I want to stop my enemy from shifting...

[Kaledor]

I'm looking for ways to prevent an enemy from shifting away from me in combat (all those pesky mages and archers that I want an opportunity attack on, and they shift away before casting/shooting ... grrr).

I've got a barbarian and a paladin and I'm looking for options for either.
I'd like to either a) stop them from shifting, or b) shift with them.
I know I've seen monster powers that give them a free shift into the space that you shift out of (they've done it to my wizard) ... is there some character option for the same? I know that knights/fighters have some ability to deal with shifting... is there a way to pick it up in multiclassing?


So... give me your best options (without rerolling my character) to deal with shifting enemies.

Feats, multiclassing, powers, items... anything.

Thanks.

 

[Klaus]

Find a way to create difficult terrain.

 

[Mengu]

Knock them prone. They won't have the action to shift. For Barbarian there are plenty of powers to accomplish this, including some rages like Thunder Hawk Rage and Oak Hammer Rage. Brutal Slam is a nice encounter power.

Immobilize them. Paladins have Hold Fast, Winter's Edge, Ravenfrost Strike, etc.

You can try to nab Form of Winter's Herald with Warden MC to create difficult terrain.

Battle Awareness (Fighter Multiclass) doesn't stop them from shifting but gets you an attack if they shift, once per encounter.

If you are trained in Insight (possibly the paladin), Prescient Maneuver (Insight skill utility 6) lets you chase the enemy.

 

[Kaledor]

Thanks for the fast and good reply! I've got some looking to do. I like that 6th level skill power for my paladin, I see that it's not just for a shifting enemy, really adding to its utility.

 

[Joshua Randall]

For the paladin, this shouldn't be a problem. If the enemy is divine challenged / sanctioned and it shifts away, it will then either (1) attack the paladin which is what you wanted as a defender or (2) attack someone else at -2 and eat DC/DS damage.

For the barbarian, an enemy that shifts away just set itself up to get charged. On the barbarian's turn, shift back 1 sq, then charge the enemy who is now 2 sq away.

 

[jbear]

Push them up against a wall or blocking terrain.

The paladin definitely has a power that allows a decent push distance followed by a shift up next to them. If you can force them up against a wall, and stand in front of them, it doesn't matter if they shift, they will still be next to you.

Forcing them into an area of difficult terrain will achieve the same thing. You can't shift in difficult terrain. If your allies can help you out with this as well you'll achieve such situations more often.

I know you don't want to reroll, but the real expert at punishing shifting is the Fighter. Shifting provokes the fighters combat challenge. Bam! MBA. And with a feat 'Mobile Challenge' after smacking them upside the head for shifting you can shift next to them. Which means if those pesky mages dare shoot you they provoke an opportunity attack as well. Maybe that is what you need to roll up the next time you make a character

 

[Kaledor]

For the paladin, this shouldn't be a problem...

Yeah, it's more of a simple frustration. I know that in the case of the paladin, if the enemy is marked, it ends up okay, and for the barbarian, it often helps him if his enemy shifts (granting him a charge and a Howling Strike)... but it's frustrating when you think you've pinned your opponent down to a perfect place and he shifts away to cast/shoot you... grrr. I think I just want my OA on him An extra wack for being there.

 

[Aulirophile]

Level 16 Feature of the Dark Sun Gladiator PP: Enemies adjacent to you cannot shift. If you're playing a Straladin or a Barbarian the rest of the path isn't bad either, though it wouldn't be my personal preference.

 

[Droogie128]

For the paladin, this shouldn't be a problem. If the enemy is divine challenged / sanctioned and it shifts away, it will then either (1) attack the paladin which is what you wanted as a defender or (2) attack someone else at -2 and eat DC/DS damage.

For the barbarian, an enemy that shifts away just set itself up to get charged. On the barbarian's turn, shift back 1 sq, then charge the enemy who is now 2 sq away.

I was gonna say something similar. A barbarian should be thankful if an enemy puts distance between them. I'd say thank you!

 

[Destil]

Hold Fast, Paladin level 3 Encounter. Str or Cha, Immobilizes until end of next turn and can be used as a melee basic so you can even lock someone down with a OA.