...hopefully in a form I can buy in a FLGS?
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Essentials multiclassing playtest?
- Thread starter BobTheNob
- Start date
...hopefully in a form I can buy in a FLGS?
AbdulAlhazred
Legend
yeah, doubtful. Anyway 'playtest' can last any arbitrary amount of time. Presumably it indicates that the stuff will eventually go into CB, but there's IIRC still plenty of other stuff needing to go in there already.
Fortunately, not being on a proper computer until I get mine fixed I can't check the original article. However, I specifically remember on the Warlock and Rogue playtest articles that there was a deadline for feedback on the article. After that deadline I figure it's gotta take around a month or two to sort all that feedback out and put it up on a whiteboard and decided what they want to do with it. Just a guess. Could be way off. Don't expect the Rogue one to even take that long.
Estlor
Explorer
I think I heard over on the WotC board the idea was to make it and the Warlock update final for the end of July. Could be misremembering the part about the hybrids though.
After having a chance to play around with these more, I think the biggest thing the article needs is lots of clarification. The way some of the abilities - like Assassin Strike (hybrid) and Dread Smite (hybrid) for instance - are worded almost makes it sound like you could never choose that option even though logically you should have to take them at least once. Likewise, we need some direction on what at-will a hybrid Sentinel gets (do they get to choose between their companion attack or a druid at-will, or just their companion attack and no at-will) and whether the correct interpretation of the hybrid binder is they have to pick from a pact encounter power or if they can pick any warlock encounter power.
This is part of the problem with having powers tied into class traits and then deconstructing that model.
On the other hand, does anyone else thing the problems with the original Assassin and the Executioner as strikers could be fixed by allowing them to hybrid with themselves, making an Assassin|Executioner?
After having a chance to play around with these more, I think the biggest thing the article needs is lots of clarification. The way some of the abilities - like Assassin Strike (hybrid) and Dread Smite (hybrid) for instance - are worded almost makes it sound like you could never choose that option even though logically you should have to take them at least once. Likewise, we need some direction on what at-will a hybrid Sentinel gets (do they get to choose between their companion attack or a druid at-will, or just their companion attack and no at-will) and whether the correct interpretation of the hybrid binder is they have to pick from a pact encounter power or if they can pick any warlock encounter power.
This is part of the problem with having powers tied into class traits and then deconstructing that model.
On the other hand, does anyone else thing the problems with the original Assassin and the Executioner as strikers could be fixed by allowing them to hybrid with themselves, making an Assassin|Executioner?
WalterKovacs
First Post
Based on the original hybrids:
The warlock does mention you don't get the at-will as part of your eldritch pact choice, but you still get to choose an at-will (even though it doesn't actually say so).
The original druid doesn't get the free 'third' at-will, so if they want a wild shape they need to pick that as their only druid at-will.
Unless a class actually says you get the class feature which locks in your choice and doesn't ammend it (like the warlock), you get to pick. And, like the warlock, you can pick freely, even from options the non-hybrid version may not get. So, the Hybrid Executioner Assassin would be able to grab one of the original Assassin at-wills (admitedly, they would probably never use it). For the sentinel druid, while their animal companion has a 'baked in at-will', which is part of the reason the normal class only gets one at-will, it isn't actually an at-will power. If you didn't get to pick a druid at-will power, the hybrid section would say so or the animal companion section would be hybridized to remove the animal's at-will power, etc).
Similarly, since the hybrid binder doesn't specify, it can pick from any encounter power (if it takes the ones 'assigned' to it, it will get the riders, but they aren't forced to take them). Other classes with the 'only one choice', like the sentinel druid, give the 'you can take combined when picking an encounter power', but still let you get old druid encounter powers if you want those instead.
Gargoyle
Adventurer
Bringing this old post back up because it looks like they are through playtesting and the have the final version up, even though the link is still named 'playtest'
Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page - Article (New Hybrid and Multiclass Options)
Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page - Article (New Hybrid and Multiclass Options)
Neonchameleon
Legend
Quick changes - they dropped the Warlocks getting Hexblade Weapons. But kept the loophole in the assassin and the blackguard that allows a Charisma-centric Assassin using Attack Finesse on a charisma-based melee basic attack for extra blackguard damage. (Or the Warlock/Assassin...)
Nemesis Destiny
Adventurer
I knew it was too good to be true. I'll still probably try to put this one past the DM in whose game I am playing an original Feylock; she can use all the help she can get. Heck, I would still allow it in my game.
killswitch
First Post
Hey all - I just ran across this thread as I have been trying to build a Blackguard for an upcoming LFR game.
Here's the thing - I'm slightly disappointed in the Blackguard class as a whole (mostly, the whole no real encounter powers as well as the lack of customization in building).
And I know I want to focus on a heavy damage-dealing brute basically, but I'm kind of stuck.
I'll give that I'm not too knowledgeable about the 4e system, but I am learning, mostly I am confused about Hybrid classes.
I thought of multiclassing my Blackguard into a fighter for better paragons and damage output, but I don't know. I thought I might check into hybriding - but I am slightly confused.
I would love to build a Blackguard/Fighter or a Blackguard/Warlock striker hybrid, but I don't know which would work best, hybrid, or simply multiclassing. Could someone please explain the benefits/cons of each one, as well as how best to go about getting the most damage using a Blackguard/Warlock or Blackguard/Fighter hybrid class? Thanks a bunch!
Here's the thing - I'm slightly disappointed in the Blackguard class as a whole (mostly, the whole no real encounter powers as well as the lack of customization in building).
And I know I want to focus on a heavy damage-dealing brute basically, but I'm kind of stuck.
I'll give that I'm not too knowledgeable about the 4e system, but I am learning, mostly I am confused about Hybrid classes.
I thought of multiclassing my Blackguard into a fighter for better paragons and damage output, but I don't know. I thought I might check into hybriding - but I am slightly confused.
I would love to build a Blackguard/Fighter or a Blackguard/Warlock striker hybrid, but I don't know which would work best, hybrid, or simply multiclassing. Could someone please explain the benefits/cons of each one, as well as how best to go about getting the most damage using a Blackguard/Warlock or Blackguard/Fighter hybrid class? Thanks a bunch!
AbdulAlhazred
Legend
Well, the basic thing you want to do is align your ability scores.
Here's a concept, Blackguard|Fighter, pick Battlerage Vigor for your hybrid talent and Domination for your Spirit of Vice, then pump up your temp hit points. Use a STR/CHA race ideally (Dragonborn should work). With an 18 STR/18 CHA you should be able to alternately attack using a Fighter invigorating power, sucking up hit points. Then you can sac the hit points as a direct to-hit bonus on your next turn up to CHA bonus (I think this will work with OAs too, the main challenge here is to STILL have temp hit points when you start a turn). I think this will work. It certainly should give you some nasty to-hit bonuses here and there (+4 to-hit, pretty nice). You can mark as a fighter, which is nice too, though maybe not vital for this build. Pick up stuff that grants temp hp. You'll automatically have up to scale proficiency and shields, so no need to burn hybrid talent on armor. There may be better options, but that one sounds kind of fun. You can basically strike as well as any striker and swap into defender mode if you need to.
Warlocks hybrid pretty effectively. They can also make pretty effective use of weapons with the right tricks, so that is definitely a viable approach. You'd probably go CHA with your lock stuff, but the question there is if you can find enough CHA warlock stuff that is strikery. The general reason for going with it is Eyebite/Eldritch Strike at-wills.
Here's a concept, Blackguard|Fighter, pick Battlerage Vigor for your hybrid talent and Domination for your Spirit of Vice, then pump up your temp hit points. Use a STR/CHA race ideally (Dragonborn should work). With an 18 STR/18 CHA you should be able to alternately attack using a Fighter invigorating power, sucking up hit points. Then you can sac the hit points as a direct to-hit bonus on your next turn up to CHA bonus (I think this will work with OAs too, the main challenge here is to STILL have temp hit points when you start a turn). I think this will work. It certainly should give you some nasty to-hit bonuses here and there (+4 to-hit, pretty nice). You can mark as a fighter, which is nice too, though maybe not vital for this build. Pick up stuff that grants temp hp. You'll automatically have up to scale proficiency and shields, so no need to burn hybrid talent on armor. There may be better options, but that one sounds kind of fun. You can basically strike as well as any striker and swap into defender mode if you need to.
Warlocks hybrid pretty effectively. They can also make pretty effective use of weapons with the right tricks, so that is definitely a viable approach. You'd probably go CHA with your lock stuff, but the question there is if you can find enough CHA warlock stuff that is strikery. The general reason for going with it is Eyebite/Eldritch Strike at-wills.
