Need Some Optimization Advice for My Hybrid

[blargney the second]

Rampage only triggers when you crit while attacking with a barbarian attack power.

 

[jbear]

There you go, even more limiting trigger possibility in that case... next to never, really, all things considered. Which is why you should try my build! Muahahahahahah.... [evil laugh for no apparant reason]. Dang, that was inappropriate. Sheesh, it's late. I ... ehem .... better go to bed. I think it's best for everyone.

 

[Felon]

Rampage only triggers when you crit while attacking with a barbarian attack power.

Yes, I know. If anything, the question is becoming not why did I hybrid into paladin, but why I hybrided into barbarian. The pally seems to hit just as hard.

However, one odd thing I'm noticing using the mordenkrad is that Howling Strike is about as good as a 2[W] attack due to the extra 2d6. I take taking HS is sort of like getting Hunter's Quarry from a ranger hybrid.

 

[Felon]

Again though, your original buid as is is totally competent. Can you hit even harder. Yes. But the difference is situational and it doesn't fit the mini you have selected. So who cares? You're going to be kick arse either way!!!

Heh. You gave me plenty to think about. Thanks!

 

[blargney the second]

Yes, I know. If anything, the question is becoming not why did I hybrid into paladin, but why I hybrided into barbarian. The pally seems to hit just as hard.

It was mostly for jbear's benefit, since he was talking about rampaging off a holy strike. And yeah, Str paladins can hit pretty damn hard.

However, one odd thing I'm noticing using the mordenkrad is that Howling Strike is about as good as a 2[W] attack due to the extra 2d6. I take taking HS is sort of like getting Hunter's Quarry from a ranger hybrid.

It's even better than HQ in one important respect - it saves you the minor action of quarrying, which is important if you want to mark things as a paladin. I think you're onto a good hybrid combo, Felon. The action types mesh up pretty well between those two classes.

 

[KarinsDad]

You should consider a +2 Avalanche Hammer Mordenkrad with your Howling Strike.

Double weapon damage on a charge with this weapon. Charge is +1 to hit. Howling Strike does 1W + 2d6 + Str damage on a charge.

So, this PC charging would effectively do:

4d5+4 (Brutal 1 = 2d5+2 damage for a Mordenkrad) +2d6+7 or 28 damage instead of the effective 2d5+2 (Brutal 1) +2d6+8 or 22 damage of a +3 Supremely Vicious Mordenkrad.

Yes, he would be -1 to hit, but that's really only 1 encounter in 3 that it matters. The extra 6 points of damage most successful At Will attacks more than makes up for that (e.g. 22 damage 50% of the time = 11 dpr < 28 damage 45% of the time = 12.6 dpr).

And for all intents and purposes, charging is also fairly easy in 4E.

And charging fits the mini as well.

 

[Felon]

You should consider a +2 Avalanche Hammer Mordenkrad with your Howling Strike.

This is the kind of advice that really helps. My previous long-term characters had been a bow-bard and a sorcerer, so I've only so-so familiarity with melee options.

I'm only hitting average AC's on 10 or better, so I'm not real eager to downgrade the pluses on my weapon, but as a level 14 item it is perfect for the DM's "wish list".

My original build was to be the in-the-middle guy who charged into the middle of a cluster and started thumping multipe guys every round with close bursts and two-target attacks. That was a big part of choosing the ancestral weapon class.