Vulnerability as a Striker Enhancement

[Mentat55]

I had actually contemplated the idea of causing vulnerability psychic as an extra damage mechanic for a 4e version of the soulknife (psionic striker). Instead of making psychic strike just pure bonus damage, it would set up the monster for the next set of attacks.

It could get kind of ugly with cold damage, or say radiant damage and a laser cleric, etc. But then again, there should be some sort of benefit for good party synergy.

 

[Starfox]

If you add vulnerability only against your own attacks, the bonus needs to be higher than that of other strikers, since you don't get it on your first attack. Significantly higher. In my experience with a pretty AoE-heavy party, strikers are often the ones to spike the coffin, so to say, and don't often attack the same target twice.

 

[CubeKnight]

At the very least, this sounds like an interesting idea for a Striker/Leader.

 

[WhatGravitas]

If you add vulnerability only against your own attacks, the bonus needs to be higher than that of other strikers, since you don't get it on your first attack. Significantly higher. In my experience with a pretty AoE-heavy party, strikers are often the ones to spike the coffin, so to say, and don't often attack the same target twice.

Or it could make a pretty cool striker with an aura effect - a bit like the child of Prime Shot and the damage boosters - an aura of induced vulnerability. Can be really flavourful, if done right.

Cheers, LT.

 

[Starfox]

Or it could make a pretty cool striker with an aura effect - a bit like the child of Prime Shot and the damage boosters - an aura of induced vulnerability. Can be really flavorful, if done right.

Cheers, LT.

This sounds more like a Leader or Defender than a Striker. Or even a Controller. Which is pretty much what I thought upon first seeing the idea. Strikers tend to be quite self-reliant.

Then again, trying to build a less self-reliant Striker would be interesting. It would probably have to be quite a bit worse at doing damage tough. Similar to how a Warlock is quite a bit less capable of doing damage than a Sorcerer but has more control, this one would need to do less damage because it is leaderish.