The Immaculate Defence

[Goumindong]

The main problem is that your Aegis of Assault is a immediate reaction and so isn't going to be stopping anything from going off.

As well, you only get one per round, so once the first guy triggers it, the second marked target will ignore you.

Basically you're not really preventing attacks except with your daily level 9 stance and your DPR is going to be very low.

edit: Oh, and technically savvy DM's/Enemies an entirely subvert your abilities with a readied action.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

The main problem is that your Aegis of Assault is a immediate reaction and so isn't going to be stopping anything from going off.

As well, you only get one per round, so once the first guy triggers it, the second marked target will ignore you.

Basically you're not really preventing attacks except with your daily level 9 stance and your DPR is going to be very low.

edit: Oh, and technically savvy DM's/Enemies an entirely subvert your abilities with a readied action.

Fortunately this is only going to be used in a one-off "seige" game, so I'm willing to play along with the concept. If this PC was likely to be used in an ongoing campaign, I too would have serious reservations about it.

 

[mlangsdorf]

Honestly, I'd turn it into a Shielding Swordmage and take the Paragon feat that increases the Aegis of Shielding damage reduction by 5.

Most 16th level foes have no meaningful way of hitting AC45+, but they also have a hard time consistently doing 16 points of damage. If he marks 2 foes, and one of them misses the squishy target, the Aegis of Shielding will stop or close enough the other one. It really does give the GM a pair of bad options.

 

[FrozenChrono]

Shielding would turn this guy from low to no damage. I'd suggest finding ways to take advantage of OA's and other non turn actions if you're going to use all your standards to turtle. Maybe sacrifice +2 from AC to get a glaive and use that wisdom to pick up pole arm gamble? That would be a great ability in a siege like game.

Actually Heavy blade opportunity would could be awesome with this build as well, and uncanny dodge would be great in any game you could be flanked a lot in.

unfortunately I don't see anything wrong with the build though Mr. Dm

 

[MarkB]

It might be worth considering taking something like a Figurine of Wondrous Power, or a Paragon-tier equivalent. Since the Figurines require minor actions to direct them, you could still direct one to attack after using your own standard action.

 

[mlangsdorf]

This guy's job isn't to do damage. His job is to make monsters waste their actions either by attacking him or by absorbing all the damage they do. Attacking him is useless, because the monsters need natural 20s to hit. Attacking someone else is useless if he's a shielding swordmage, since even level 20 monsters can't imperil a party if they're only doing 4 damage a round.

 

[crater]

Thanks for the responses!

I had considered the shielding swordmage paragon path from arcane power that allows you to make a basic attack if the mark attacks an adjacent ally, thats as well as applying the damage resistance.

Another option is to go Half Elf with the versatile master feat and choose paragon path powers that complement basic attacks (like the level 12 encounter utility from Anarch of Shyr)

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edit: Oh, and technically savvy DM's/Enemies an entirely subvert your abilities with a readied action.

Do you mean to ready an action to attack after the Aegis goes off?

 

[James McMurray]

Do you mean to ready an action to attack after the Aegis goes off?

Ready an action to attack on your turn, which would prevent you from using immediate actions (like Aegis).

 

[Drakhar]

Ready an action to attack on your turn, which would prevent you from using immediate actions (like Aegis).

And quite possibly get the DM shot by angry players who are unable to use most of their classes abilities.

 

[Kinneus]

Ready an action to attack on your turn, which would prevent you from using immediate actions (like Aegis).

It's even worse, actually, since Total Defense only lasts until the start of your next turn. All your turtling would be for naught, as the monster would just wait for you to 'drop your guard'. So all those pretty +s to AC you get from Defensive weapons and other features would have no effect. You'd effectively waste a standard action for no benefit whatsoever.
However, any DM that does this with any regularity is, if you'll pardon my French, a total dick.