[4e] purchasing advice, and why warlords?

[Dimers]

warlord gets to give a melee basic attack so things like magic missile (unless a dragon magazine feat is taken) don't count.

Some of the higher-level warlord powers do allow any basic attack, and there's one that specifies only ranged basic attacks. Check out Relentless Assault and Stir The Hornet's Nest, both level 25, for examples.

[Evard]

Kinda late in the class though, although still helpful.

[Dimers]

That'd get you two warlords going infinite off each other.

*sigh* Yeah, I know. I'd think of some wording to head that off. Of course, all they'd do is stack Int bonuses to damage, so if they spent twenty minutes passing the attack back and forth for +3000 damage to a single strike and then missed ... the other players would give 'em sisal neckties and the problem would be solved.

[Yakk]

warlord gets to give a melee basic attack so things like magic missile (unless a dragon magazine feat is taken) don't count.

Warlords grant more than just basic melee attacks.

Some of their powers are basic melee attack only, I'll admit.