Paladin Divine Challenge Fixed

[FireLance]

I think I'd be happy enough if WotC just added a "Sustain Attack" clause to the paladin's Divine Challenge. Based on the current rule for Divine Challenge, the paladin has to use a minor action and be within 5 squares of his target to mark it. If the paladin attacks his mark in the next round (even with a ranged weapon or a prayer) the Challenge is maintained automatically. If he does not attack his mark, he must still be within 5 squares and spend a minor action to re-issue his challenge.

This broadens the archetype of the paladin slightly - paladins of trickster gods, for example, could make use of the tactic of challenging an enemy and leading him on a merry chase around the battlefield, remaining just close enough to re-issue the challenge every round, while more straightforward, challenge and duke it out with the mark in melee paladins can maintain the challenge for free and use their minor action for Lay on Hands and Channel Divinity.

 

[Hjorimir]

I ran a little 4e with the pregens today for a couple of fights. The first encounter was two waves of kobolds, the second against the big nasty (i.e. black dragon). In both fights, the marks of the fighter and paladin actually helped the defenders defend the other characters around them. It may feel too "gamist" for some of you, but I really liked it. I think it simulted the defender's acting to 'cut-off' monsters from attacking the weaker members of the group rather well.

It was certainly fun.

I did have some stumbling points during our test, but those really stem from not having all the rules. For example, the cleric's Healing Word has a range of Close burst 5. I didn't really understand the difference between that and Range 5 seeing how the target was listed as You or one ally. In the end, I think it means you don't need line-of-sight, just line-of-effect, but I'm not sure.

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

I think I'd be happy enough if WotC just added a "Sustain Attack" clause to the paladin's Divine Challenge. Based on the current rule for Divine Challenge, the paladin has to use a minor action and be within 5 squares of his target to mark it. If the paladin attacks his mark in the next round (even with a ranged weapon or a prayer) the Challenge is maintained automatically. If he does not attack his mark, he must still be within 5 squares and spend a minor action to re-issue his challenge.

This broadens the archetype of the paladin slightly - paladins of trickster gods, for example, could make use of the tactic of challenging an enemy and leading him on a merry chase around the battlefield, remaining just close enough to re-issue the challenge every round, while more straightforward, challenge and duke it out with the mark in melee paladins can maintain the challenge for free and use their minor action for Lay on Hands and Channel Divinity.

I like that, it's complicated but honestly pretty interesting. Even has the added benefit of giving the Fighter and Paladin added differentiation since the Fighter Mark power has no sustain cost.

 

[Stalker0]

I did have some stumbling points during our test, but those really stem from not having all the rules. For example, the cleric's Healing Word has a range of Close burst 5. I didn't really understand the difference between that and Range 5 seeing how the target was listed as You or one ally. In the end, I think it means you don't need line-of-sight, just line-of-effect, but I'm not sure.

Ranged attacks provoke opportunity attacks, close attacks do not.

 

[Peter LaCara]

I did have some stumbling points during our test, but those really stem from not having all the rules. For example, the cleric's Healing Word has a range of Close burst 5. I didn't really understand the difference between that and Range 5 seeing how the target was listed as You or one ally. In the end, I think it means you don't need line-of-sight, just line-of-effect, but I'm not sure.

The difference is that the close burst doesn't provoke an attack of opportunity, while a ranged one would.

 

[Hjorimir]

Thanks you two!