ways to change them.

I think of a martial mark as representing "obvious threat", I think of it as I am too dangerous to ignore syndrome? My presence will distract you from your objectives if they do not include me... and when I am creating this threat by engaging you I can also react to what you are doing.

I see the idea you have of allowing more than one fighter mark somebody (with no compound of penalties) I kind of like that idea... So two fighters can concentrate on an enemy and respond if the enemy tries to withdraw etc. but the enemy is only so distracted...