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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Redbadge" data-source="post: 5582322" data-attributes="member: 61463">I like the essentials classes, and I don't think that they have less complexity or options either in play or in building (notwithstanding the vampire, which would benefit from additional options). I'm playing a level 4 thief right now. I have four at-wills (Acrobat's Trick, Ambush Trick, Unbalancing Trick, and Acrobat's Recovery Utility). I have four encounter powers (Backstab, Battle Awareness, Heroic Effort, and Low Slash). I have two daily powers (Power Jewel and Vanguard Rapier). Like most other characters, my at-wills consist of a basic attack that is amped up with something else. My at-will attack otions include knocking a character prone, doing extra damage, or attacking with automatic combat advantage against a creature that is all alone. I do excel at charging, and it is my best interests to constantly search for opportunities to charge into combat advantage. However, it is not always possible or desirable to do it every round. My at-will movement surpasses most other classes, except for maybe the monk. I can shift 2 squares at-will, stand up from prone as a minor at-will, or move with a climb speed of 4 at-will. My encounters are also very similiar to other characters. Like encounter powers from other classes, my attacks are at-wills either with more damage or additional effect. I have a very flavorful Backstab for my thief, which is a highly accurate and damaging compared to my at-wills. In addition to turning a miss into a hit, this attack also has the option of knocking prone, dealing additional damage, or being triggered by automatic combat advantage. Battle awareness is an out-of-turn attack prized by all types of strikers, and low slash is one of the best rogue powers available to any type of rogue. I still have daily options, though it is true that I will never have any daily attacks like other classes. At level 4, this will impact one encounter per day compared to other characters. In exchange, my at-will attacks are more potent all day long. I only miss on a 1 versus average monsters of my level and I have two encounter options to change any misses I do have to hits for those pesky soldiers and solos. (+5 Dex + 2 Level + 3 prof + 1 enhancement + 1 Weapon Talent + 1 expertise + 1 charge + 2 CA = +16 vs AC 18). My attacks also deal much more damage than any one else in party, by far, such that my at-wills deal more damage than any of my allies' dailies. On top of my superior mobility and damage, my skills are a very strong part of my character. Some people say that essentials is not idea for power-gaming, that essentials classes are somehow less powerful or unoptimizable. The consensus on the 4e optimization boards is different. For example, the thief is considered the best practically optimized striker from 1-30. There are classes that deal more damage per round at any given level, but no class is competetive like the theif at every single level. At low heroic, there is no more damaging striker than the thief. I put a lot of time into thinking about and putting together my character, and I had to make many decisions. Even among the "optimized" builds there are many ways to go with the thief. With a less damage focused build, there would be even more decisions to make. Note that though I'm trying to go for a highly damaging, but otherwise versatile thief, I will not be taking Kulkor Arms Master because I don't find it flavorful at all.</blockquote>

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