Some PC designs bouncing in my head...

[Dannyalcatraz]

I don't think there'd be an issue with reflavoring a Monk to use Strength as their primary attack stat. I'd check with your DM about doing something about your AC, though.

Brett's pretty new to the group, but he seems a good guy & flexible sort.

I'm not too concerned about the AC as long as I can figure out how to make the guy tough. Or vice versa.

It was in a PHB Heroes minis set. I only know of it through the Character Builder; it can be chosen instead of Eldritch Blast. It's a Weapon attack, vs. AC, using either Constitution or Charisma. On a hit, it slides the target 1. It can be used as a basic attack.

Aw...that means I can't really use that either. To date, I'm either the only or one of perhaps 2 people in the group with any 4Ed stuff, and beyond the PHBs 1-3, FR and Eberron, I'm only intending to pick up DarkSun.

Yes, though it's still crazy expensive, feat-wise and stat-wise, to get your Wizard into scale or plate armor. And once you've done that, you still probably don't have a better AC than a robed Wizard does given how a DEX/INT modifier only helps in Light Armor.

Basically, if you really want your wizard or warlock to wear armor, you can feel free. In fact, Leather Armor is a very common feat choice for Wizards. For a Warlock, you're probably about as well off in Hide as you would be in Chain, assuming you're keeping your Intelligence up; either one is a good feat choice.

Well, Warlocks can use Leather, and Monks have Cloth and their unarmored combat bonus...so I'm not too hung up on wearing armor. But I think something like Chain would be appropriate to help simulate Hellboy's durability.

OTOH, if I go down the Juggernaught Warforged path...

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Rackafratz!

I just noticed that the Hybrid Monk does NOT have unarmed combat in its weapon proficiencies...

Unless there is a feat that lets you do unarmed combat, I may have to compromise Box a bit more than I wanted.

Which would mean some other class...Avenger? Paladin?

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Well, further reading has showed me the way to make a Hybrid Monk PC have unarmed strike...like it was hiding.

However, the difficulty I'm having making this PC an unarmed combatant while simultaneously having powers that reflect the PC concept have made me decide to swap out Monk for Battlemind.

Battlemind Powers emphasize brute force and reach and so forth- basically being a bully on the battlefield...which is at least as important to Hellboy's nature as is his being a fist-fighter.

Coupled with the infernal powers of the Warlock, and the PC concept seems to gel pretty well.

In addition, using something like a Maul or Flail & Shield will give him the kind of damage potential that Hellboy should have. And if I opted for Spiked Chain, that gets me a bit more Hellblazer flavor.

Now, am I right in saying that if the PC took the Battlemind's Hybrid Talent for Battlemind Armor Proficiency, there would be no issue in Box wearing heavier armor while using his Warlock powers?

 

[Flipguarder]

A character concept I loved early on was the "i get sneak attack damage because I just punched you in the kidney" Ruthless ruffian, Belt of the brawler.

Might be what you are looking for. Kinda sorta requires a houserule to deal with "how can I get enhancement bonuses on my fists"

But the benefit, is that you can use ANYTHING to get sneak attack damage. You pick up a dead cat of the street, SNEAK ATTACK. You grab a cutip off the bathroom counter SNEAK ATTACK. You pick up your halfling sorcerer teammate SNEAK ATTACK.

Very fun design I haven't gotten to play yet.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

That sounds like a rogue build- I'm looking for something a lot less subtle- at some point, this PC should resemble a hellish Warforged. I'm seriously considering the Juggernought down the road.

 

[jbear]

There are no restrictions on spellcasters for wearing any kind of armour. As a Paladin Warlock Hybrid you could pick up plate armour and a heavy shield with your hybrid talent feat and cast your warlock spells without any kind of penalty. You could have a CHA based melee basic attack that inflicts radiant damage with your 'maul-like' fists, and cause radiant vulnerability if you served Pelor (god of sun and summer, dude) and picked up the Sun Domain feat. This may also be ruled out for you if you aren't using Divine Power (which took the Paladin from zero to hero, basically). Do keep in mind that the 4e Paladin is not obliged to live by the strict codes of other versions. A 4e Paladin can been non-aligned and serve the goddess of death, for example. Two such thematically conflicting classes that synergise so nicely as a Hybrid seems to fit the Box well.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

What I have for Box so far:

Box, a.k.a. Hellbox

Hybrid Battlemind/Warlock


SKILLS:

Arcana
Athletics
Intimidate

Power Points: 2

LVL 1 POWERS:

Eldritch Blast (W)
Iron Fist (B) (Augmentable)
Bull's Strength (B) (Augmentable)
Flames of Phlegethos (W)

I'm still undecided about which Feat to choose first- Hybrid Talent to get the Battlemind Armor would improve survivability; WP Spiked Chain is appropriate for the PC's flavor, but isn't crucial to the early levels; Ritual Magic is on the list- I want him to be able to incorporate his own components (even though I can't make the spiked chain into one). And, of course, there are other options.

 

[Obryn]

What I have for Box so far:

Box, a.k.a. Hellbox

Hybrid Battlemind/Warlock

1st level powers

Eldritch Blast (W)
Iron Fist (B) (Augmentable)
Bull's Strength (B) (Augmentable)
Flames of Phlegethos (W)

I'm still undecided about which Feat to choose first- Hybrid Talent to get the Battlemind Armor would improve survivability; WP Spiked Chain is appropriate for the PC's flavor, but isn't crucial to the early levels; Ritual Magic is on the list- I want him to be able to incorporate his own components (even though I can't make the spiked chain into one). And, of course, there are other options.

A good start!

If I might ask, why Eldritch Blast instead of Hellish Rebuke? The latter seems a little more in character, if you don't mind my saying. Good call on Iron Fist, though I'm worried you're making things complicated by using a psionic hybrid as your first PC!

As for the spiked chain, if you have Dragon articles available, look into the Spiked Chain Training multiclass feat. It makes it rock harder, imo.

-O

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

If I might ask, why Eldritch Blast instead of Hellish Rebuke? The latter seems a little more in character, if you don't mind my saying. Good call on Iron Fist, though I'm worried you're making things complicated by using a psionic hybrid as your first PC!

1) Even though Hellish Rebuke is clearly more PC appropriate, Eldritch Blast is, to me, the iconic basic Warlock power, so I'm somewhat conflicted. However, if I do go with Hellish Rebuke, I'll probably take Hybrid Talent to get the full advantage of the pact...followed by that feat that improves the Infernal Pact's benefits (which would also improve durability).

Complicating the issue is that I have no idea what a "basic ranged attack" is, and EB is one, while HR is not.

2) I'm not to worried about psionics- after years of my asking for D&D to fully integrate psionics into the core of the game, I sort of got my wish...even if it is in 4Ed...and in the 3rd PHB.

The fact of the matter is that the Battlemind's class abilities & powers seemed to be the best fit for the PC as compared to most of the other warrior classes.

And I've been looking down the road a bit and examined the way the 2 classes mesh together in a Hybrid PC- it really looks like their powers will do a good job of maintaining that feel. Switching back & forth between the 2 (to maintain the balance between the classes as required by the Hybrid rules) is going to require almost no thought at all. The powers practically select themselves.

3) Speaking of selecting themselves, I chose Arcana (lets him know about his origins as an infernal construct and preps him for Ritual Casting down the road), Athletics (he's beefy) and Intimidate (he's scary) as his Skills. I was considering Religion, but Arcana seemed more accurate, and Endurance- seemingly a no brainer- is reduced to near-uselessness due to his being a Living Construct.

As for the spiked chain, if you have Dragon articles available, look into the Spiked Chain Training multiclass feat. It makes it rock harder, imo.

After being a Dragon reader since 1979 and a subscriber since 1982, I gave up my subscription when it went digital...and nobody else in the group ever bought an issue.

Even if this were not the case, most of the guys in the group generally distrust Dragon material, so except for one 1Ed campaign (which, BTW, has been converted to each edition up to 3.5 and is still active), I was the only one who ever let stuff from the magazine in.

Such is life.

 

[Obryn]

1) Even though Hellish Rebuke is clearly more PC appropriate, Eldritch Blast is, to me, the iconic basic Warlock power, so I'm somewhat conflicted. However, if I do go with Hellish Rebuke, I'll probably take Hybrid Talent to get the full advantage of the pact...followed by that feat that improves the Infernal Pact's benefits (which would also improve durability).

That's definitely the angle I'd take. All those delicious temporary HPs, just waiting for you to grab... You can snag better armor with a few feats; you can only get a pact boon with Hybrid Talent. YMMV, of course!

Complicating the issue is that I have no idea what a "basic ranged attack" is, and EB is one, while HR is not.

I wouldn't worry about it. A basic melee attack is important, since you can use it with a charge or with an opportunity attack, and there are a ton of powers which enable you to make extra ones. A basic ranged attack generally is not, unless there's a Warlord in the party who has taken powers to let you use them.

2) I'm not to worried about psionics- after years of my asking for D&D to fully integrate psionics into the core of the game, I sort of got my wish...even if it is in 4Ed...and in the 3rd PHB.

The fact of the matter is that the Battlemind's class abilities & powers seemed to be the best fit for the PC as compared to most of the other warrior classes.

And I've been looking down the road a bit and examined the way the 2 classes mesh together in a Hybrid PC- it really looks like their powers will do a good job of maintaining that feel. Switching back & forth between the 2 (to maintain the balance between the classes as required by the Hybrid rules) is going to require almost no thought at all. The powers practically select themselves.

That's a good point, and Battleminds are actually pretty cool. I was just shocked because psionic hybrids and muticlassers are a hairy area of the rules.

Even if this were not the case, most of the guys in the group generally distrust Dragon material, so except for one 1Ed campaign (which, BTW, has been converted to each edition up to 3.5 and is still active), I was the only one who ever let stuff from the magazine in.

Such is life.

Gotcha. Well, I thought I'd check!

-O