Passing Attack and Stalwart Guard

[Lizard]

Building a fighter, and I've come on some things...

Passing Strike: Just want to make sure this hasn't been errata'ed -- didn't see it on the current list.

The second attack is more accurate than the first?

Maybe I am just too used to 3e's "count down" iteratives, but it seems odd to me you're more likely to hit with the follow-up. Is this correct? I don't see why it couldn't be, but it still seems odd somehow.

Also, on Stalwart Guard...does the bonus to defense last once the allies move away from you? 'Cause, if it does, it makes a whole lot of not much sense...as written, it seems to continue to apply even if you are unconscious or dead. (Personally, I'd make it an aura effect...)

 

[drquestion]

I don't see any reason to assume that there's an error in Passing Attack. You're right that it seems a little strange from a 3e point of view, but once you get away from that, it seems fine. If you want an in-game reason, think that the follow-up attack comes from an unexpected angle, or that the fighter has found some way to shove the first target into the second for just a moment.

By RAW, it looks like Stalwart Guard does last after the targets move away, and doesn't apply to people who subsequently come near, but you're right that it would seem to make more sense as an aura.

 

[Kordeth]

Passing Strike: Just want to make sure this hasn't been errata'ed -- didn't see it on the current list.

The second attack is more accurate than the first?

Maybe I am just too used to 3e's "count down" iteratives, but it seems odd to me you're more likely to hit with the follow-up. Is this correct? I don't see why it couldn't be, but it still seems odd somehow.

Seems perfectly okay to me--like the fluff says, you use the momentum from the first attack to carry over into the second, thus hitting harder, thus getting a bonus on the second attack. The "more likely to hit" second attack is also a balancing factor against the drawback that if the first attack misses, you lose the shift and secondary attack (as compared to, say, some of the ranger's "make two attacks" powers).

Also, on Stalwart Guard...does the bonus to defense last once the allies move away from you? 'Cause, if it does, it makes a whole lot of not much sense...as written, it seems to continue to apply even if you are unconscious or dead. (Personally, I'd make it an aura effect...)

Yeah, that does seem weird, I agree.

 

[mach1.9pants]

I reckon it is right. Ilike the idea of the Fighter hitting once, beating the baddies guard down and smacking him again...bring it on! Lots of books use this sort of description, it fits better than 3E's IMO

 

[Lizard]

Thanks for the feedback. I guess Passing Attack is sort of like a "Run past, whack you a little, then slam into the other guy HARD" thing, where I was visualizing it as more of a "Hit you, then rebound and try to hit someone else if I can".

Will probably HR Stalwart Guard.

 

[Spatula]

See the level 20 Kensai daily for another passing-attack like power that gets hit bonuses on later attacks. It looks like a balance thing to me. Consider the choice between a power that does 2[w] to one target and a power that does 1[w] to two different targets - but you only get the 2nd attack if the 1st one hits. If both attacks on the 2nd power had the same hit % as each other and the 2[w] power, the 2[w] power would do more average damage.