D&D 3E/3.5 Scout 3.5e to 4e conversion help

[Chrynoble]

In 3.5e I have a character with the following levels
Barbarian 1
Fighter 2
Barbarian 3
Fighter 4
Scout 5-10

This maximizes the speed factor, throws in the fighters feats to get some charge and power striking going on, and adds a good boost of HP at the beginning.

He went the dodge/mobility/spring attack route. Throw in some boots of standard equipment and he can move 60-70 in a round (I forget) and he can do that before and after the attack. On a charge he can go even further. Add leap attack ftw.

There might be even more effective ways of "Amping" a scout, but this is working just fine.

What is the closest/best way to do this same thing in 4e? The flavor I want to preserve is 1. Hard hitting single attack 2. Highly mobile 3. Uses a 2h weapon (sword)

I am thinking he should start warrior and pick up either warrior of the wild, or Sneak of Shadows. After that judicious use of novice power, acolyte power and adept power should round the character out.

BTW the GM as asked us to progress our characters to level 16.

 

[Voss]

Honestly, except for the two handed sword, you've got a straight ranger, all the way.

You could do it as a fighter, and then multiclass for ranger for movement abilities, but the kind of speed you had in 3rd edition isn't really salvageable in 4e. Neither is a 'hard-hitting' attack, since everybody is attacking about the same.

What flavor are you trying to preserve? It looks like a fairly standard power charger type character.

 

[Chrynoble]

Right the two handed sword is the sticking point against going pure ranger. The character has an attachment to the sword and would not stop using for rp reasons.

Maybe I need to go ranger and pick up some fighter stuff for the sword? I have a hard time with this as all the ranger powers seem to be pretty tightly geared around 2 weapons or a ranged weapon.

Is is possible that the feats (I haven't had time to explore them yet) will accomplish most of what I need in terms of mobility? Thus allowing me to go pure fighter?

The flavor I want is power charger w/ mobility. The character is a Gnoll that serves the other PC's because of religious conviction (he is a convert to their religion). I don't see a half man/canine standing still a lot so I wanted to make him run in, hit something and run out.
The sword though has both ancestral sediment and religious significance to the character so he has to be able to use a great-sword well.

 

[Ginnel]

Easy peasy have a nice chat with your DM, and say I feel like this character should be a ranger because of A B and C, seeing as he uses a greatsword how about, I take two longswords 1D8 which I can offhand as a great sword, so basically use duel longswords but describe it as a greatsword.

I don't see this as overpowering myself as you will only need onc enchantment, but you will only get the bonus of one activation power on your greatsword. Simple but effective, If someone else picks up your two weapon greatsword, it functions as a normal greatsword for them, if you pick up another greatsword the DM should go it works like normal for you.

any good for you?

EDIT: unfortunately, my brother and DM has kindly pointed out it would take a ranger only one minor action to draw a two handed weapon instead of two minor actions, but this may well be countered by disarm having a greater effect?

 

[Fallen Seraph]

I'd be tempted if I was your DM to simply declare that in your case, you wield one sword but manage to pull of double strikes with the two-weapon powers of the Ranger.

So, while mechanically it is like you are wielding two swords, fluff/rp wise your just wielding one. Now... It can't be a normal two-handed sword, but it can be; longsword, scimitar, or bastard sword if you take Weapon Proficiency for it.

 

[Roger]

Heroic Tier Feat: Riddle of Steel

Prerequisites: Ranger

Benefit: When using a versatile weapon two-handed that you have proficiency with, you are considered to be wielding two melee weapons.


That looks like it should work.



Cheers,
Roger

 

[Drakhar]

I'd be tempted if I was your DM to simply declare that in your case, you wield one sword but manage to pull of double strikes with the two-weapon powers of the Ranger.

So, while mechanically it is like you are wielding two swords, fluff/rp wise your just wielding one. Now... It can't be a normal two-handed sword, but it can be; longsword, scimitar, or bastard sword if you take Weapon Proficiency for it.

Wait...why can he use a bastard sword but not a greatsword?

 

[doctorhook]

I recommend being a Gnoll Ranger to begin with, and taking "Student of the Sword" as your 1st-level feat. (You get to choose between one-handed or two-handed melee weapons, so obviously you should choose two-handed.) I then recommend you continue by taking every multiclass feat you can, in order to gain Fighter powers, as well as any other melee/fighter-y feats you like. Paragon path is up to you; either choose a Fighter path, or go Paragon Fighter for even more fighter powers.

...As far as weapon goes, you're right, it's still the biggest problem here. You could wait until October, when the Martial Power splatbook (complete with additional powers, feats, and builds) potentially offers a wide variety of additional solutions to your problem; who knows, there might even end up being a "Two-handed-weapon Ranger" build presented there. OTOH, depending on how open you are, there are in-game options to consider. For example, maybe your character's weapon is magically "split in twain" (so he can TWF with his old sword), or maybe you character realizes that his big ol' weapon isn't really that heavy after all, and he can carry his *cough* "greataxe" *cough* in his main hand, and carry another smaller axe in the other hand. The advantages with this option are A.) No waiting until October, and B.) You get more utility out of being a Ranger. It's up to you.

Or maybe you'll decide he's a "Ranger"; actually, Fighter in all but name. Give him some skill feats and, like you suggested, "Warrior of the Wild", and let him be a defender. Being a Gnoll means he'll still be a fast character this way, but being a defender/part-time striker will still give you a very different place in combat than you'd have as a striker/part-time defender. Either way, you can still be the hunter/tracker outside of combat.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Wait...why can he use a bastard sword but not a greatsword?

Since a Bastard Sword is a one-handed, versatile. While a Greatsword is just two-handed.

 

[doctorhook]

Heroic Tier Feat: Riddle of Steel

Prerequisites: Ranger

Benefit: When using a versatile weapon two-handed that you have proficiency with, you are considered to be wielding two melee weapons.


That looks like it should work.



Cheers,
Roger

...Or you could just do this.

Good catch, Roger.