D&D 4E Top 5 Encounter Powers That Need Fixing in 4e

[CapnZapp]

Had one such instance in a game yesterday. The encounter consisted of an ogre leader and 30 or so ogre minions. With a bunch of action points, the team's three strikers made mincemeat of the leader in the first few rounds, and then the minions rushed into the Warlock's (ranger multiclass) cobra stance.... I think there were three or four minions left after that.

Is this a problem?

(Looks like a job well done to me)

 

[Pickles JG]

"Break the game" is overused. It means the game overall isn't fun with that rule, as opposed to simply an overpowered element. I've seen no reports of such broken games.

I accept the overuse complaint but I have seen RoB (& RRoT) have a severely negative impact on the fun of other players & especially the DM in games I play. It does this two ways by marginalising other players & by marginalising other powers making the game less varied.

 

[Pickles JG]

I DMed for a party with 2 rangers with Spitting Cobra Stance in it. They both went off in one fight & bloodied all the enemies as they closed for melee - it was pretty funny. This was a very easy encounter though so it was overkill & maybe does not reflect on the true power. Plus the OAs from the first few of bad guys did chop up the ranger pretty well as he shot late arrivals.

I do think it is a very good power. I am not sure it is quite over the top as it spreads out the damage like Rain of Steel does, both in time & accross multiple targets. On the watch list

 

[shadowoflameth]

Starvation works by: a) causing damage once per day, b) not letting you get back healing surges. This power means you never need to eat or drink. Yes, you will be out of healing surges, but at full HPs and it makes doing things like, say, crossing a desert without food and water a reality.

Maybe it opens up some things for the DM, like being able to find a prisoner in an abandoned dungeon who has spent the last 50 years keeping himself alive by the power, but in the hands of the party it means there are a bunch of things the DM can no longer challenge the party with.

Not so, as in past editions, and as with any other power it would a). not be able to heal this damage, unless starvation or thirst was first ended. b). doesn't give you back healing surges anyway, though it doesn't use them. If you do not find this to be your reading, just rule as in 3e and before that the damage from starvation thirst drowning or any other condition cannot be healed until the condition ends. This is the same principal as 'there's no substitute for rest'.

 

[shadowoflameth]

see my clarification above. In past editions, damage from starvation, thirst, drowning or any other condition cannot be healed by anything without first correcting the cause. I.e. no food, no healing even by magic. This is or should be the rule in 4e if it comes up for anyone in play.

 

[KarinsDad]

Is this a problem?

It can be.

This is an effect that occurs constantly for the rest of the encounter every time a foe moves closer.

Think of it as a Wizard getting a Fireball off that does not hit allies, but does hit foes and the Wizard gets to use it every single round without using an action after round one.

Against a large group of melee weapon using minions, it's definitely much stronger than Flaming Sphere because it has a larger area of effect and it occurs on the enemies' turns, so the Ranger (or Warlock in this case) does not use up any of his own actions using it in latter rounds.

The Ranger can merely back away and unlike area effect attacks that either hit or miss and are done, this power allows him to attack each minion round after round after round until he kills it or it runs away, merely be retreating every round.

Remember, 30 minions is equivalent to 7.5 standard foes or 1.5 solos. This power alone can wipe them out.

So yes, it has the potential to be too powerful. Against a solo dragon, yeah, it's not as effective.

 

[Tarrl]

LOL! Yea I spaced and it was late. Yes Spitting Cobra is a daily. Sorry bout that.
Thanks for the replies though. I don't think it is broken, but the DM was sure pissed off. ;O)

 

[keterys]

One of the biggest problems with spitting cobra is that it encourages really dumb behavior.

Like in the case of those 30 minions, after the first died the rest should've gone 'Uhoh, that's scary, let's rush in together' and all readied charges to go in all on the same turn. And hey, only a single OA in that instance.

Also it would be nice if it was clear if it worked on teleports and shifts (things that usually specifically work against OAs),

 

[OchreJelly]

What's interesting about RRoT is that it compares pretty closely to the Divine Oracle PP power: Prophecy of Doom.

The main differences are the PoD uses a standard action, it's ranged 5 (to the enemy target), and probably most importantly is that the decision to crit can be made after the target is hit.

Basically the cleric is giving up his standard attack for the round to give one of his pals a crit. Nothing to sneeze at in the right group.

I think it's about right for an 11th level power. I'm undecided on how that sits with RRoT balance wise.

 

[keterys]

Anecdotal evidence from LFR suggests that RRoT is too powerful, especially when combined with high crit weapons and/or Vicious.

You'd be _amazed_ how many Avengers with +2 Vicious Fullblades and RRoT there are in LFR. It's shocking.