Very basic questions re: powers

[Westwind]

Wow, 2 days short of a year since my last login...never would've guessed that'd happen.

Alright, I've been away from the game for a bit now but the 4e has perked my interest. I've looked over the pre-release compilation and I'm trying to get up to speed with all the previews. I have a quick question regarding powers:

Looking at some of the martial powers, I can't quite understand why you wouldn't use some of the at-will powers every round (unless there was some sort of terrain impediment). For example, Tide of Iron and Nimble Strike both seem to use the basic melee/ranged vs. AC mechanic and grant a small perk. As an archer-ranger (remember when that was actually the name of a class?), I'd always be looking for ways to put more distance between myself and my target--is there a downside to using this Nimble Strike all the time? Do you forgo your level bonus to your attack role?

 

[Mouseferatu]

The idea behind at-will powers is that you do use them every round--if you're out of, or don't want to use, an encounter or daily power. Most characters will rarely, if ever, choose to simply forgo a power and use a basic attack.

Basic attacks are primarily for things like opportunity attacks, charges, and the like.

 

[FourthBear]

As said, this is a deliberate design decision, to make At Wills be class appropriate powers and for have them to outclass basic attacks. In the early sheets passed out for the 4e demos, they explicitly noted that PCs should be using their powers rather than basic attacks. I'm sure there will be times when there is little advantage to using an At Will power, but few times when there is an actual disadvantage compared to a basic attack. There will be times when a PC's basic attack is important, primarily during opportunity attacks.

 

[Westwind]

Thanks for the quick replies!

Good to know, thanks. Somehow I doubt tanglefoot bags made their way into 4e, but if there's some form of snare out there, my ranger will be kiting folks from here to...well, down the path over there I suppose.

And remind me never to engage a sword and board fighter near a cliff.

 

[Frostmarrow]

Good to know, thanks. Somehow I doubt tanglefoot bags made their way into 4e, but if there's some form of snare out there, my ranger will be kiting folks from here to...well, down the path over there I suppose.

Now the kobolds sling them. Watch out!

 

[Surgoshan]

And remind me never to engage a sword and board fighter near a cliff.

You now get a saving throw to fall prone rather than fall off, I believe, but your point remains.