Auric
Warrior
219 Posts
    
Baltimore, MD
 | | 06/10/2008 6:11 PM |
| Here is my first character I created for 4E. I'd appreciate any opinions on him. Thanks.
Auric Ravenhelm
Male Half-elf Ranger 1
Good
STR 14
CON 14
DEX 16
INT 11
WIS 13
CHA 12
AC 16
Fort 13
Ref 14
Will 11
Speed 5
Init +3
HP 26
Bloodied 13
Surges/day 8
Surge value 6
Passive Insight 13
Passive Perception 16
Skills
Acrobatics +1
Arcana +0
Athletics +1
Bluff +1
Diplomacy +3
Dungeoneering +6
Endurance +6
Heal +6
History +0
Intimidate +1
Insight +3
Nature +6
Perception +6
Religion +1
Stealth +7
Streetwise +1
Thievery +2
Languages
Common, Elven, Dwarven
Feats
Weapon Focus: Bow
Defensive Mobility
At-Will Powers
Careful Attack
Twin Strike
Encounter Powers
Evasive Strike
Thunderwave (from Dilettante racial feature)
Daily Powers
Split the Tree
Basic Attacks
Longsword (+5 vs AC) 1d8+2
Longbow (+5 vs AC) 1d10+4
Dagger (+5 vs AC) 1d4+2
Equipment
Hide armor, longsword, longbow, quiver of 30 arrows, dagger, backpack, flint and steel, 2 sunrods, 10 days rations, belt pouch, 50' rope, waterskin, 8gp | |
Trade references: http://www.maxminis.com/Forums/tabid/104/forumid/53/postid/801085/view/topic/Default.aspx
Trades on WotC: vandyfry, hothie. Cyriss | |
|
Wyzdum
Sergeant
404 Posts
Long Island, NY
| | 06/10/2008 6:55 PM |
| | I'm really just getting used to 4.0, but I'd say your character looks well rounded. With the right fellow party members I think he'd be an asset. His AC is a little low. Is there anyway to beef it up a bit? | |
| |
|
MarioCleanstuff
Warrior
325 Posts
San Diego, CA
| | 06/10/2008 7:16 PM |
| | You've listed his AC, Fort, and Will... But where's his Reflex? Other than that, he's looking good. | |
Completed trades: Brenigin, desiderata, HockeyFan, MikeyChraal, Raland, GuJiaXian | |
|
Auric
Warrior
219 Posts
Baltimore, MD
| | 06/10/2008 8:29 PM |
| | I really can't wait to play him now. | |
Trade references: http://www.maxminis.com/Forums/tabid/104/forumid/53/postid/801085/view/topic/Default.aspx
Trades on WotC: vandyfry, hothie. Cyriss | |
|
vanrulzz
Commander
2778 Posts
¯\(°_o)/¯
| | 06/10/2008 9:13 PM |
| | i would have to agree that the AC needs to be buffed, but a nice 1st lvl build nonetheless. Eventually you should level it up a few at a time to show the intended character progression (a pain with 3.5 but easy as hell with 4) | | | |
|
Sean-Khan
Commander
2731 Posts
| |
Auric
Warrior
219 Posts
Baltimore, MD
| | 06/11/2008 12:33 PM |
| Character updated. | |
Trade references: http://www.maxminis.com/Forums/tabid/104/forumid/53/postid/801085/view/topic/Default.aspx
Trades on WotC: vandyfry, hothie. Cyriss | |
|
Puggins
Sergeant
622 Posts
| | 06/11/2008 4:16 PM |
| Well, before I critique, is this character drawn from an inherent concept that you've put together, or is it mutable? If it's mutable, then I have several suggestions:
You seem to want to be good at both swordplay and archery. That's certainly not a bad idea, but it spreads you a bit thin at 1st level. Consolidating your ability scores is not a bad idea.
* you're spending 3 points on int. Why bother? Your dex pretty much supersedes it in all functions except skills, and leaving it at 8 will only lower your dungeoneering, nature and heal skills to +5. Spend those 3 points on taking dex to 17.
* the two points you spend in con getting it to 12 only adds to your hit points. Don't spend them.
* The 3 points you spend on wis only help a couple of skills. CHA replaces it for your will save. Take two points away from it. Use these points and the two above to get 18 dex. Your attacks now go up by +1 , your ac goes up by 1 and your reflex save goes up by 1. Oh, and stealth goes up too.
* Eldritch Blast is redundant compared to your bow. Why not take a melee power that heals you or a friend (paladin) or puts some battlefield control in your skill set (fighter or warlord). Failing that, pick another warlock power that overlaps less with your bow.
* As Sean Khan stated, Careful strike is a waste at this point compared to twin strike. Pick another at-will. | |
References: http://www.maxminis.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7231 | |
|
XAos
Underboss
2413 Posts
London
| | 06/12/2008 1:24 AM |
| Personally if I were playing a ranger I'd use an Elf instead of a 1/2-Elf.
That gets your Dex up to 18 for +1 AC & +1 on all the ranged attacks, Dex is the primary stat for a bow armed ranger, so you want is as high as possible.
You also improve Wisdom (which some ranger powers use) at the cost of Charisma (which they don't use)
The loss of +2 Con is annoying, but I'd swap the Str & Con stats over to avoid that.
| | | |
|
Auric
Warrior
219 Posts
Baltimore, MD
| | 06/12/2008 6:11 PM |
| Yes this is based on a character concept from past editions that I want to keep intact. As for my stats, I didn't use any points, I picked the set of 16,14,13,12,11,10 and assigned them to, in order, Dex, Str, Wis, Con, Int, Cha. So as far as that goes, I can't make my Dex any higher.
I don't understand the thing with Careful Strike being useless. If I can get a more thorough explanation I'll reconsider my choice. Given my other options of Hit And Run and Nimble Strike, I'd rather pick something that gives me a better chance at hitting my target than allowing me to move around. | |
Trade references: http://www.maxminis.com/Forums/tabid/104/forumid/53/postid/801085/view/topic/Default.aspx
Trades on WotC: vandyfry, hothie. Cyriss | |
|
Sean-Khan
Commander
2731 Posts
| | 06/15/2008 11:30 PM |
| In almost every normal situation, you have _lower_ chance of success with careful shot to hit than with twin strike. If your attack bonus is +5, and you target an opponent with AC 18, you try to roll 11 once with careful shot (50% chance of hit), or 13 but you have two chances (64% chance of one hit)- and there's a chance both may hit (and much larger chance of crit).
If you target an opponent with AC exactly 25, careful attack would hit on 18-20 while twin would hit only on 20 (still, 2 chances for that). That's almost the only situation where there's some real advantage of careful shot over twin attack outside special situations. | |
Vindicated AtG Called shot: 2nd Huge Red Dragon
My collected trade reference links
Star Wars tactical combat -project
My modelling/terrain pages
Suomen miniatyyrikeräilijät / Miniature collectors of Finland | |
|
Auric
Warrior
219 Posts
Baltimore, MD
| | 06/16/2008 3:24 PM |
| | The way I plan on using him is that the twin strike would be for my ranged attacks, and the careful strike for the melee using my longsword, since I picked the archer path and not the two weapon. | |
Trade references: http://www.maxminis.com/Forums/tabid/104/forumid/53/postid/801085/view/topic/Default.aspx
Trades on WotC: vandyfry, hothie. Cyriss | |
|
Puggins
Sergeant
622 Posts
| | 06/17/2008 10:02 AM |
| | I'd pick something else for your melee attack- using your dilettante power on a fighter power or a paladin power using strength vs. X would probably a a better fit than careful strike. | |
References: http://www.maxminis.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7231 | |
|
Auric
Warrior
219 Posts
Baltimore, MD
| | 06/17/2008 1:20 PM |
| | The dilettante adds an encounter power, so even if I did that it would not replace my careful strike. I don't really see what is so bad about that power that everyone wants me to replace it. I think for a level 1 character, and how I want to play him, it works for me better than Hit and Run or Evasive Strike, which are my only other choices. | |
Trade references: http://www.maxminis.com/Forums/tabid/104/forumid/53/postid/801085/view/topic/Default.aspx
Trades on WotC: vandyfry, hothie. Cyriss | |
|
Loquacious1
Sneak
61 Posts
San Diego, CA
| | 06/18/2008 8:25 AM |
| Well, remember that just because you picked the archer path doesn't mean that you can't attack with two weapons, either. You just have to have an off-hand weapon that has the 'off-hand' property, such as a Dagger, etc. That makes Twin Strike useful for both weapon types.
I think Careful strike is not a bad idea... if you're having trouble hitting something with twin strike and you're rolling in the upper teens, then Careful attack gives you a 10% better chance of hitting. And remember, even if you roll a natural 20 now, if you normally wouldn't hit the creature's AC, you deal regular damage, not a crit, so there's another example of Careful Attack being useful.
Personally, I would swap out the feat 'Hunter's Quarry'. It only increases the die damage on the quarry from D6 to d8--which is an average increase of 1pt dmg on one target. Weapon focus gives you a +1dmg with a group of weapons on every shot--not much difference, until you realize that you're getting it twice per round with Twin Strike, as opposed to once with Hunter's Quarry. That being said, Hunter's Quarry would be a good second level feat :-)
I do agree that Warlock blast can be a bit redundant with your bow... perhaps an area effect attack to push off the teeming moster hordes (that 1st level wizard spell name escapes me... thunder something, I think). | | | |
|
Auric
Warrior
219 Posts
Baltimore, MD
| | 06/18/2008 8:53 AM |
| I like that feat change idea, I think I will do that, as well as the Thunderwave spell. While at first glance it doesn't seem like much (my Int bonus is +0), doing it to all enemies in the burst and pushing them back a space is cool. :-)
| |
Trade references: http://www.maxminis.com/Forums/tabid/104/forumid/53/postid/801085/view/topic/Default.aspx
Trades on WotC: vandyfry, hothie. Cyriss | |
|
Loquacious1
Sneak
61 Posts
San Diego, CA
| | 06/18/2008 10:50 AM |
| | Yeah, that's the main benefit if you're surrounded :) . plus if enemies aren't quite in the right area, you could rearrainge them a tad for the Split the Tree ability. | | | |
|
Auric
Warrior
219 Posts
Baltimore, MD
| | 08/04/2008 8:42 PM |
| After finally playing this character, I have to say...I LOVE Twin Strike!! Combine that with the Hunter's Quarry, and it's like...okay, Young White Dragon, I dub you as my prey! I shoot you with my longbow, boo-yah! extra damage...and guess what? I get to do it all over again!
I ended up finishing off both of the BBEGs in Kobold Hall using those abilities :-D | |
Trade references: http://www.maxminis.com/Forums/tabid/104/forumid/53/postid/801085/view/topic/Default.aspx
Trades on WotC: vandyfry, hothie. Cyriss | |
|
Loquacious1
Sneak
61 Posts
San Diego, CA
| | 08/05/2008 7:58 AM |
| | Heh heh. You do know that you only get extra damage (be it from Warlock's Curse, Hunter's Quarry, or Sneak Attack) once per round each, right? But you're right, Twin Strike rocks! | | | |
|
Auric
Warrior
219 Posts
Baltimore, MD
| | 08/05/2008 8:16 PM |
| | Oh man that sucks, I kept doing the extra damage every time | |
Trade references: http://www.maxminis.com/Forums/tabid/104/forumid/53/postid/801085/view/topic/Default.aspx
Trades on WotC: vandyfry, hothie. Cyriss | |
|
Loquacious1
Sneak
61 Posts
San Diego, CA
| | 08/06/2008 7:48 AM |
| | I think they limted the extra damage abilities like sneak attack and hunter's quarry so they weren't quite to insane. On the plus side, you get to decide which damage to add it too after rolling, so as long as you hit once, you'll always get the damage :-) | | | |
|
Michael
Warrior
256 Posts
Sydney, Australia
| | 08/06/2008 2:14 PM |
| And the damage from Hunter's Quarry is maxed when scoring a crit! With a longbow and DEX 16, that's 21 damage on a critical hit with dexterity 16 (+3), a longbow (+10) and Lethal Hunter (+8).
Twin Strike is awesome. However, in our campaign, we use critical fumbles. With two attacks per round it increases my chances to shoot an ally in the back, hit me in my own foot and so on. ;) | |
Champion of Regis | |
|
Auric
Warrior
219 Posts
Baltimore, MD
| | 08/06/2008 7:33 PM |
| | yeah Michael, I scored critical hunter damage on both BBEGs in the Kobold Hall adventure. it was sweeeet! | |
Trade references: http://www.maxminis.com/Forums/tabid/104/forumid/53/postid/801085/view/topic/Default.aspx
Trades on WotC: vandyfry, hothie. Cyriss | |
|
Loquacious1
Sneak
61 Posts
San Diego, CA
| | 08/07/2008 8:49 AM |
| | Heh, Heh. I know the feeling. on the main bad guy, My Rogue w/ Combat advantage got a crit on his Trick Strike using a Rapier! I did 24 (3x weapon max) + 16 (backstabber feat) + 5 (stat) +1d6 (magic weapon, which I rolled a 6 on, bwauahahah), for a whopping 51 points of damage! Heh, heh, heh. I made the fighter jealous :-P | | | |
|
Auric
Warrior
219 Posts
Baltimore, MD
| | 08/15/2008 9:47 PM |
| | One thing I've been thinking about lately is multi-classing with a fighter using the Student of the Sword feat. Any thoughts on this? I would really like to pick up some fighter abilities and become better with my longsword. | |
Trade references: http://www.maxminis.com/Forums/tabid/104/forumid/53/postid/801085/view/topic/Default.aspx
Trades on WotC: vandyfry, hothie. Cyriss | |
|
XAos
Underboss
2413 Posts
London
| | 08/17/2008 8:38 AM |
| Student of the sword; Fails to give you either of the critical features of being a Fighter.
1) You don't get to add Wisdom to your AoO rolls.
2) You don't get the fighter ability to mark targets.
Net result is, if you want a multiclass fighter/whatever. You have to start as a fighter & use feats to get the other classes abilities. Not vis-versa.
| | | |
|
Loquacious1
Sneak
61 Posts
San Diego, CA
| | 08/18/2008 7:57 AM |
| | Yes, the basic ability of the Multi-Class Feat is pretty weak; If Dex is your best stat, you are better off taking the multi-class Rogue Feat. Then, you can get Sneak attack 1/encoutner, as long as you use a light blade, sling, or crossbow, and the Thief powers, should you want to delve further into the class, are virtually all based off Dex, so you'll get the best usage out of them. | | | |
|