Powers...am I missing something.

[Gundark]

I didn't got to D&D xp. I'm just looking at pre-gen characters has raised a question. Looking at (For example) thje Ranger power Careful aatack, I can do this at will as a standard action. Now Careful attack seems to be better than the regular attack, I get an additional +4 to hit with CA. Why would i ever choose the regular attack? Why even have a regular attack?

Anyone know?

 

[fafhrd]

Take a look at fox's cunning.

 

[ShinRyuuBR]

They make it clear in the What You Need to Know document that you usually will not want to make a basic attack unless it is a component to a power.

 

[Wormwood]

Why would i ever choose the regular attack? Why even have a regular attack?

Feature, not bug. Rangers are good snipers, for example. The rules reflect this.

From the DDXP handout sheet:

TIP: Use your at-will powers instead of using basic attacks. They’ll frequently do more than just a modest amount of damage to one enemy.​

edit: more from the handout:

Most of the time when you take an attack, you’ll use one of your powers. However, there are some times when you’ll use a basic attack – just a regular old swing of the sword or shot from the bow. These attacks are less powerful than using powers, but they can get the job done. You’ll use a basic attack when you’re charging, making opportunity attacks, or when you use certain powers.​

 

[Jack99]

Why even have a regular attack?

Anyone know?

For opportunity attacks and charges for example, as far as I understand the rules.

 

[mach1.9pants]

Regular attacks are for PCs suboptimal and should only be used with OA, other actions (charges) or with powers that enhance them. PCs are heroic, NPC commoners will be taking normal attacks.

 

[Incenjucar]

It also creates room for power-blocking status effects that aren't just anti-caster.

 

[Zaruthustran]

You're not missing anything. I think the idea was to move past the whole "My turn. I swing. I hit. 5 damage" thing. With at least two at-will attack powers to choose from, every single turn presents a choice. And each at-will attack is more interesting than a generic attack.

So why have generic attacks? For things like opportunity attacks or charges. OA's are little interrupt actions that take place during someone else's turn; they shouldn't be too interesting or complex because they might overshadow the actions of whoever's turn it is. And charges are already interesting enough--they don't need any additional complexity.

 

[fafhrd]

Did no one use the ranger's class encounter power?

 

[Spatula]

Pretty sure Scott Rouse or another WOTC employee mentioned that the ranger's Careful Attack had a typo in it, and that there was an actual trade-off for the +4 to hit.