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Message: <blockquote data-quote="fba827" data-source="post: 4589422" data-attributes="member: 807">I just started playing a swordmage and one of my other options that I considered at the same time was a battlerager, so I had this same conversation with myself a couple weeks ago.  Ultimately, I did choose the swordmage for a few reasons, but I'll try and keep this focused on your specific comments...The swordmage has a high AC (since your primary attack, damage, and AC will be based off Int, it's hard not to have a good AC from this - just keep pumping up your Int!).  If you have a small group of PCs this will be important since you will be standing toe-to-toe with the bad guys and they will be more likley to want to hit you.Multiclassing to a wizard may be a bit unnecessary if you already have a dedicated group's wizard.  Mainly because there aren't that many wizard powers, you'll overlap a lot.  But if you do (not saying you can't, just you might overla a lot) then go for more the close burst/blast type powers seeing how, as a defender role, you'll be in the middle of things a lot.An option to consider (if you did want to multiclass): instead of multiclassing to wizard, consider multiclassing to spellplagued (if your DM allows it, it's in the same book as swordmage).  Sure, it adds some penalties and also background to your character (how he got the spellscar), but it will also add some variety in the powers so you don't overlap the wizard and you can still choose powers that key off of your Int, though the spellsplague abilities are less utility and more damaging than swordmages.On the damage end of things, you're only going to do low to medium amounts of damage, combined with nifty little tricks (such as doing an extra point of damage to all enemies adjacent and such -- which actually is good for taking out little minions swarming around you but not good at widdling down the BBEG)As for the dwarven battlerager -- your AC won't be as high as the swordmage's.  But if you have lots of people in the group, it won't matter _as much_ since there will be more targets for your enemies to go after (thereby making you get targetted less).You will, however, have medium to high damage output, though without the nifty little effects.Me, personally, I went with the swordmage because we have a small group (so I needed the high AC) plus, I like the nifty effects (like teleporting, or varied damage types - I just get bored saying "I swing my axe and hit for X damage" but that is me being unable to get creative with weapon damage descriptions).  And, yes, I will be multiclassing him (eventually) in to being spellplagued.</blockquote>

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