Okay, so the range for the breath weapon is a close blast three, meaning that it takes up a 3x3 area, meaning 9 squares. And the Enraged Dragonbreath feat increases that range to close blast five, making thata 5x5 area, or 25 squares.
That seems like a rather large area . . . am I reading that right?
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Okay, so the range for the breath weapon is a close blast three, meaning that it takes up a 3x3 area, meaning 9 squares. And the Enraged Dragonbreath feat increases that range to close blast five, making thata 5x5 area, or 25 squares.
That seems like a rather large area . . . am I reading that right?
Yes, you are. Remember also that it targets all creatures in area. So a bigger area might make it more constraining tactically as you try to avoid your allies.
Yes, you are. Remember also that it targets all creatures in area. So a bigger area might make it more constraining tactically as you try to avoid your allies.
Bah . . . . They've got healing surges. And for the character I'm considering this for is a warlord, so I can just use Inspiring Word afterword as well.
Okay, so the range for the breath weapon is a close blast three, meaning that it takes up a 3x3 area, meaning 9 squares. And the Enraged Dragonbreath feat increases that range to close blast five, making thata 5x5 area, or 25 squares.
That seems like a rather large area . . . am I reading that right?
Yes, you are. Remember also that it targets all creatures in area. So a bigger area might make it more constraining tactically as you try to avoid your allies.
I don't have my book in front of me, but doesn't the feat allow you to *choose* whether to use close blast 3 or close blast 5?
So you're basically saying it's okay, as the party tactical leader, to breath fire on your party members because you can help them use their own resources to heal themselves later.
Does anyone else see a potential flaw in this plan?
Yeah I see the flaw . . . and yes, it was intended mainly as a joke. If I were posed in such a situation, I would make sure any character's in the blast zone were okay with my actions before using it.
I don't have my book in front of me, but doesn't the feat allow you to *choose* whether to use close blast 3 or close blast 5?
Yup, I'd have the choice. but for those extra 16 squares, I've either got to take all or none of them.
I don't have my book in front of me, but doesn't the feat allow you to *choose* whether to use close blast 3 or close blast 5?Yup, I'd have the choice. but for those extra 16 squares, I've either got to take all or none of them.
Yup, but more than doubling the area when it is tactically sound, while still having the ability to use the smaller area makes that feat pretty compelling for folks who don't otherwise have area attacks. If you dont' have a wizard in your party it becomes a no-brainer.
And I think there is also a feat to increase the Die for damage (from D6 to D8 I think)...I am definately thinking of dragonborn for my first 4e character (I am DMing the first module right now, but one of my players may DM the second one and we will switch out characters.
I also think one of the later feats allows you to exclude certain squares for area powers (may be limited to Wizard class, not sure), which would make this even more effective. This would make an excellent PC for clearing out minions :)
And I think there is also a feat to increase the Die for damage (from D6 to D8 I think)...
Backstab for rogues shifts the damage die from d6 to d8s, but I didn't see one for the breath weapon.
I'm looking at putting together a dragonborn warlord for my Living Forgotten Realms character...
And I think there is also a feat to increase the Die for damage (from D6 to D8 I think)...
Backstab for rogues shifts the damage die from d6 to d8s, but I didn't see one for the breath weapon.
I'm looking at putting together a dragonborn warlord for my Living Forgotten Realms character...
No, there's just a feat to make the blast larger. Making the damage die larger may be a bit broken given the fact that it's a blast attack.
No, there's just a feat to make the blast larger. Making the damage die larger may be a bit broken given the fact that it's a blast attack.And I think there is also a feat to increase the Die for damage (from D6 to D8 I think)...
Backstab for rogues shifts the damage die from d6 to d8s, but I didn't see one for the breath weapon.
I'm looking at putting together a dragonborn warlord for my Living Forgotten Realms character...
Thought I was going nuts (still not ruling that out), so I looked it up.
Paragon Tier Feats (Pg. 202)
Empowered Dragon Breath
Benefit: Use d10s for the damage roll of your Dragon Breath power instead of d6s.
No, there's just a feat to make the blast larger. Making the damage die larger may be a bit broken given the fact that it's a blast attack.And I think there is also a feat to increase the Die for damage (from D6 to D8 I think)...
Backstab for rogues shifts the damage die from d6 to d8s, but I didn't see one for the breath weapon.
I'm looking at putting together a dragonborn warlord for my Living Forgotten Realms character...
Thought I was going nuts (still not ruling that out), so I looked it up.
Paragon Tier Feats (Pg. 202)
Empowered Dragon Breath
Benefit: Use d10s for the damage roll of your Dragon Breath power instead of d6s.
Wow! More broken than I thought! At least it's paragon tier, at that point bumping the average a bit doesn't matter.
Wow! More broken than I thought! At least it's paragon tier, at that point bumping the average a bit doesn't matter.
Still pretty powerful..remember that it increases from "Ability +2 vs. Reflex" to "Ability +4 vs. Reflex" and it goes from 1d6+Con modifier to 2d6+Con modifier.
So at 10th level the Dragonborn is doing 1d6 damage in a 5x5 square to suddenly doing 2d10 damage in a 5x5 square at 11th. I think that's a pretty signifigant bump.
So if we used a standard array that lets us place 15 in Str and Con, and then the Dragonborn gets another +2 to Str.
Assume we bump up those two stats at 4th and 8th, and then we get +1 across the board at 11th. So now its Str = 20 and Con = 18
So it's d20+9 vs Reflex and does 2d10 + 4. Doing an average of 15 points of damage to up to 25 targets seems like a sweet deal to me.
THanks for the help on the breath weapons you guys. The character in question ended up going with Heavy Shield Profeciency instead of the increased range. Though, if I had gone that route, I would have picked up the feat for the higher damge die in paragon tier. As it stands, the Dragonborn Warlords first three feats will be Heavy Shield Prof, ScaleMail Prof, and PlateMail Prof.
So it's d20+9 vs Reflex and does 2d10 + 4. Doing an average of 15 points of damage to up to 25 targets seems like a sweet deal to me.
And, it's a Minor Action. So you can lay waste to the area, and still unload with another power, if you've got one.
Heh.
THanks for the help on the breath weapons you guys. The character in question ended up going with Heavy Shield Profeciency instead of the increased range. Though, if I had gone that route, I would have picked up the feat for the higher damge die in paragon tier. As it stands, the Dragonborn Warlords first three feats will be Heavy Shield Prof, ScaleMail Prof, and PlateMail Prof.
Funny. I'm running a Dwarf Warlord on Wednesday who spent his first feat on Scale Armor Proficiency. I'm not sure if I'll go all out to make him the full defensive tank though. With the way Masterwork Armor works now though, Heavy Armor is definitely worth it, at least in higher tiers!