What should I (Fighter) do?

[sfedi]

I´m the only defender in a party of ine striker and two contollers (4 in total)

So far, I´ve been holding the melee enemies and receiving heavy damage (I also dabble in the Cleric class so I have some healing powers).

But I don´t feel I´m doing the most efficient thing, the enemies seldom want to run from me, allowing me to use Combat Challenge or Combat Superiority.

I think I would be more useful engaging the enemy´s strikers and controllers.

What´s your advice and experience in this matter?

 

[Saeviomagy]

As I see it, the defender:

1. Stops enemy strikers and defenders from reaching your controllers
2. Stops enemy strikers from getting to advantageous positions
3. Helps your strikers to get to advantageous positions
4. Clumps up foes so your controllers can blast them

If foes would rather stay toe-to-toe with you than break off and hit the strikers and controllers, you're doing your job just fine.

What type of fighter are you? Sword and board? Or two-hander?

Also - is your striker a rogue? If so, item 3 above becomes a bit more complex and fun because he'll actually want to be up there in the melee with you.

 

[sfedi]

What type of fighter are you? Sword and board? Or two-hander?

Sword and Board

Also - is your striker a rogue? If so, item 3 above becomes a bit more complex and fun because he'll actually want to be up there in the melee with you.

No, he´s a Warlock.

 

[Mengu]

I think I would be more useful engaging the enemy´s strikers and controllers.

I think that could be a mistake. Your job is to keep the enemy Brutes and Soldiers away from your squishy allies. If you are taking a lot of damage, you are probably exactly where you need to be. In a party like yours, you need to embrace the role of the tank and choose abilities that bolster your durability.

 

[Kaffis]

That's an interesting and unusual party composition.

With no leader, your party isn't really well equipped to concentrate damage on defender(s). You've got 4 second winds available to the party (plus another healing surge once a day due to your multiclassing).

As such, I think in your case it's important to try to let the damage spread around your party some to take advantage of everybody's healing. Go for the skirmishers and artillery first, and be ready to swoop in to mark targets when they make your allies burn second winds. Close burst powers will help here, as you'll want to pick off everybody threatening your wounded friend.

 

[sfedi]

I´m trying to spread damage across the party, but the other players resent me or think I´m doing bad my job.

 

[Mort_Q]

Makes me wonder about the DMs choices... the baddies should want to go for the squishies some of the time.

 

[Ziana]

I´m trying to spread damage across the party, but the other players resent me or think I´m doing bad my job.

You're going to have to sit down with your party and discuss tactics. And see if maybe one of them doesn't want to roll a cleric. There's only so much you can do on your own, and your self-healing options are limited. You can't really be expected to take all the damage with no healing to back you up.

Whether or not they do roll a cleric, you'll need to agree on how to handle combat. They're going to have to take foes down fast, which means focussing fire on the easiest to kill or worst damaging in turn, leaving the toughest til last. And the controllers will have to disable as many as possible to keep them out of the fight. Sleep will be a big help.

The cloth/leather wearing casters will also need to learn to kite. Avoid damage by running way, don't just stand in one place while getting hit, expecting to take foes down through pure firepower.

 

[Sashi]

I´m trying to spread damage across the party, but the other players resent me or think I´m doing bad my job.

With your high AC and and HP, if everyone finishes the combat at 10 HP then you've absorbed enough attacks to kill any of the other party members. Your job isn't to take ALL the damage, it's to take enough attacks that they don't DIE.

 

[Destil]

Anyone else have 13 Wis / Cha? Because a bit more healing support would be nice, I'm sure...