Let's make a Tough-As-Nails character!

[Agita]

Here's always the latest errata.

Battleragers IMO don't keep up with the others anymore after they got the nerfbat.

[Banor]

Basically they changed the feature quite a bit.

Invigorating : If you are trained in Endurance, you gain THP = CON mod if you hit
Battlerager : If you use an Invigorating power, you gain THP even on a miss. When you hit with a melee or close attack, you gain addition THP=CON (stacks with Invigorating)

Basically you wont be getting your THP several times per round (which you used to be able to do) but you still get 3-6 THP every round which really add up fast. If the mobs don't target you, you just go an do Striker damage, that should fix it

[Banor]

Here's always the latest errata.

Battleragers IMO don't keep up with the others anymore after they got the nerfbat.

While I kinda agree (Battleragers are not as good as an option since the errata), they are still a quite viable option, even tho slightly inferior to Two Handed and Dual Wielding. They have the benefit of being highly compatible with Barbarian (who rocks) and Dragonborn (I really love Inner Dragon PP). If you compare them with other Tanks like STR Pally, non-Earthstrenght Wardens and Assault/Ensnaring swordmage they are very good tanks/strikers that does a great job at attracting attacks

[BowenSilverclaw]

Would a Battlerager (possibly with Barbarian MC for a Rage power at 10) with 16 starting Con be doable?

I really like Heavy Blades for HBO (yeah, yeah, Paragon, I know, but only 1 feat, not 2 or 3 like the Polerarm route ), so with a starting Dex of 14 that would leave me 18 Str, 16 Con and 13 Wis with a Minotaur or Goliath.

[Agita]

Honestly, I wouldn't do a battlerager with heavy blades, simply because they get free bonuses out of wielding hammers, and hammers are good by themselves. You'll also be stretching yourself too thin on ability scores if you then also want to pick up Mastery at Epic (you want to). And of course, you'll have to neglect your Wis, which is important for Fighters, moreso if they don't need Con for hammers/axes.

[BowenSilverclaw]

True, true...

[BowenSilverclaw]

Okay, how does this look, guys?
Taking Crushing Earthstrength at 8 and Battle Awareness at 10, going Dreadnougth if we make it to Paragon.

Goliath, Earthstrength Warden

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 19, Con 19, Dex 11, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 8.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 16, Con 16, Dex 11, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 8.


AC: 22 Fort: 18 Reflex: 14 Will: 16
HP: 78 Surges: 13 Surge Value: 19

TRAINED SKILLS
Athletics +14, Endurance +12, Nature +11, Perception +9

FEATS
Level 1: Toughness
Level 2: Sudden Roots
Level 4: Crippling Crush
Level 6: Earthstrength Resilience

POWERS
Warden at-will 1: Thorn Strike
Warden at-will 1: Weighth of Earth
Warden encounter 1: Tremor Slam (Dr. 383)
Warden daily 1: Form of Winter's Herald
Warden utility 2: Triumphant Vigor
Warden encounter 3: Earthgrasp Strike
Warden daily 5: Wellspring Strike
Warden utility 6: Treacherous Ice
Warden encounter 7: Mountain's Stature

I could use some help with equipment if you guys don't mind. I have no idea where to start...

[Agita]

Looking decent to me. Maybe I'll look over the powers sometime later. One thing though, Mountain Hammer is awesome, it gives a penalty to hit based on your Con bonus. I don't think I need to explain why this is great. Is Mountain's Stature better?

As for equipment, Battle Standard of the Hungry Blade is, as stated, awesome. It's level 9 though, so you can't get it to start with. Cloak of the Walking Wounded lets you spend two surges on a Second Wind, and since you're a Warden you want to use it every encounter anyway, even though it's a Standard action. I personally like Defensive Weapons on wardens, but that's just because I like the idea of being virtually unhittable for a round.
Here's a Warforged Warden I built before PP came out, if you want to look at the equipment.

[BowenSilverclaw]

Thanks

What books are the Battle Standard, Cloak and Defensive Weapons in??

[Agita]

Thanks

What books are the Battle Standard, Cloak and Defensive Weapons in??

As a rule of thumb, look in AV first. That's where both the weapon and the cloak are from. I actually mentioned the Standard earlier in this thread... but apparently I forgot to say where it's from. It's in Dragon 381, at the end of the Know Your Role: Defenders article.

[BowenSilverclaw]

Thanks

[BowenSilverclaw]

By the way, what were the rules on treasure for a newly generated PC again?

One item of one level lower, one of equal level, one lower and then some...
Can't seem to find it in my books

[Agita]

DMG. In addition to the items you listed, you get gold equivalent to an item of your level-1.

[BowenSilverclaw]

And thanks again

[BowenSilverclaw]

Okay, I've got another conundrum

Would it be worth it to sacrifice +1 attack and damage, 1 point of Constitution and Mark of Warding to be able to get Resist 3 against any enemy I hit until the end of my next turn (at will/continuous)?

To explain, it'm thinking about Multiclassing Assassin (Dex 13 requirement, still get Fighter (Wis 13) with Windrise Ports) and using an Iron Body Ki Focus (Dragon 382).

This would cost me one feat (losing Mark of Warding), a +1 to hit and damage for now, seeing as the Focus is more expensive than a regular weapon (to use it's property I need to use it's enhancement bonus on my weapon attacks instead of the weapon's regular enhancement) and 1 point of Constitution (still start with a 17, so 18 at level 7) since I need to boost Dex to 13.

If I hit an opponent, I gain resist all equal to 2+enhancement bonus of the Ki Focus against all his attacks until the end of my next turn (continuous effect, so applies to every attack I make). This seems rather good for a Warden, since they have a decent amount of attacks that target multiple foes.

[Agita]

Okay, I've got another conundrum

Would it be worth it to sacrifice +1 attack and damage, 1 point of Constitution and Mark of Warding to be able to get Resist 3 against any enemy I hit until the end of my next turn (at will/continuous)?

I don't think so, no. Neat little gain, but too much cost.

[BowenSilverclaw]

Okay, I've got another conundrum

Would it be worth it to sacrifice +1 attack and damage, 1 point of Constitution and Mark of Warding to be able to get Resist 3 against any enemy I hit until the end of my next turn (at will/continuous)?

I don't think so, no. Neat little gain, but too much cost.

Yeah, I figured as much, thanks for the confirmation

[BowenSilverclaw]

After having played 2 sessions with my new Warden, I can safely say I'm very pleased with him.

Thanks for all the assistance, guys

[BowenSilverclaw]

So, got a decision coming up for level 8.


Which should I take, Crippling Crush, Mark of Warding or Earthstrength Resilience?

I'm currently leaning towards Mark of Warding, but I'm open to suggestions...

[Agita]

You don't have Mark of Warding? You take it. Simple as that.