Help with 9th level Paladin Daily Radiant Pulse

[Kaledor]

Standard Action; Ranged 10
Primary Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. Fortitude
Hit: 1d10 + Charisma modifier radiant damage. Make a secondary attack.
Secondary Target: Each enemy adjacent to the primary target
Secondary Attack: Charisma vs. Fortitude
Hit: 1d10 + Charisma modifier radiant damage, and you push the target 3 squares.
Sustain Minor: When you sustain this power, you can repeat the secondary attack (the primary target is the same each time).
Miss: Half damage, and no secondary attack.

Trying to make sure I use this power correctly. Can someone check my understanding:

Round 1. I use the daily and target an enemy within range. If I hit, it takes damage and I get a secondary attack vs each adjacent enemy.
Assuming I hit:
Round 2. I spend the minor action to sustain the power and I get to make my secondary attacks again for free -- the original target is still the same (it does NOT take extra damage), and any new adjacent enemies get hit by the secondary attack...

What would be ways to make me stop maintaining. Obviously, if I don't spend the minor, I don't maintain; or if the encounter ends, the power ends. But what else might cause me to stop? What if the primary target gets beyond 20 squares, would the power end? What if the primary target dies, could I still activate the secondary attacks if there are enemies next to his corpse? What about Line of Sight or Line of Effect?


Now, what if I miss?
If I miss on round one, there is no secondary attack. Can I still sustain the power round 2 and make my secondary attacks then? Or is it completely wasted if I miss in round 1?


Any thoughts would be helpful.

 

[Joshua Randall]

Assuming the formatting in the DDI Compendium is correct, then the Secondary Attack and Sustain Minor only goes with the initial Hit entry. If you Miss with the initial attack, you get "half damage, and no secondary attack", period.

Things that could cause you not to sustain would be Stunned or Dominated. Dazed also makes it painful to sustain (because do you really want to use your one action on sustaining this?).

 

[Kaledor]

Assuming the formatting in the DDI Compendium is correct, then the Secondary Attack and Sustain Minor only goes with the initial Hit entry. If you Miss with the initial attack, you get "half damage, and no secondary attack", period.

I can see that being true now, based on the order of the entry. So it really becomes a tough power to miss with. Thanks.

Things that could cause you not to sustain would be Stunned or Dominated. Dazed also makes it painful to sustain (because do you really want to use your one action on sustaining this?).

Good call... I forgot about those conditions. Nice call.

 

[mellack]

Interesting note, since the target is one Creature, if you are wiulling to eat the initial damage, you can target youself. It then gives you an interesting aura type attack each round for a sustain minor.

 

[Kaledor]

Interesting note, since the target is one Creature, if you are wiulling to eat the initial damage, you can target youself. It then gives you an interesting aura type attack each round for a sustain minor.

LOL. I must admit, I had not thought of that option before
Of course, that is kinda "paladiny" -- all that self-sacrafice and all...

 

[DarkLord Of DForce]

LOL. I must admit, I had not thought of that option before
Of course, that is kinda "paladiny" -- all that self-sacrafice and all...

Hmm, something else to think about - is this a ranged power? It appears to be, and if so, then you would provoke Opportunity Attacks everytime you used it against targets adjacent to yourself (assuming you dropped it on yourself for the aura effect). Of course, you could take the feat that lets you get away with ranged attacks and not provoke OAs.

 

[Joshua Randall]

Yeah, from an optimization point of view, Radiant Pulse is pretty bad. I prefer Ray of Reprisal, Crown of Glory, or One Stands Alone.

 

[Kaledor]

Hmm, something else to think about - is this a ranged power? It appears to be, and if so, then you would provoke Opportunity Attacks everytime you used it against targets adjacent to yourself (assuming you dropped it on yourself for the aura effect). Of course, you could take the feat that lets you get away with ranged attacks and not provoke OAs.

Would the secondary attacks from the sustained power trigger OAs?
I know the original power is a ranged attack (which would trigger one), but the secondary attack is a sustain (minor) power. My gut reaction was that it wouldn't trigger one.

Yeah, from an optimization point of view, Radiant Pulse is pretty bad. I prefer Ray of Reprisal, Crown of Glory, or One Stands Alone.

Not my choice. Just trying to understand the power... I may get the chance to switch it out later on, so I'll keep your list in mind. But if the cast on self really works out, I may just keep it for the flavor-factor. Not sure if it's worth it, but I've got to try it just once

 

[Joshua Randall]

It doesn't stop being a ranged power just because you are sustaining it.

As for casting it on yourself, have fun the first time you crit yourself with it.

 

[Kaledor]

ugg... and with my luck with rolls, the only time I would crit would be when I hit myself with it! And there would probably be some situational bonus that only triggers in the room if a paladin hits himself with a power and it adds 2d12 <--- yeah, that would be more like my luck.

BUT at least it would be a true blaze of glory! lol