Issues Deciding between characters : )

[rugnir]

Hey everyone, I'm a relatively new 4e gamer, but I've done a lot of research and I play around a lot with the wotc Character builder, I've come up with two builds and I'm having issues deciding between the two. It's a toss up for my play style.
Also feel free to comment on the builds.

Thanks for looking

We are currently in the process of going through all of the dungeon delves one after another so skills aren't extremely important to us.

(would have gone dwarf but I just played one)
Rain, level 11
Longtooth Shifter, Cleric, Radiant Servant

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 11, Con 12, Dex 11, Int 11, Wis 21, Cha 20.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 8, Con 11, Dex 10, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 17.


AC: 26 Fort: 18 Reflex: 17 Will: 24
HP: 84 Surges: 10 Surge Value: 21

Cleric: Ritual Caster
Level 1: Berronar's Salve
Level 2: Implement Expertise (holy symbol)
Level 4: Bardic Dilettante
Level 6: Distant Advantage
Level 8: Toughness
Level 10: Durable
Level 11: Beasthide Shifting

POWERS
Cleric at-will 1: Lance of Faith
Cleric at-will 1: Sacred Flame
Cleric daily 1: Beacon of Hope
Cleric daily 5: Consecrated Ground
Cleric daily 9: Flame Strike
Cleric encounter 1: Divine Glow
Cleric encounter 3: Command
Cleric encounter 7: Searing Light
Cleric utility 10: Mass Cure Light Wounds
Cleric utility 2: Cure Light Wounds
Cleric utility 6: Cure Serious Wounds

ITEMS
Ritual Book, Mace of Healing Mace +2, Healer's Brooch +2, Healer's Sash (paragon tier), Boots of the Fencing Master (heroic tier), Symbol of Life +3, Summoned Braidmail Armor +3

The focus of this cleric was to heal without surges, I took some surge value healing to flesh it out a bit but mostly it's focus is healing. I am not sure but the mace of healing adds and item bonus, and the healers brooch adds an unspecified bonus. Supposing they stack I add +9 to any cleric power with the healing keyword. I'm also looking for feats to replace durable with.

Second character
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Kriv, level 11
Dragonborn, Sorcerer, Dragon Guardian
Spell Source: Dragon Magic
Dragon Soul: Dragon Soul Cold
Guardian's Resistance: Dragon Soul Fire

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 21, Con 12, Dex 11, Int 9, Wis 11, Cha 22.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 16, Con 11, Dex 10, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 17.


AC: 27 Fort: 22 Reflex: 20 Will: 25
HP: 84 Surges: 7 Surge Value: 21

FEATS
Level 1: Shield Proficiency (Light)
Level 2: Arcane Spellfury
Level 4: Implement Expertise (staff)
Level 6: Toughness
Level 8: Shield Proficiency (Heavy)
Level 10: Armor Proficiency (Leather)
Level 11: Lasting Frost

POWERS
Sorcerer at-will 1: Dragonfrost
Sorcerer at-will 1: Burning Spray
Sorcerer daily 1: Lightning Breath
Sorcerer daily 5: Slaad's Gambit
Sorcerer daily 9: Adamantine Echo
Sorcerer encounter 1: Tearing Claws
Sorcerer encounter 3: Searing Sands
Sorcerer encounter 7: Rimestorm
Sorcerer utility 10: Narrow Escape
Sorcerer utility 2: Deep Shroud
Sorcerer utility 6: Sudden Scales

ITEMS
Drowmesh of Resistance +3, Healer's Sash (paragon tier), Diamond Bracers (heroic tier), Magic Staff +3, Periapt of Cascading Health +2, Storm Shield Heavy Shield (heroic tier)

This character is focused on being up in melee and unleashing close bursts, My party is smart so it's not normally a big issue, last frost will add a good ammount of extra damage to my already +16 to damage on most powers. I have a 15 to hit or 16 after using an at will, and for hard bosses I'll use adamantine echoes and deep shroud for a 32 ac with enemies not adjacent to me taking a -5 for the equivlent of a 37, boosting to a 39 when I go bloodied.
I have resist 10 cold, fire, and acid( from armor) resit 5 lightning and thunder, and two powers to give me random resistances when I need it.

 

[fba827]

Presuming you'd have equal fun playing either type... the question becomes.. do you know what the rest of the party will be like? (i.e. what are the other people playing, if you know... that will affect the answer if you are equally happy with either).

 

[rugnir]

Basically I've been left with the decision of picking the character for a group. I know we're going to have a controller, one defender, and Either way it's going to be two strikers and one leader. Which character looks more solid?

 

[Baumi]

Welcome rugnir!

Just a short comment about the Cleric ... I don't think that the Longtooth Shifter is a good fit, it may have a WIS bonus but since you are a ranged attacker, you (hopefully) won't become bloodied very often and therefore will not get much out of your Racial Power. The Skill Boni and Secondary Attribute are also not very good for a Cleric.

That said if you simply like playing a Shifter then by all means forget what I said!

 

[rugnir]

Having looked over your recommendations I changed the build a bit, more healing and not much sacrificed...
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&DI Character Builder ======
Rain, level 11
Longtooth Shifter, Cleric, Warpriest

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 21, Con 14, Dex 11, Int 9, Wis 20, Cha 14.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 16, Con 13, Dex 10, Int 8, Wis 15, Cha 13.


AC: 27 Fort: 22 Reflex: 17 Will: 24
HP: 86 Surges: 9 Surge Value: 21

FEATS
Cleric: Ritual Caster
Level 1: Raven Queen's Blessing
Level 2: Implement Expertise (holy symbol)
Level 4: Student of Battle
Level 6: Weapon Expertise (Mace)
Level 8: Toughness
Level 10: Adept Power
Level 11: Beasthide Shifting

POWERS
Cleric at-will 1: Righteous Brand
Cleric at-will 1: Sacred Flame
Cleric daily 1: Beacon of Hope
Cleric daily 5: Consecrated Ground
Cleric daily 9: Divine Power (retrained to Stand the Fallen at Adept Power)
Cleric encounter 1: Healing Strike
Cleric encounter 3: Daunting Light
Cleric encounter 7: Strengthen the Faithful
Cleric utility 10: Mass Cure Light Wounds
Cleric utility 2: Cure Light Wounds
Cleric utility 6: Cure Serious Wounds

ITEMS
Ritual Book, Mace of Healing Mace +2, Healer's Brooch +2, Healer's Sash (paragon tier), Boots of the Fencing Master (heroic tier), Symbol of Life +3, Summoned Braidmail Armor +3


The mix of melee and ranged gave me the option to get warlord powers, and more heals all around.