Help me making a L2 Leader (Possibly an Artificer)

[Shin Okada]

I am to make a new L2 Leader PC for upcoming online D&D 4e games. There will be 4 PCs of each role (controller, defender, leader & striker). We will play one combat encounter per evening and will play 3 times, once per week.

Most of the published supplements are allowed but some of them cannot be used as they are not yet translated into Japanese. I can have, per DMG suggestion, one L1 item, one L2 item, one L3 item and 360gp, plus any mundane gears such as standard adventurer's kit.

There is only about a week to the first game. So I guess I cannot observe other players' characters beforehand much. So I am thinking of making a versatile and yet tough leader.

My current plan is a human artificer who uses a Farbond Spellblade Fullblade as a melee weapon, ranged weapon & implement (IOW, for all the powers).

Would you please give me suggestions and (if it is useful) some criticizm?

Suggestion of completely different build are also welcomed, too. As long as that is a fun and useful leader PC.

Race: Human
Ability Score: Str 10, Con 14, Dex 10, Int 20, Wis 11, Cha 8
Trained Skills: Arcana (+11), Dungeoneering (+6), Heal (+6), History (+11), Perception (+6), Thievery (+6)
Feats: Arcane Reserves, Weapon Proficiency (Fullblade), Implement Proficiency (Heavy Blade)
Powers:
At-Will: Aggravating Weapon (Weapon, Melee/Ranged)
At-Will: Magic Weapon (Weapon, Melee/Ranged)
At-Will: Static Shock (Implement, Ranged 5)
Encounter: Scouring Weapon (Weapon, Melee/Ranged)
Daily: Life-Trapping Darts (Implement, Ranged 10)
Utility: Swift Mender (Encounter)
Equipment:
+1 Farbond Spellblade Fullblade (L2)
Some +1 Leather Armor (L1+)
Some +1 Neck Slot Item (L1+)
and something else

Defense: AC 19, Fort 16, Ref 18, Will 14
hp: 31
Healing Surge per Day: 8

This character will use Scouring Weapon as the first attack of the encounter. Then mainly use Magic Weapon as either melee or ranged weapon power. Attack +11/1d12+6 damage (plus 2 from Arcane Reserve) with bonus to allies will not be that bad.

 

[Budalic]

It seems like a fine build.

You will take Action Surge really soon, right?

Also, I don't know if Arcane Reserves remains good when you hit lvl 11.

 

[Shin Okada]

And here is my plan 2. Much focused on healing and giving temp hps than to inflicting damage by myself. Still can use both with melee or ranged powers through one same magic item. And can help both melee and ranged attackers.

Race: Half-Elf
Class: Bard (Virtuer of Valor)
Ability Score: Str 10, Con 16, Dex 8, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 20
Trained Skills: Arcana (+11), Athletics (+4), Bluff (+11), Diplomacy (+13), Streetwise (+11)
Feats: Combat Virtuoso, Improved Majestic Word
Powers:
Racial: Astral Seal (Dilettante/Cleric/as an Encounter)
At-Will: Guiding Strike (Weapon, Melee)
At-Will: Vicious Mockery (Implement, Ranged 10)
Encounter: Focused Sound (Implement, Ranged 10)
Daily: Stirring Shout (Implement, Ranged 10)
Utility: Moment of Escape (Encounter)
Equipment:
+1 Harsh Songblade (L3)
+1 Chainmail (L1)
Some +1 Neck Slot Item (L1+)
and something else
Light Shield
plus some other items
Defense: AC 19, Fort 15, Ref 13, Will 18
hp: 33
Healing Surge per Day: 10

I am not sure if I can use Songblade (Bard Implement) for using powers gained via dilettante. Are there any official clarification for this? I browsed through the official FAQ but could not find the answer.

 

[Kralin Thornberry]

bard implements are NOT able to be used with a half-elf's racial dilettante power (unless it was a bard power).

 

[jbear]

You should check out a runepriest as well. Fun , tough and versatile, switching from an offensive support leader to defensive at will. Minotaur or Longtooth Shifter or even a warforged if you do the CON version.

 

[Shin Okada]

Unfortunately, PHB 3 is not yet published in Japanese and I cannot use those races and classes in the upcoming session.

Well, if a half-elf bard can't use his bard implement for non-bard power gained from dilettante, which power do you recommend?

Sorcerer or Warlock's 1st-level at-will attacks are not that great without their class features. Paladin's Ardent Strike? Maybe. But I am not sure if I want to mark an opponent as a leader. Commander's Strike? Are there any good recommendation?

 

[Aulirophile]

Valor Bards are melee focused, so I would actually take Virtuous Strike as your Diletante power (counts as a melee basic attack 1/encounter. If you need to make an OA you don't want to depend on your strength). I would take Shout of Triumph as your level 1 Encounter power. Then I would take Arcane Implement Proficiency as one of your first feats. Pick either Light or Heavy blades. If you go Heavy, have your Magic Weapon be a Farbond Spellblade Longsword. You now have an Implement/Weapon/Ranged 3-in-1 item. This allows you to take the best Bard power at each level (Rhythm of the Blood-Seeking Blade is by far the best level 3 Encounter power, but it requires a Ranged weapon).

If you go for Light Blades, use a Dagger. A Dagger already qualifies as a thrown weapon for Ranged abilities, so not sure what enchant would be good (generic +1 would be fine).

Seriously think about how you're going to use Moment of Escape. I personally prefer encounter utility powers, but note it is a Ranged power, meaning it will provoke OAs from adjacent enemies.

My level 2 ValBard looks like this. Oh! Important to remember, you get two free level 1 Rituals, one of which must have Bard as a prereq, and you can cast a Bardic Ritual once per day for free. Traveler's Chant increased overland speed by lowest party member's speed+2 for 8 hours. Doing that for free once per day is awesome, you're moving at speed 7+ minimum.

I would change my stat allocation slightly if I was playing all the way to epic (so I could meet certain feat quals).
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
level 2
Half-Elf, Bard
Build: Valorous Bard
Bardic Virtue: Virtue of Valor
Arcane Implement Proficiency: Arcane Implement Proficiency (heavy blade group)

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 12, Con 18, Dex 10, Int 12, Wis 8, Cha 18.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 12, Con 16, Dex 10, Int 12, Wis 8, Cha 16.


AC: 19 Fort: 16 Reflex: 15 Will: 17
HP: 35 Surges: 11 Surge Value: 8

TRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +7, Bluff +10, Intimidate +10, Athletics +6, Diplomacy +12

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +1, Dungeoneering +1, Endurance +6, Heal +1, History +3, Insight +3, Nature +1, Perception +1, Religion +3, Stealth +1, Streetwise +6, Thievery +1

FEATS
Bard: Ritual Caster
Level 1: Arcane Implement Proficiency
Level 2: Improved Majestic Word

POWERS
Bard at-will 1: Guiding Strike
Bard at-will 1: Vicious Mockery
Dilettante: Virtuous Strike
Bard encounter 1: Shout of Triumph
Bard daily 1: Stirring Shout
Bard utility 2: Moment of Escape

ITEMS
Ritual Book, Farbond Spellblade Longsword +1, Light Shield, Dwarven Chainmail +1, Amulet of Protection +1
RITUALS
Traveler's Chant, Comrades' Succor
====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======

 

[Shin Okada]

Thank you for suggestions Aulirophile. Using Virttuous Strike for OA seems to be useful for some time.

Regarding Arcane Implement Proficiency build, I browsed through Arcane Power but are there that many good Range Weapon powers? In case of Artificer, there are a lot of Melee or Ranged Weapon powers. So Farbond Spellblade seems quite useful. But in case of bard, I doubt if the feat worth taking when a bard can already use various songblades as their implement.

 

[Aulirophile]

Thank you for suggestions Aulirophile. Using Virttuous Strike for OA seems to be useful for some time.

Regarding Arcane Implement Proficiency build, I browsed through Arcane Power but are there that many good Range Weapon powers? In case of Artificer, there are a lot of Melee or Ranged Weapon powers. So Farbond Spellblade seems quite useful. But in case of bard, I doubt if the feat worth taking when a bard can already use various songblades as their implement.

Prescient Bards are supposed to be Archers, so yes, leveling up Bards have quite a few good Range Weapon Powers (hence Songbows). The one I mentioned, Rhythm of the Blood-Seeking Blade, is incredible in my experience.

And Farbond isn't the be all, end all, but Songblade enchants are, on average, weaker then other enchants. You can use a Frost weapon and do the Winter Touched/Lasting Frost combo at Paragon. You can grab a Githyanki Silver Blade. All your attacks now deal psychic damage, so pick up Psychic Lock. If you MC Paladin you can pick up a Bradaman's Weapon and mark two targets per encounter instead of one (not a terrible idea, ValBards are very durable, especially if you take War Chanter PP... and there isn't any other PP I would take as a ValBard). Arcane Implement Proficiency fixes a huge issue with Bards, which is that in order to take the good powers at every level, you have to maintain multiple items (MID, Multiple Item Distribution), or use items that aren't that great.

Downside is that with the release of the PHB3, none of those fixes work with Superior Implements, not even Songblades, but since you aren't going to be using the PHB3, not an issue.

 

[jbear]

Ok, nevermind in that case.

As far as getting around the implent issue, how about the Wizard At Will Winged Horde. Explosion 1 at range 10. 1d6 psychic dmg. Attacks Will. And they can't take op. actions.And Wizards use wands as well.