Khopesh: HBO plus Deadly Axe

[Danceofmasks]

Ah, dwarf ... makes sense now.
In any case, if it helps make your decision, D8+brutal 1 = average of 5 damage, whereas D10 = average of 5.5 damage.
So the weapon's double type is pretty much just for HBO.

As for a useful feat suggestion, personally I'm more of a fan of shield push than distracting shield (though having both is nice).
Invalidating melee attacks is hilarious when the squishies standing next to you is swung at.

edit:
Looking at the weapons in AV, IMO both the waraxe and craghammer are better options than khopesh ... average damage per [W] of 6.5 both.
The waraxe would have a ridiculous crit (with deadly axe), whilst the craghammer can be consistent with hammer rhythm.
Dwarven weapon training already gives you proficiency with both.

So, in a vacuum, you're trading the ability to use an at-will for OAs for the price of:
Having to invest in dex
1.5 less damage per [w]
A feat

Still reckon it's a cool combo, though.

 

[Mithreinmaethor]

Ah, dwarf ... makes sense now.
In any case, if it helps make your decision, D8+brutal 1 = average of 5 damage, whereas D10 = average of 5.5 damage.
So the weapon's double type is pretty much just for HBO.

As for a useful feat suggestion, personally I'm more of a fan of shield push than distracting shield (though having both is nice).
Invalidating melee attacks is hilarious when the squishies standing next to you is swung at.

edit:
Looking at the weapons in AV, IMO both the waraxe and craghammer are better options than khopesh ... average damage per [W] of 6.5 both.
The waraxe would have a ridiculous crit (with deadly axe), whilst the craghammer can be consistent with hammer rhythm.
Dwarven weapon training already gives you proficiency with both.

So, in a vacuum, you're trading the ability to use an at-will for OAs for the price of:
Having to invest in dex
1.5 less damage per [w]
A feat

Still reckon it's a cool combo, though.

Was he not looking at Swordmage as well or something? So the Waraxe and Craghammer are out if he is heading in that direction.

But on your 1st part of this post the Bastard Sword (1 feat) Avg 5.5 dmg
but for him Khopesh Sword (1 feat Dwarven weapon training) Avg 7 dmg

 

[Danceofmasks]

Eh, he said fighter.

My previous post compares axes to axes ... 'cos bastard sword is +3 to hit, and wins hands down.
And the feat comparison is bastard sword vs. deadly axe, 'cos weapon training is vs. weapon focus (neither of which is multiplied per [W])
Meaning, on a 3[W] attack, bastard sword averages 16.5 (on its own), whilst khopesh averages 15 (before a feat bonus, which a bastard sword may also have).
What's more, the OP likely wouldn't even bother with the khopesh until HBO becomes available, so until then it's waraxe?

 

[cmbarona]

What's more, the OP likely wouldn't even bother with the khopesh until HBO becomes available, so until then it's waraxe?

You got it.

I'm also interested in making my at-wills more deadly, since I'll be able to use them for both OAs (HBO) and charges (Steel Grace; check the errata). On that note, martial power could be very nice, since Sure Strike sucks so much and I want something other than Cleave and Reaping Strike to look at. And btw, I was going to get both Shield Push and Distracting Shield. I think the feats I listed were all the ones having to do with offense, axe, heavy blade, or OAs. I've selected a lot more in my feat build, which goes through 30 at the moment. I don't have any equipment in mind yet, though.

 

[eleventh]

I recently designed a character based around opportunity attacks (HBO and the like) and was very excited about how it looked on paper. In playing him, however, I was disappointed that OA's rarely cropped up. I'm looking into ways to force an OA, but haven't found too many (aside from combining the Glaive and Polearm Gamble, shifting away each turn after marking). Any ideas on other ways to force OA's?

 

[Milambus]

If you have access to DDI, the new Class Acts article focuses on the Warlord. They give him a few powers that give enemies bonuses to attack him, but if they do all adjacent allies get OA against the enemy.

 

[Doctor Proctor]

I recently designed a character based around opportunity attacks (HBO and the like) and was very excited about how it looked on paper. In playing him, however, I was disappointed that OA's rarely cropped up. I'm looking into ways to force an OA, but haven't found too many (aside from combining the Glaive and Polearm Gamble, shifting away each turn after marking). Any ideas on other ways to force OA's?

Yeah, this is exactly why I've stayed away from focusing too much on OA's with my Fighter, my DM doesn't like to do them much. And considering that he just let me get a CC attack interupt that killed his Hobgloblin before he got away, I don't think he'll be changing on that.

As for forcing OA's, there's really only two ways.

1) Having a ranged striker behind you can make taking OA's more attractive to the DM because they have to get past you to get to the high damage guy in the back. This would work well with Rangers and Warlocks mostly, as Rogues probably wouldn't do enough damage from range to anger them that much.

2) Distance challenges from the Paladin. If you had a lvl 1 Pally with pretty good Charisma, say a +3 or +4 bonus, then a challenge on an enemy would give them 6-7 guaranteed damage if they attack someone else. As long as the Paladin has a way to hit them from range so that he can keep his challenge active each round, he'll be fine. This makes the monster have to decide between 6-7 guaranteed damage, or a possible hit from your OA.