Martial Power 2 - Comments, Reviews, Noteworthy Stuff?

[jbear]

Throw and Stab will be the first power to be errated, I'd bank money on that.

Charge as an effect??? Imagine what a Hybrid Barbarian ranger could do with that:

Thrown Weapon Damage + Prey Damage + Howling Strike (with a Bastard Sword)... add in a Horned Helm a Vanguard Weapon and....Broken...

A Hybrid Warlock can easily abuse it with Eldritch Strike as well (as it counts as a melee basic attack) and trigger both Prey Dmg and Curse Damage with one attack.

How do they miss things like this?

 

[jbear]

So, Martial Power 2 is out. What's the verdict? What kind of cool stuff did you find? What seems broken? What seems weak? What is just too awesome to not immediately create a new character for?

I was a little disappointed that I didn't find something particularly exciting for my Dragonborn Warlord. The Paragon Paths didn't seem much more interesting than before, but maybe I missed something?

There are a few new at-wills I'd probably want to try out at some point.

I wished the "Flavor"/"Story" section of the book was a little longer. The Primal Power book seemed a lot more interesting in that regard.

There is finally a Smart Rogue build! It focuses on Stealth and hiding! It doesn't adress its defense weakness - except indirectly, as if you pick that build, you are less likely to be attacked since you're often hidden anyway.

I'm surprised you didn't like the Warlord's new at-wills.

is it Insightful Strike? Weapon Attack vs Will!!!! And a bonus 1 + Car or Wis on bonus for all allies attacks with CA... that is a Righteous Brand on Steroids! A tightly coordinated and synergised party would have afield day with that. Distant Advantage becomes a must have.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I'm surprised you didn't like the Warlord's new at-wills.

is it Insightful Strike? Weapon Attack vs Will!!!! And a bonus 1 + Car or Wis on bonus for all allies attacks with CA... that is a Righteous Brand on Steroids! A tightly coordinated and synergised party would have afield day with that. Distant Advantage becomes a must have.

I... I...

Wait, what's that behind you?
Look, a pink elephant!

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I'd love to hear more of the Smart rogue build.

The Smart Rogue build is supposed to use the new Rogue Tactics option, Cunning Sneak. Penalties to Stealth checks for movement are lessened, and you can use concealment and cover to hide if you move a certain minimum distance from your last position.

Also you replace Weapon Talent with Sharpshooter Talent, which grants you a bonus either with slings or crossbows. So it is a more guide toward ranged attacks from hiding.

Any good things for a beastmaster?

There are a few new Beast powers, plus the aforementioned feats.

 

[JPL]

Just read about the Prince of Knaves paragon path, for Warlords trained in Thievery. Warlords and Rogues make a very fine combo . . . glad to see a paragon path along these lines.

There's a lot of unmined gold in combining different classes for paragon paths. We have a storm-barbarian and a storm-sorcerer --- why not make a good paragon path combining the two? I know we don't officially have the monk yet, but thematically, doesn't monk combine with just about ANYTHING?

 

[DracoSuave]

Throw and Stab will be the first power to be errated, I'd bank money on that.

Charge as an effect??? Imagine what a Hybrid Barbarian ranger could do with that:

Thrown Weapon Damage + Prey Damage + Howling Strike (with a Bastard Sword)... add in a Horned Helm a Vanguard Weapon and....Broken...

A Hybrid Warlock can easily abuse it with Eldritch Strike as well (as it counts as a melee basic attack) and trigger both Prey Dmg and Curse Damage with one attack.

How do they miss things like this?

Marauding Ranger is a build based around throwing things and charging things. Often in the same motion. Horned Helms and Vanguard weapons will find their way in there. As will Bastard Swords. The big question is whether Marauder Fighting Style or Hunter Fighting Style is best to go with it... do you want the TWD and the extra movement, or do you want Quick-Draw, quick sheath of weapons, and the +4 to defenses against OAs from ranged attacks.

Cause then you're going Tratnyrs and Mordenkrads, my friend.

I don't think they missed it. Why do you need 'barbarian' at all when the power above it is 1[W]+Strength+Wisdom damage and can be used instead of MBA on a charge. If wisdom is 18, it's better than howling strike.

Miss it? Dare I say that sort of thing is intentional.

The sky is not falling.

As for the second... again, you're saying that a power is broken because... let me get this straight, in heroic tier it does the same amount of damage as the single-class build provided you in the booK?

Seriously. It's a ranger. Heaven forbid they get a build where Twin-Strike isn't the weapon of choice.

 

[renau1g]

It would certainly take a lot to try and unseat, or even challenge, Twin Strike as the premier at-will for every ranger build. At least now there's an option. Is Hurl Weapon only for barbarians? If not, take Hurl weapon so you can throw a bastard sword, then charge in with it (assuming a magical weapon that returns to your hand)

 

[DracoSuave]

It would certainly take a lot to try and unseat, or even challenge, Twin Strike as the premier at-will for every ranger build. At least now there's an option. Is Hurl Weapon only for barbarians? If not, take Hurl weapon so you can throw a bastard sword, then charge in with it (assuming a magical weapon that returns to your hand)

Yes, it's barbarian only, and no, bastard swords do not have the off-hand trait so cannot be thrown with Hurl Weapon.

 

[Kwalish Kid]

It would certainly take a lot to try and unseat, or even challenge, Twin Strike as the premier at-will for every ranger build. At least now there's an option. Is Hurl Weapon only for barbarians? If not, take Hurl weapon so you can throw a bastard sword, then charge in with it (assuming a magical weapon that returns to your hand)

Only actual thrown magic weapons return when thrown. One could have a bastard sword that is a farbond spellblade that acts as a thrown weapon.

 

[DracoSuave]

Only actual thrown magic weapons return when thrown. One could have a bastard sword that is a farbond spellblade that acts as a thrown weapon.

I'd rather have a Farbond Fullblade for a Marauder Ranger.

If I'm spending a feat, I might as well spend it on something mighty.