Smasher

[ideasmith]

Smasher

For those who want to play something more … direct … than a barbarian.

Comment 1: Yes I am making assumptions about what the 4E barbarian will be like. Yes, I will have to change the fluff if I’m wrong.

Comment 2: This class is incomplete so far. It needs paragon paths, multiclassing feat, build options, and more fluff.

Class Traits
Role: Special: see description
Power Source: Special: Martial Striker
Key Abilities: Strength, Constitution, Dexterity, Charisma
Armor Training: Cloth
Weapon Proficiencies: Simple Melee, slings
Bonus to Defense: +1 Fortitude, +1 Reflex, +1 Will
Hit Points at 1st Level: 15 + Constitution score
Hit Points per Level Gained: 6
Healing Surges: 9 + Constitution modifier
Trained Skills: Athletics, Endurance, Intimidate.
Class Skills: Athletics, Endurance, Intimidate
Build Options:???
Class Features: Focused, Impact, Momentum, Smack em Hard.


Smasher Class Features
All smashers share these class features.

Focused
You do not receive any encounter, daily, or utility powers from your class progression.

Impact
Choose one weapon group. When making a melee attack with any weapon from that group, or with unarmed strikes, you gain a +2 bonus to damage.

Also, you gain Powerful Charge as a bonus feat.

Momentum
You can move through squares containing difficult terrain, and move through (but not end in) squares containing enemies, without being penalized therefrom.

Also, you gain Fast Runner as a bonus feat.

Smack em Hard
When you attack with any at-will power, you gain a bonus to damage equal to half your level.

Smasher Powers
Tumble
Note that due to the Focused class feature, smashers only have at-will powers.

Thrill of Battle
Danger makes you feel better. A lot better.
At Will; Martial, Weapon
Standard Action Melee weapon
Target: One creature or object
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier damage. You gain temporary hit points equal to your Constitution Bonus.
Increase damage to 2[W] at 21st level.

Demolish
Your attacks find the weak spots in the object you want to destroy.
At Will; Martial, Weapon
Standard Action Melee weapon
Target: One creature or object
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier damage. If your target is not a creature, you inflict an extra [W] damage.
Increase damage to 2[W] at 21st level.

In Your Face
You
At Will; Martial, Weapon
Standard Action Melee weapon
Target: One creature or object
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier damage. Your target is dazed until the beginning of its next round.
Increase damage to 2[W] at 21st level.

 

[Lord Sessadore]

Sooo ... 30 levels with three powers? Doesn't that seem a little .. sparse to you? Or maybe I'm misunderstanding your intention.

 

[ideasmith]

Sooo ... 30 levels with three powers? Doesn't that seem a little .. sparse to you? Or maybe I'm misunderstanding your intention.

I read enough complaints about the lack of easy-to-play classes that I decided to build a really easy-to-play class. Hence the Focused class feature, and the lack of powers.

 

[Lord Sessadore]

Haha, ok, fair enough. Should stop those complaints, certainly. Just don't expect me to play it

 

[ideasmith]

Haha, ok, fair enough. Should stop those complaints, certainly. Just don't expect me to play it

I have attempted to make the class balanced. The balance might or might not need to be adjusted.

 

[Malachor]

ummm, 4(!) key abilities?
Since all its at-wills rely on strength, with one gaining a bonus from constitution, why have the other 2, dexterity and charisma?
And only cloth? why not leather and/or hide or heavy of some description?
Only simple melee? why not martial as well?
Momentum description seems a bit strange, does it provoke opportunity attacks when moving through enemies squares or not?

 

[mattdm]

I like the concept.

Simple weapons only sounds good. If you want more, there's feats.

"Momentum" seems overpowered.

 

[Hokahej]

Well, this "smasher" needs something to compensate for the lack of any encounter, daily, and utility powers as well as for the utter lack of armor.

 

[ideasmith]

ummm, 4(!) key abilities?
Since all its at-wills rely on strength, with one gaining a bonus from constitution, why have the other 2, dexterity and charisma?

Probably an error on my part. Have on my 'revise' list.

And only cloth? why not leather and/or hide or heavy of some description?

Felt thematically appropriate.

Only simple melee? why not martial as well?

I wanted greatclub to be a sensible choice for this class. More thematic stuff.

Momentum description seems a bit strange, does it provoke opportunity attacks when moving through enemies squares or not?

Only if the opportunity attack is due to the square containing an enemy. If the presence of the enemy is irrelevant to the opportunity attack, then so is Momentum. (Probably 'No', but I am not 100% familiar with the rules.) Will consider how to add clarification.

I like the concept.

Thank you.

Simple weapons only sounds good. If you want more, there's feats.

"Momentum" seems overpowered.

Perhaps. Could you expand your reasoning? Have you taken into account the class' weaknesses in other areas?

Well, this "smasher" needs something to compensate for the lack of any encounter, daily, and utility powers as well as for the utter lack of armor.

That's my reasoning at this point. They also get more hit points than other strikers.

 

[mattdm]

Perhaps. Could you expand your reasoning? Have you taken into account the class' weaknesses in other areas?

Well, I'm taking into account their strengths, actually. That they can run right through difficult terrain makes sense from a "reducing the thinking" point of view (although I might require a running start to fit the "momentum" idea). But running right through any enemy squares with no restriction means they right right up and kill the spellcaster. It's good to have a simplified character class, but tactical movement is so important to everyone else in the game that having this character just ignore it is really strong.

On the subject of paragon paths and multiclassing: I actually don't think it should have those. Instead, it should have a way to completely convert the character to another martial-power character class — presumably after eight levels or so of this the player is going to be ready for more.