Iron Wolf Charge

[KarinsDad]

In the Iron Wolf Warrior theme, there is theme encounter power called Iron Wolf Charge. It triggers off of a charge attack hitting. The foe takes an extra D6 of damage and then the PC howls and might push back other foes in a close burst 2 and give them a -2 to attack rolls until the end of the PC's next turn.

On the surface, this sounds fine.

However, the secondary attack is based on the highest ability score of the PC, but it doesn't get a weapon or implement magical bonus to it. So at first level, it works reasonably well. But eventually, this secondary portion of the power will be at -6 (as much as -9 due to the 4E math flaws) to hit compared to other PC powers, and will start missing a lot.

The problem is that the weapon keyword is not added to the power, so the weapon bonus does not apply.

Has anyone found other powers like this where the designers forgot about the enhancement bonuses?

 

[keterys]

They usually remember, and either make them Stat + 2/4/6 or Stat + 3/6/9 depending on whether they're acknowledging expertise that day or not.

 

[KarinsDad]

They usually remember, and either make them Stat + 2/4/6 or Stat + 3/6/9 depending on whether they're acknowledging expertise that day or not.

I've never liked this solution because it means that the (usually) PC gets an extra bonus right away at level 1 of either +2 or +3. That bonus should occur as the PC levels up. It should never be +2/4/6 and the +3/6/9 should be +1 every 3 levels max +9 (i.e. +1 at levels 3, 6, 9, etc.).

 

[keterys]

Perhaps - but it's still the way it's pretty universally applied.

Personally I kinda like the way they've been doing that kind of thing in items. Just make the attack bonus PC Level + X (3, 5, or 7 depending on target defense and accuracy desired).

 

[SSquirrel]

IIRC since it is a fear attack it works against Will, so that helps it not miss as much. At low Paragon you have a slight deficiency. I'm sure by Epic it feels less useful, but it is also "no action" so if it works great, if not, you aren't really out anything. My Daggermaster uses it to good effect and they're level 13. Admittedly I am already 6 behind my Low Slash to hit roll, so it could certainly be better, but I usually hit at least half the pack I'm using it on

 

[KarinsDad]

I'm sure by Epic it feels less useful, but it is also "no action" so if it works great, if not, you aren't really out anything.

You are not out anything except the time wasted, I mean spent, rolling 5 dice rolls.

Roll. Miss. Darn.
Roll. Miss. Darn.
Roll. Miss. Darn.
Roll. Miss. Darn.
Roll. Miss. Darn.