Warlord: Heavy Blade vs. Spear

[Stalker0]

In general I would go with the heavy blade. The +1 to attack is the best when your focus is on making sure your powers land...which is critical for a leader.

Go for the spear if you want to really focus on being a spear user. There are a ton of feats out there that together can make the spear shine...but if your not looking to focus that much then stick with the sword.

 

[DracoSuave]

But then you're an archer, and we're not talking about polearms anymore.

No, you're an Insightful Warlord, combining Intuitive Strike (Melee-based, Wisdom modifies it) with other Insightful powers (either Melee-based, or non-weapon at all, also Wisdom based and tend to be immediate actions) with your polearm to improve their reach (immediate actions+reach weapon=covers more ground).

Now, let's see. Heavy Blade Opportunity requires a Dex of 15, and is fantastic with Warlord powers.

That means I only need a 14 in Dex to start, and as you say, not a bad attribute to go with as a tertiary....

(editted to 21st level; reeditted because if human reach is good, goliath reach is bettteerrrr)

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Taladantalas, level 21
Goliath, Warlord, Stoneblessed, Eternal Defender
Build: Insightful Warlord
Warlord: Canny Leader
Commanding Presence: Insightful Presence
Versatile Expertise: Versatile Expertise (Heavy Blade)
Versatile Expertise: Versatile Expertise (Polearm)

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 26, Con 14, Dex 17, Int 12, Wis 20, Cha 11.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 16, Con 10, Dex 14, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 9.


AC: 35 Fort: 35 Reflex: 29 Will: 34
HP: 126 Surges: 9 Surge Value: 31

TRAINED SKILLS
History +16, Endurance +16, Athletics +24, Heal +20, Intimidate +15

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +12, Arcana +11, Bluff +10, Diplomacy +10, Dungeoneering +15, Insight +17, Nature +17, Perception +17, Religion +11, Stealth +12, Streetwise +10, Thievery +12

FEATS
Level 1: Improved Insight
Level 2: Versatile Expertise
Level 4: Goliath Greatweapon Prowess
Level 6: Blade Opportunist
Level 8: Saving Inspiration (retrained to Heavy Blade Opportunity at Level 11)
Level 10: Markings of the Victor (retrained to Heavy Blade Mastery at Level 21)
Level 11: Polearm Gamble
Level 12: Fight On
Level 14: Markings of the Victor
Level 16: Battle Awareness
Level 18: Paragon Defenses
Level 20: Inspirational Attacker
Level 21: Reliable Action

POWERS
Warlord at-will 1: Intuitive Strike
Warlord at-will 1: Wolf Pack Tactics
Warlord encounter 1: Powerful Warning
Warlord daily 1: Fearless Rescue
Warlord utility 2: Flash of Insight
Warlord encounter 3: No Gambit Is Wasted
Warlord daily 5: I've Got Your Back
Warlord utility 6: Reassuring Gesture
Warlord encounter 7: Join the Crowd
Warlord daily 9: Ready the Charge
Warlord utility 10: Tactical Orders
Warlord encounter 13: Bolstering Insight (replaces Powerful Warning)
Warlord daily 15: Comrade in Arms (replaces Fearless Rescue)
Warlord utility 16: Help or Hinder
Warlord encounter 17: Forced Respect (replaces Join the Crowd)
Warlord daily 19: Anticipate the Target (replaces I've Got Your Back)

ITEMS
Magic Glaive +5, Magic Weavemail Armor +5, Amulet of Protection +5
====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======




Totally doable, not to mention, with -this- build, I can put one point into Dexterity (instead of Wisdom) and totally go Heavy Blade Mastery, with his glaive action.


So my response is:

Heavy Blade or Polearm? Why not DO BOTH!?!

 

[cmbarona]

So my response is:

Heavy Blade or Polearm? Why not DO BOTH!?!

... because glaive is a +2 prof. instead of +3?

EDIT: To be more specific, you've come up with a very nice-looking build. Combining the two makes a very neat synergy I hadn't considered before. I'd be interested to see that one in play, but it's definitely not my build.

 

[DracoSuave]

... because glaive is a +2 prof. instead of +3?

Indeed, that IS a considerable difference, but:

All the encounter powers are Immediate actions with a reach of 4, so really, you're attacking twice instead of putting it all in one basket.

As well, all the dailies are designed with the tasty upside in their Effect: lines, where +1 to attack doesn't matter as much.

+1 to attack is good, but reach 4 immediate actions and the ability to punish or benefit your players at will, as well as make flanking opportunities happen where they don't involve putting players into your sorcerer's AoE is -alllll- upside. You're a leader, not a striker, after all.

But yeah, I'd love to see it in play too.

But hey, +1 attack.

Let's see, you could still do the same build for the most part, just leaving out the polearm specific stuff and GGP, and instead putting in the Shield feats. Go Battlefront Leader to get that big shield. You'll 'only' be reach 3 instead of reach 4, which if you're starting to play at level 21, is still a damn good reach to have. You'll still be doing the polearm 'thing' of attacking over your party's shoulders while still giving them adjacency bonuses, but hey, it's still delicious cake, right?



PS: After going through the Insightful list I have decided the powers are awesome. It's an interesting and understated style. Most people look at the Presence and go 'Eh. All defensive' but it's actually a very offensive build. A lot of your powers react to your -party- on the attack, which has a lot of burst-damage upside, as well as your at-will being an offense-booster.

 

[MarkB]

With my Warlord, I went for a compromise: Heavy Blade specialisation, and a Dynamic Greatsword, which I change to a glaive if the circumstances of the encounter favour it.

 

[DracoSuave]

With my Warlord, I went for a compromise: Heavy Blade specialisation, and a Dynamic Greatsword, which I change to a glaive if the circumstances of the encounter favour it.

.......

You sir....


....wow.

My mind was just totally blown.

 

[doctorhook]

I never thought of that! I used to carry around a Dynamic Tratnyr as a secondary weapon for my Eladrin TacLord (Greatspear).

I might have to rebuild!

PS: Why would anybody want a plain Magic weapon anymore, when you can get Dynamic stuff for the same price??

 

[Shin Okada]

Basically, I prefer to use some polearm (usually either Glaive or Great Spear) for almost all the leaders, as reach is great.

But for Warlord, I also love MP 2 Battlefront Leader class feature + Armored Warlord feat.

 

[BobTheNob]

Our Eldrin Warlord uses a greatspear, and I have to say the number of times the tactical advantage of reach comes up is, frankly, astounding. Its suprising how often reach pays off.

But there is one thing I will add to this. Cant remember its name but their is now a paragon level feat that allows basic spear attacks to target reflex. That feat is like a third at will power and I swear it is brilliant. Those tactical feats arent always appropriate or needed and being able to target reflex with a melee attack can be gold

 

[MarkB]

Our Eldrin Warlord uses a greatspear, and I have to say the number of times the tactical advantage of reach comes up is, frankly, astounding. Its suprising how often reach pays off.

But there is one thing I will add to this. Cant remember its name but their is now a paragon level feat that allows basic spear attacks to target reflex. That feat is like a third at will power and I swear it is brilliant. Those tactical feats arent always appropriate or needed and being able to target reflex with a melee attack can be gold

<Rifles through Compendium> Ah yes, Impaling Spear, from Matrial Power 2.

Thanks - that's another one to put on the list for my tratnyr-wielding Eladrin fighter.