Excerpt: The Warlord

[breschau]

Very early on in 4th Edition design, our work on character roles led us to the idea that any character serving as the party’s “cleric”—whether a bard, shaman, warlord, or whatever—needed to be as good at that job as the cleric or else we’d have yet another edition of D&D in which every party still needed a cleric. That led us to the idea of the Leader role, and the warlord as just one of several possible classes that can fill this role.

HA! Who called it months ago? That's right, me.

 

[MaelStorm]

We definitely will the product summary for it states:

Cool

 

[Shroomy]

BTW, here's the link to the first warlord article. I've re-posted the powers from that article too.

Pin the Foe Warlord Attack 1
No matter where your foe turns, one of your allies is waiting for him.
Daily
Martial, Weapon
Standard Action
Melee weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 3[W] + Strength modifier damage.
Effect: Until the end of the encounter, the target cannot shift if at least two of your allies (or you and one ally) are adjacent to it.

White Raven Onslaught Warlord Attack 1
You lead the way with a powerful attack, using your success to create an opportunity for one of your allies. Each of your comrades in turn seizes on your example and begins to display true teamwork.
Daily
Martial, Weapon
Standard Action
Melee weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 3[W] + Strength modifier damage, and you slide an adjacent ally 1 square. Until the end of the encounter, whenever you or an ally within 10 squares of you makes a successful attack, the attacker slides an adjacent ally 1 square.
Miss: Choose one ally within 10 squares. Until the end of the encounter, the ally slides an adjacent ally 1 square after making a successful attack.

Iron Dragon Charge Warlord Attack 9
Like a rampaging iron dragon, you hurl yourself at your adversary, landing a terrific blow that inspires your allies to charge as well.
Daily
Martial, Weapon
Standard Action
Melee weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Special: You must charge as part of this attack.
Hit: 3[W] + Strength modifier damage.
Effect: Until the end of the encounter, as an immediate reaction, an ally of your choice within 5 squares of you can charge a target that you charge.

 

[mach1.9pants]

Nice, but quite a short excerpt (concerning powers). Again, just two build options. I hope Martial Powers will showcase extra build options for martial classes.

Build options are just like 3E starting packages. They are an option on how to make an effective 1st level character. I imagine that we are going to see only 2 build options for every class; one each related to the two main stats for each class. What I want more of is an expansion to class features so there are other options which mean taking a different sort of 'Commanding Presence' (in this case) makes you better with certain powers (i.e. bonus is equal to not just +2 but 1+ ability bonus).
Edit: like Fallen Seraph pointed out I suppose

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Looks like they changed weapon categories since the Rogue preview for being more broad. That's good news.

I wonder what the new Rogue list is like.

 

[GravyFingerz]

Woah woah, did anyone notice this, or am I out of the loop and this is common knowledge?

Charisma should be your third best score, so you can dabble in other warlord powers and to improve your Will defense.

Charisma to Will defense, eh?

I'm okay with that, if they regulate Wisdom to the province of insight, perception, and intuition.

 

[Ondo]

Given this, it's weird that they're only including one Controller in the PH1....every 4e party for the first year will need a Wizard in it.

Andy Collins talks a little about why they made that decision in this podcast at about the 22:45 mark.

 

[mach1.9pants]

Woah woah, did anyone notice this, or am I out of the loop and this is common knowledge?



Charisma to Will defense, eh?

I'm okay with that, if they regulate Wisdom to the province of insight, perception, and intuition.

Out of the loop I am afraid:
Fort Def: best of STR or CON modifier
Reflex Def: beast of INT or DEX modifier
Will defence: best of WiS or CHA modifier

 

[Green Knight]

So so far, we know the Warlord has the following power choices at 1st level.

AT-WILL POWERS
Commander's Strike
Furious Smash
Viper's Strike
Wolf Pack Tactics

ENCOUNTER POWERS
Guarding Attack
Warlord's Favor

DAILY POWERS
Bastion of Defense
Lead the Attack
Pin the For
White Raven Onslaught

I wonder how many more choices are available at 1st level?

 

[Green Knight]

HA! Who called it months ago? That's right, me.

What'd you call?