D&D 4E SRM Marking Marked and Other 4Eisms

[Ulthwithian]

Well, actually, we don't know how obvious marking is, 'in-game'. If you play combat completely tactically (which is how combat generally goes in my group), then yes, the creature will know and act appropriately. If you go for more of a 'realistic' approach, certain stupid creatures might not realize that they are marked, and thus take more punishment than would otherwise be the case.

There's also the situation where, sure, I'm marked, but your wizard's dying. Even if the marked creature would die (and know that they would), there are some creatures that would see it as an even trade, at worst.

The lowest-level power that we know of that prevents an attack on anyone but a defender is Binding Smite at lvl27.

 

[Mistwell]

Take damage if you attack someone else?

OK, I realize 4e is really gamist, and I'm largely ok with that. But dude, that's a hard thing to wrap your head around....

Mark

I imagine a bunch of thin glowing lines between the Paladin and his allies and the enemy target. A glowing golden line between the Paladin and the target, cast out from the Paladin and anchored to the target, with a second set of glowing green lines cast out from the Paladin and anchored to the Paladin's allies. Attack someone with a green line and you suffer damage from a feedback in the golden link anchored to you. But sever the connection with the Paladin, by killing the Paladin, and you are free of the bond.

 

[Lizard]

I'm going to just take a wild guess here and predict that you can't mark an ally.

AD

Which makes precious little sense.

Of course, we've already seen some powers which, though allegedly attacks, can be useful in some situations if used on one's allies. The rogue's positioning strike can get the defender where you need him to be -- or the wizard out of the line of fire. Powers which trigger on 'bloodied' might prompt one teammate to shiv another. Etc. Blanket prohibition that the Magic Wall Of Deus Ex Machina prohibits this are patently silly, so I'm going to assume these 'exploits' were tested and balanced for, and will be much less effective in actual play than they seem -- or may even be necessary in actual play to acheive optimal efficiency. Knowing when to stab your buddy might be an important part of 4e system mastery.

(Consider, for instance, that Wally the Warlord is dominated by a mind flayer. Fred the fighter wants to make sure Wally doesn't go postal on Willy the Wizard, so Fred marks Wally to try to force him to attack someone who can take a swing or two. Saying "You can't do that!" deprives characters of an important option. Not to mention that roleplaying wise, PCs can and do come to blows. It would be a very odd thing to say a power can affect a PC when there's a debate over the ethics of orc torture which led to interparty violence, but not under other circumstances.)

 

[Hella_Tellah]

Paladin: Behold the Power the Righteous God. Attack my allies, foul creature, and be punished! *marks creature*

Fighter: I will mark him too, he won't pass through me and my big ax. *marks same creature

Paladin: No, NOOO. What have you done? My divine challenge, it's gone! But why? How? HOW i ask!

Fighter: Sorry dude. It's just a martial maneuver I learned yesterday, didn't know it was a dispel magic too.

Well, maybe the "marked" creature gets to choose which one to heed and which to ignore.

Paladin: I cast keep my eye on the goblin, intent upon blasting him with radiant energy as soon as he turns his back.

Goblin: Bedeviling zealot! I shall keep my gaze firmly fixed upon you!

Fighter: I, too, shall watch for an opening, the better to put my sword in the goblin's tuchus!

Goblin: Hmm, better the sword to the tuchus than a blast of radiant energy. I shall watch the Paladin's movements at the risk of revealing my heiny to the Fighter.

 

[HeinorNY]

This article was like a kick in my groins, not a big one, but it did hurt.

I have the "i'm going to 4E" in my sig but i'm not 100% sure anymore.

There is a limit of gamist silliness I can handle.

 

[Lizard]

I never understand these kind of arguments, do people really play the game following it word by word with no common sense what-so-ever?

People say 4E is dumbing down the game, if someone was to think that was the "proper manner of gameplay" perhaps it isn't the game that is dumb.

What's silly about the above example?

It's perfectly tactically valid.

The characters living in the world know how the world works. They might not know WHY it works like it does, but people will have learned "Paladins can make a foe burn if he does not strike them; if we keep the foe from striking the paladin, we slay him that much more quickly."

 

[HeinorNY]

Now, we just have to think of a believable (if not realistic) way to explain it.

Yes. And they better come with a damn good one

 

[fafhrd]

It answers the preexisting silly condition of being unable to defend your allies. I'll take that trade.

 

[Jayouzts]

This article was like a kick in my groins, not a big one, but it did hurt.

I have the "i'm going to 4E" in my sig but i'm not 100% sure anymore.

There is a limit of gamist silliness I can handle.

Bwahahahaha Welcome to the Dark Side.

 

[Incenjucar]

Just so people can visualize it, THIS is what you see when you are marked by a martial character: