Newbie avenger questions

[Kralin Thornberry]

There's a feat from DDI called Vengeful Retribution (I think that's the name) that makes any damge die roll of 1 or 2 into a 3...that's always a nice one to have, especially if you (like me) roll low on your 2d4 falchion...

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

I certainly like the DDI article, but it's totally viable without it.

Oath is great. You do want to have the double roll on it as much as possible, so be careful with positioning.

As kilpatds mentions, the Censures are often hard to come into play. Pursuit (the one I like) requires them to run away (which some DMs don't or can't do), Retribution it's nice but can screw your reroll, and Unity is easy to get.

Big weapons are what you want, because we don't get to ride extra damage dice or adds that much. It's likely worth it to get an exotic 2h weapon. I'm particularly fond of Brutal weapons like the Executioner's Axe due to potential poor rolls.

In play, I prioritize squishy/wiggly caster types, as those are slightly more likely to activate my Censure. I will often grab something obnoxious and move it over to let the rest of the party beat on the more important stuff. I teleport around all the damn time, too, it's quite fun.

The DDI article does add a few nice things. Painful Oath adds significantly to your damage output, though it's not unbalancing (it's far less than a sorcerer, ranger, rogue, or barbarian adds to their attacks). The crit feat is absolutely needed, as we're not likely to have the Str necessary for the PH1 crit feats, and all you really care about is the Oath target anyway.

Brad

Brad

 

[Dan'L]

Retribution it's nice but can screw your reroll

I find retribution can be particularly nice when you want to reposition yourself for getting the re-roll. Sure your enemies can take the OAs when you move, but if they hit you then their ally will take a big hurting.

-Dan'L

 

[DarkLord Of DForce]

This is very true, but also understand that the builds I have seen doing this are the single cheesiest things I have seen in the entirity of 4th edition.

I so hate the Half elf, twin striking avenger/daggermaster. It makes me want to barf

Me too. Don't they know about Student of Caiphon and Radiant Doubleaxes?

(Ok, ok, just kidding. Could you put down the pitchfork?)

Well, that's why I said:

"Okay, its a bit over-powered and over the top"...

 

[Lesker]

Thanks, good people. I'll go with the censure of retribution - You hit me? Fine, I'll do more damage. You don't? Ok, I will survive longer (to deal more damage).

Another question, regarding ability scores - Is a good idea to start with 15 str to get power attack in heroic? It looks like a very good feat to me, but I will will be able to take it at level 4 (L1: Fullblade prof., L2: Power of skill), so I'm not sure whether it's worth it...

 

[Herschel]

Depends on what you want to do. In a small party, I like Leading Strike as an at-will because it adds damage to your allied player's attacks too. The other censure-based ones I've gotten less use from beside the Warden. I generally abhor Power Attack personally. I HATE missing. I prefer Fullblade for the +3 also, or Greatsword while waiting for a feat slot to open.

I also like the second-level utiity that lets me do a Heal check on an unconscious alied character once per encounter to let them take a healing surge (in case that character's the leader) but I think that's Dragon content.

I'd go pre-racial 16 Wisdom, 16 Int, then Con instead of strength, but that's just me.

 

[Destil]

The main reason to take 15 Str would be to open up Heavy Blade mastery at Epic without investing any more into Str if you're using Dex. Since I think retribution avengers are Int based it's not as big of a deal. Power attack isn't generally fantastic for avengers, it depends on a number of factors and the math can end up either good or bad for using it.

 

[kilpatds]

Power attack isn't generally fantastic for avengers, it depends on a number of factors and the math can end up either good or bad for using it.

Actually, in most cases Power Attack is now good for Avengers, as long as you just care about average damage. And you're not fighting soldiers 3 levels above you. And you don't have some silly-huge damage bonus right now from a combination of leader bonuses and radiance vulnerability. And you really really don't care about the kicker landing, just average damage.

Hmm... maybe it's not that great.

 

[Iron Sky]

Having played a few levels of an avenger with power attack and missing by 1 or 2 once or twice a fight, I eventually trained out of it. Same with my ranger.

With both, the "math of averages" said power attack was superior. In reality, it sucks knowing if you hadn't have power-attacked, that attack that missed their AC by 1 would have hit...

 

[Rachel]

Was looking over the PHB 2 last night and was thinking the Avenger looks really cool. I was also thinking of playing one and had a question of my own. It's about the class feature Armor of Faith.

Let's say I rolled an Avenger with a Dex of 16, took the Dex mod +3 to AC defense and added that to the Armor of Faith +3 to AC defense plus the base 10 I get AC 16. That seems really good at 1st level for a "clothie". You don't really need a high Dex as an Avenger (except for Censure of Pursuit powers). Just a high Wisdom. But if I made a pursuit Avenger, I would go with a 16 for that stat I think.

So I'm asking, is Armor of Faith pretty well balanced? Again, it seems really good and definately caught my eye...