Master of Stories [Multiclass Bard] broken?

[brehobit]

The feat, Master of Stories, from the feywild book, seems well, very powerful. Rather than once/day healing, the feat gives once/encounter healing. Plus other stuff (including an aura that certain powers can aid).

Seems a bit much. Typo? Errata bait?

 

[keterys]

It is powerful, but not broken. It is intentional, though potentially errata-bait.

It is worth note that it's _much_ less versatile than a standard healing power. Comparison:
Majestic Word - Single minor action, 5 per tier range, heals slightly more (Cha instead of 1d6), also slides.
Master of Stories - Single minor action to activate aura. Second minor action to heal self or _adjacent_ ally. Other allly can take the action.

Majestic Word is _far_ better for getting back a downed leader. Master of Stories is _far_ better for being a secondary healing option, especially on characters who aren't action starved (swordmage / warlocks, paladins, etc need not apply)

 

[Mengu]

On my Sorcerer I'm debating between the two. I currently have the old Bard MC. It works well enough for me. I particularly like the slide. And since we have a super healer cleric, I don't really know if I need that secondary healer role, even though I do have plenty of spare minor actions. The choice isn't quite automatic. But it does make it extremely easy to become a secondary healer when you want to, reducing the 2 feat cost of the Shaman multiclass. I've also pondered taking both! I wouldn't mind training in another bard skill.

 

[keterys]

Yeah, I'm considering it on a couple characters, but so far I'm not sure I'll take it on any. It's a hard sell giving up, say, Battle Awareness for it.

I have a paladin who was multiclass bard previously, but is currently resourceful warlord. I'll admit that I loved having bard of all trades... but the extra damage on APs has felt more useful overall than the backup heal, and I've been getting good mileage from impetuous charger. Still might, though, tough choice.

Where the new feat _really_ shines is early level, or if your group is random enough it doesn't have a healer sometimes.

 

[elephantgrey]

i think where this feat comes into its own is with half-elves, as the at-will powers that augment the aura last "until the end of the encounter or until you use another bard at-will power…", which means that you can grab one as your dilettante, activate it and skald's aura at the start of every encounter, and then pretty much have a constant bonus to your basic attacks.

 

[Moorcrys]

It's strong but you can gain an encounter heal with a multiclassed shaman as well through the mending spirit feat.

 

[keterys]

i think where this feat comes into its own is with half-elves, as the at-will powers that augment the aura last "until the end of the encounter or until you use another bard at-will power…", which means that you can grab one as your dilettante, activate it and skald's aura at the start of every encounter, and then pretty much have a constant bonus to your basic attacks.

Yeah, that's definitely a strong use... but you still need 2 minor actions to kick that off (which is semi-crippling for a warlock eldritch strike build, for example, and a hindrance for any melee build like the standard chargers you see nowadays... so half-elf hunter maybe?) and the benefits aren't all that strong (few temp here or there, typical at-will result), so it's on the low side of the power scale in truth...

Pretty neat, though. I'd certainly consider something like a half-elf blackguard an interesting option with that route.

 

[elephantgrey]

n interesting build ive come up with is Half-elf Seeker|Ranger/Skald go 13,0,0,0,20,13
use Arcery Mastery feat to gain Cleaver Shot at-will, song of serendipity as Dilettante, and Grasping Spirits as Seeker at-will. Use Cleaver shot to actvate Grasping Spirits, and on a hit the target is slowed and cant shift till end of its next turn, slid 2 squares (or prone, or slowed SE), and an ally gets +2 to hit. Seams a good was to kite an enemy indefinatly, esspecialy if you pump your slide distance.
Also for 1st level encounter, Rangers Fox's Cunning is an IR that lets you shift and make a basic with WIS mod power bonus bonus to attack when an enemy hits you with a melee attack. No Clever Shot, but works with Grasping Spirits and Song of Serendipity.