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Message: <blockquote data-quote="keterys" data-source="post: 4358642" data-attributes="member: 43019">Encounter 3 ReasoningInitial stab in the dark - hopefully folks can help refine things.*CLERIC*A / Blazing Beacon (Only in parties with ranged allies)A- / CommandC+ / Daunting LightB- / Split the SkyDaunting Light does solid damage, radiant, over adequate range. The combat advantage is useful, but not really powerful. Split the Sky looks really nice, until you realize the enemy is just going to stand and charge. I've seen it use a couple times and that's happened every time. Command lets you daze and choose between prone or slid a fair ways, which is a very powerful controlling combo. No damage, though.  Blazing Beacon provides a sizable +4 bonus to all ranged attacks against a target for a turn, which can be used for many attacks in a round by most members of the party, including action points, dailies, etc, so gets to be top of the pile.*FIGHTER*B / Armor-Piercing ThrustC / Crushing BlowD- / Dance of SteelC / Precise StrikeA / Rain of BlowsB+ / Sweeping BlowDance of Steel is strictly worse than a level 1 encounter, oops. Crushing Blow is fine and all, but it's nothing special - on par with many level 1 encounters.  Precise Strike is... okay. If you've really got to hit, there's probably a reason, and it'll serve decently if you can't get Armor-Percing Thrust, which targets Reflex and gains Dex to both attack and damage. Only 1W, but that's a very solid power if you're specced right. Sweeping Blow is an enemies only close burst 1 that you get a decent attack bonus to - great for minion killing and mass marking. Rain of Blows does get the top spot for the sheer damagocity that RoB can get with its 3 attacks.*PALADIN*C+ / Arcing SmiteB / Invigorating SmiteA- / Righteous SmiteB- / Staggering SmiteArcing Smite has its uses, but it's pretty lackluster overall. Maybe as a level 1 encounter, like Passing Strike. Staggering Smite is next in order - you can get a very solid push off of that and it does decent damage. Invigorating Smite and Righteous Smite are both very similar. Invigorating actually heals damage and does not go against AC, but requires bloodied. Righteous Smite works on everyone, even the fully healed, but is otherwise pretty standard fare.*RANGER*B+ / Cut and RunA / Disruptive StrikeF / Shadow Wasp StrikeA- / Thundertusk Boar StrikeHow does Shadow Wasp Strike appear on the same level as the other three choices? Cut and Run is a solid little power, basically a nice upgrade over level 1's Evasive Strike. Thundertusk Boar Strike is solid damage and can result in a very nice push, and at quite a range too. Disruptive Strike lets you interrupt an enemy's attack by almost guaranteeing it will miss if you hit, which seems invaluable. Of course, I'd not be surprised to see people use it too early to prevent a really good attack, just using it as an action free damage source and minor defensive boost.*ROGUE*B+ / Bait and SwitchC+ / Setup StrikeB- / Topple OverC- / Trickster's BladeTrickster's Blade is okay - sorta like fighting defensively. Setup Strike is okay, but the advantage only applies to you an no one else, so it compares less well to effects like daze which help a whole party and actually limit the creature. Topple Over primarily looks pretty good because of the very large bonus to attack. Bait and Switch attacks Will and lets you shift several squares - like a combination Leaf on the Wind and Evasive Strike.*WARLOCK*B / Eldritch RainB / Fiery BoltA+ / Frigid DarknessA- / Otherwind StrideEldritch Rain is acceptable damage and a very versatile ranged option, but it has nothing special about it in terms of status effect or damage. Fiery Bolt lets you deal very solid area effect damage to creatures next to the primary target without rolling to hit if you hit the primary. Otherwind Stride can provide a sizable teleport and is great for killing minions or immobilizing some melee types who jumped the back lines or sides. Frigid Darkness is solid damage, sets up combat advantage for all... then gives a massive penalty to AC. This screams 'power play' with setting up multiple dailies (or just one, like Cascade of Blades).*WARLORD*B- / Hold the LineC+ / Inspiring War CryB- / Steel MonsoonA / Warlord's StrikeInspiring War Cry does reasonable damage and the saving throw is an Effect, which is nice... so it seems decent, but not exceptional. Hold the Line does low damage, but its Effect seems quite handy. Steel Monsoon is feels like a solid baseline - the standard 2W damage and then pretty much 'all allies within 5 can shift 1'. Warlord's Strike is the best of the bunch, probably, especially combined with multiple attack abilities. Using this before your ranger and Rain of Blows fighter goes so they get +6 or so to damage rolls? Killer.*WIZARD*A- / Color SprayB+ / Fire ShroudB+ / Icy RaysB / Shock SphereB- / Maze of MirrorsMaze of Mirrors appears reasonable from a pure control standpoint, but doesn't kill minions or avoid allies and is only burst 1, so it feels like a lesser option here. Icy Rays is a versatile ranged option for okay damage with a decent side effect. Comparing to Eldritch Rain, a very similar spell, it does less damage but immobilizes and the target's can be anywhere within 10 of caster (so up to 20 apart) instead of having to be within 5 of each other. Shock Sphere is a nice big area to toss out early on to catch enemies before your allies are too close in their midst.  Fire Shroud is a sizable close burst that targets enemies only, so that's quite good. Color Spray gets my nod for best option... close blast 5 is a decent size even if it's not great to be that close, but it's also radiant and can daze a large quantity of foes. Sounds good.I was sorta asleep typing up this round, so I apologize if there are any blatant errors, ramblings, whatever.</blockquote>

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