Zaeron
2009-04-21, 06:59 PM
Okay. Here's the deal, starting a new game, our first one at Paragon level. We're beginning as 10th level characters so we can get used to being higher than normal before we hit 11 and pick paragon paths.
I decided to play a swordmage. I like the Aegis of Shielding better than the Aegis of Assault, so I went that way. I chose to be a Githyanki, for the +2CON +2INT, and the 1/encounter fly effect.
Our stats were standard array, plus 4 points to assign where we wanted. So my stats looked like:
STR: 13 (+1 from level, total 14)
CON: 14 (+2 free points, +2 racial, total 18)
DEX 11 (+1 from level, total 12)
INT 16 (+2 'free' points, +2 racial, +2 from level, total 22)
WIS 12
CHA 10
Now, at 11th level, my stats jump enough for me to get Heavy Blade Opportunity, buuuut... That leads into my next issue: My at wills are Booming Blade and Sword Burst - Sword Burst can't be used w/ Heavy Blade Opportunity, and Booming Blade just isn't that good, cause of the wording. Is Heavy Blade Opportunity even worth it? I could jump my CON up to 20 instead.
Power choices follow:
At Wills - Booming Blade, Sword Burst
Encounter - Foesnare, Incendiary Sword (Dragon Magazine), Isolating Slam
Daily - Dimensional Thunder (Dragon Magazine), Shielding Fire (Dragon Magazine), Glamor Blade
Utilities - Dimensional Warp, Armathor's Step, Impenetrable Warding
Basically, my concern is this - I've got wicked defenses, lowest non-ac defense is 21 and my AC ends up around 28 or 29. Impenetrable Warding is another +3 to all non-ac defenses 1/day, which is crazy good. But... how do I make anybody hit me? Shielding Fire gives a second mark, but it's daily. Glamor Blade makes it harder to get around me, but also daily. My encounter and at wills are generally annoying to my opponents, but... are they enough to draw fire onto me? Or is my DM just going to say "Why hit an AC 28 when I could swing at an AC 21 or 22?"
Any advice, guys? Also appreciate more general advice - feats worth taking, etc. If I should really be using the aegis of assault instead, tell me! I've never optimized a swordmage before.
I decided to play a swordmage. I like the Aegis of Shielding better than the Aegis of Assault, so I went that way. I chose to be a Githyanki, for the +2CON +2INT, and the 1/encounter fly effect.
Our stats were standard array, plus 4 points to assign where we wanted. So my stats looked like:
STR: 13 (+1 from level, total 14)
CON: 14 (+2 free points, +2 racial, total 18)
DEX 11 (+1 from level, total 12)
INT 16 (+2 'free' points, +2 racial, +2 from level, total 22)
WIS 12
CHA 10
Now, at 11th level, my stats jump enough for me to get Heavy Blade Opportunity, buuuut... That leads into my next issue: My at wills are Booming Blade and Sword Burst - Sword Burst can't be used w/ Heavy Blade Opportunity, and Booming Blade just isn't that good, cause of the wording. Is Heavy Blade Opportunity even worth it? I could jump my CON up to 20 instead.
Power choices follow:
At Wills - Booming Blade, Sword Burst
Encounter - Foesnare, Incendiary Sword (Dragon Magazine), Isolating Slam
Daily - Dimensional Thunder (Dragon Magazine), Shielding Fire (Dragon Magazine), Glamor Blade
Utilities - Dimensional Warp, Armathor's Step, Impenetrable Warding
Basically, my concern is this - I've got wicked defenses, lowest non-ac defense is 21 and my AC ends up around 28 or 29. Impenetrable Warding is another +3 to all non-ac defenses 1/day, which is crazy good. But... how do I make anybody hit me? Shielding Fire gives a second mark, but it's daily. Glamor Blade makes it harder to get around me, but also daily. My encounter and at wills are generally annoying to my opponents, but... are they enough to draw fire onto me? Or is my DM just going to say "Why hit an AC 28 when I could swing at an AC 21 or 22?"
Any advice, guys? Also appreciate more general advice - feats worth taking, etc. If I should really be using the aegis of assault instead, tell me! I've never optimized a swordmage before.