The 18 INT Warlord

[N0Man]

Wizard of the Spiral Tower does seem pretty clear, in that it requires an Implement Mastery for Corellon's implement. However, I think they should have mentioned Implement Mastery in the prerequisite list, to avoid confusion.

My only complaint related to this is that that the Multiclass feats set a false expectation, and tell you that they open up Paragon features for your character, but in reality many of the Paragon paths require class features that you can only gain by having that class as your primary class. Still others, you can technically take, but they'd be virtually useless without that primary class.

I'm ok with some Paragon Paths being exclusive to one class, but then you get the class like the Ranger, where every Paragon path requires the main class.

But back to the original point, I think that a lot of people are upset about 4E's philosophy of distinguishing characters. You can't easily pick up core class features from another class through a multiclass level or feat. There are always going to be advantages and disadvantages between picking a Warlord/Wizard, vs a Wizard/Warlord.

 

[WalterKovacs]

I've been playing a Tiefling as an 18 Int Warlord. With hide and a light shield he acts as a secondary defender AC wise [and he can multiclass into Paladin for a Divine Challenge]. It worked out very well for me when I had to DM a group that was short handed, as I was able to slot him in as a useful "DM" character, who rarely had to actually actively attack.

In general, to offset the penalties to hit involved with only having 16 STR, I try to get into a flank with the defender, often wait until the foe is bloodied and/or hit me to use my encounter/daily. The random bonuses to hit as a Tiefling can come in handy. [Having the 18 Int Human Warlord with Action Surge would be another useful way to ensuring he hits with his daily].

 

[Cadfan]

1. Wizard of the Spiral Tower isn't so great for a fighter multiclassing into wizard. Its great for a wizard multiclassing into fighter, though. In fact, its a little like a wizard/fighter multiclass in a can.

2. NOMan- Some people may be upset, but personally I view it as a feature. I'd rather have a difference between a Warlord/Wizard and a Wizard/Warlord than not.

3. Personally, I don't think that an 18 int warlord is worth it. You get great mileage out of one daily power, but other than that, there just aren't enough rewards. And there are a LOT of costs. I'd rather go with a 16 int warlord. With an eladrin or a tiefling, that means you've saved 4 point buy points. That can get your strength from a 16 to a 17, with a point to spare.

 

[DemonLord57]

I think that the 18 Int Tactical Warlord is definitely worth it. You have a 5% chance of not hitting when you would've on every attack you make, but your bonuses are so much bigger... on *everything*. In my build, anyway, almost every encounter power and daily relies on intelligence, and give amazing bonuses. I'd rather give allies one more bonus to attack than have one more myself (applies to tactical presence as well). This is mainly because either 1) it applies to multiple allies, or 2) giving them better chances of hitting with their dailies is worth less chance of hitting with my encounters, IMO.

Then again, I have a very cooperative group. We tend to think out our encounters, and they tend to listen to my tactical advice. I'd be really annoyed if all my setting up went to waste...

 

[Tony Vargas]

2. NOMan- Some people may be upset, but personally I view it as a feature. I'd rather have a difference between a Warlord/Wizard and a Wizard/Warlord than not.

Even if you allow that a character multiclassing into Wizard can use Correllon's Blade as an implement, the Wizard /still/ has the advantage of implement mastery. The multiclassed character is just saved from having to double-up on both an implement and a weapon. Something that's already the case with multiclassing into Wizard, anyway, since the staff is both weapon & implement.

3. Personally, I don't think that an 18 int warlord is worth it. You get great mileage out of one daily power, but other than that, there just aren't enough rewards.

Depending on what you choose, it could give quite a boost to you 1st level daily, encounter & one at-will power, plus the extra +1 to tactical presence (that's really the driving impulse, Tactical Presence is what defines the Tactical Warlord, and with an INT less than 18, it feels trivial - even though, intellectually, I understand that any stacking +1 is gold in 4e).

 

[Cadfan]

Depending on what you choose, it could give quite a boost to you 1st level daily, encounter & one at-will power, plus the extra +1 to tactical presence (that's really the driving impulse, Tactical Presence is what defines the Tactical Warlord, and with an INT less than 18, it feels trivial - even though, intellectually, I understand that any stacking +1 is gold in 4e).

I suppose. But if you have a 16 Int, you'll probably have an 18 Int at level 8.

I don't think that the points it costs to get an 18 Int for an Eladrin or Tiefling are going to screw your character by trading off too heavily with what you need for Str and other important scores. I don't mean to give that impression. I just don't think, personally, that its worth the trade off. I will agree that its within the bounds of reason.

Now, if you were trying to tell me that your 22 point buy character NEEDS both an 18 Int and an 18 Cha, I might strenuously disagree. But this lost +1 to str isn't going to gimp your character.