"Fixing" Damage Boosting Items / Armbands of Power, Bloodclaw etc.

[keterys]

Yeah, what you actually do is use a +2 staff of <whatever you want> and off-hand the +2 staff of ruin.

 

[Markn]

I assume the wizard also has Dual Implement Spellcaster and the battlerager is also a pit fighter?

Correct and correct. In fact the dwarf battlerager pit fighter also uses axes (of course) which also is a huge damage bonus in itself.


The CB does take into account that you can only get 1 item bonus so 2 +2 staffs only give +6 to damage (with dual implement feat) but it is still the superior choice. Comparing the staff wizard to any of the others (along with the fact that he can have weapon focus and such) it is by far the best wizard build.

 

[FireLance]

Correct and correct. In fact the dwarf battlerager pit fighter also uses axes (of course) which also is a huge damage bonus in itself.

The CB does take into account that you can only get 1 item bonus so 2 +2 staffs only give +6 to damage (with dual implement feat) but it is still the superior choice. Comparing the staff wizard to any of the others (along with the fact that he can have weapon focus and such) it is by far the best wizard build.

Well, if the players just want to deal damage and gravitate to the best damage-dealing options, it isn't really surprising that the characters out-damage the others. Just as it wouldn't be surprising that players who focus on defence tend to get characters with higher AC, Fortitude, Reflex and Will.

Dealing high damage is a popular playstyle. I believe that strikers tend to be over-represented in any poll of what class you are playing, or the classes you've seen played. That doesn't mean that it's the only or even the most effective playstyle, though. For example, in a recent ENWorld poll, the orb wizard was voted the best controller due to his ability to impose penalties to saving throws and inflict crippling conditions.

 

[Markn]

, in a recent ENWorld poll, the orb wizard was voted the best controller due to his ability to impose penalties to saving throws and inflict crippling conditions.

That doesn't necessarily mean its better (or worse) though. Although, I haven't seen anything other than a staff wizard so I don't have much to compare it with.

Still the original point of the thread stands. A few items seem to be the go to items and thats the issue.

 

[Markn]

Yeah, what you actually do is use a +2 staff of <whatever you want> and off-hand the +2 staff of ruin.

The wizard in my campaign carries two staffs of ruin and a staff of the warmage. Using mage hand he can swap staffs quite easily.

 

[Garthanos]

what if we use waves of spread out high defense minions ;-) and leave damage bonuses alone.

 

[keterys]

Then warlocks will kill everything, so what's it matter?

 

[Garthanos]

Then warlocks will kill everything, so what's it matter?

Well I like warlocks... sounds good to me ;-) the point being
even the holy high damage has a context or two under which
it is pointless and since I think minions tend to be under used
they can bring the value of some called "must haves" under control.

Of course there is also that ghost blade swordmage "one man army" power that lets you launch an attack against every enemy in view....