JackMage666
2008-08-02, 08:36 PM
So, while playing around, I found a way for a 4e rogue to do some massive damage to a single enemy, once a day. This damage is high, but shouldn't be enough to kill a Solo enemy, but enough to take a huge chunk out of it's life. Pound for pound, though, it should be able to kill pretty much any other PC (useful for arena combat), or several other enemies. I'll illustrate the trick using a 30th level Rogue (built at highest level for maximum effect, though the basics of the trick can be done at much lower level, since the huge key is the Rogue power Knockout.)
Character built is, for sake of ease, a Human, who bought his Dex to 16 and Str to 14 with point buy (not unlikely.) Putting the ability bonus into Dex, of course. By 30th level, putting ever level up ability point into Dex and Str, you'll end up with 26 Dex and 22 Str. Over the course of several levels, recommended feats are Backstabber, Weapon Focus (Light Blades), Nimble Blade, Improved Initiative, Weapon Proficiency (Rapier), and Danger Sense. These will let you hit hard and generally act first, and should be easy enough to manage, Shield Proficiencys might help with AC, too, and several other feats are available to help you out, so this is not just a one trick pony. Likewise, if you really want to be a Daggermaster paragon, skip the rapier proficiency cause it's less necessary - You'll do less damage on average, but the higher chance of Crits means you might do more.
The Power's you'll need -
Knockout (Rogue 9 Daily)
Assassin's Point (Rogue 29 Daily)
Equipment Needed -
Vicious Rapier (+6) (Level 27 Item)
Gauntlets of Destruction (Recommended, not necessary) (Level 18 Item)
Belt of Titan Strength (Level 25 Item)
The Move -
1. Enter combat. You should be going first (You'll have a +27 to Initiative, more if a Warlord's around ect [15 Level + 8 Dex + 4 Improved Initiative] AND you get to roll twice and take the better of the two rolls [Thanks to Danger Sense])
2. With luck, you'll be in combat range, meaning you can move and attack, and have combat advantage. It's not needed, but it helps. Also, you could do this in mid-combat, while flanking (You need to be in melee range, though, and it's definitely easiest to do this first round).
3. Prepare to piss off your DM.
4. Go ahead and use the Belt of Titan's Strength's Daily Power. The Damage bonus will help.
5. Use Knockout. Dex vs. Fort. You should have a +36 to hit [15 Levels + 8 Dex + 1 Weapon Focus + 1 Nimble Blade + 3 Proficiency + 6 Enhancement + 2 Combat Advantage] before any of your allies buffs or anything like that. DO NOT USE YOUR SNEAK ATTACK YET. You'll deal 3dW+24 (3d8+24 damage, 37.5 Average, with a rapier) and knock the opponent unconscious (Save Ends, but that's not important. He'll be awake if this all fails, from the damage, but he'll have a huge hangover.)
6. Spend an Action Point to gain a Standard Action
7. Use Assassin's Point as a Coup de Grace on your now unconscious foe. You Crit. You want to use your Sneak Attack now, too. You deal the enemy 7W+30+12d12+10d8 damage (With a Rapier, 219 damage)
8. Collect Loot.
Conclusion -
In one round, you dealt on average 256.5 Damage with your Rapier to an enemy. What's more, if the enemy's bloodied HP is 219 (on average) or less, it dies instantly from the Coup de Grace. It won't kill a Solo enemy, most likely, but it'll take a nice chunk out of it, which is a good way to start the combat.
Against another PC, you kill him. A fighter, with Toughness, who maxed out Con the same way you did Dex and has Toughness, has 230 HP. In other words, no other player should piss you off.
I know it's not the cheesiest trick ever, but with 4e the cheesy tricks are few an in between. I think it's a pretty nice find, though - Any suggestions?
Character built is, for sake of ease, a Human, who bought his Dex to 16 and Str to 14 with point buy (not unlikely.) Putting the ability bonus into Dex, of course. By 30th level, putting ever level up ability point into Dex and Str, you'll end up with 26 Dex and 22 Str. Over the course of several levels, recommended feats are Backstabber, Weapon Focus (Light Blades), Nimble Blade, Improved Initiative, Weapon Proficiency (Rapier), and Danger Sense. These will let you hit hard and generally act first, and should be easy enough to manage, Shield Proficiencys might help with AC, too, and several other feats are available to help you out, so this is not just a one trick pony. Likewise, if you really want to be a Daggermaster paragon, skip the rapier proficiency cause it's less necessary - You'll do less damage on average, but the higher chance of Crits means you might do more.
The Power's you'll need -
Knockout (Rogue 9 Daily)
Assassin's Point (Rogue 29 Daily)
Equipment Needed -
Vicious Rapier (+6) (Level 27 Item)
Gauntlets of Destruction (Recommended, not necessary) (Level 18 Item)
Belt of Titan Strength (Level 25 Item)
The Move -
1. Enter combat. You should be going first (You'll have a +27 to Initiative, more if a Warlord's around ect [15 Level + 8 Dex + 4 Improved Initiative] AND you get to roll twice and take the better of the two rolls [Thanks to Danger Sense])
2. With luck, you'll be in combat range, meaning you can move and attack, and have combat advantage. It's not needed, but it helps. Also, you could do this in mid-combat, while flanking (You need to be in melee range, though, and it's definitely easiest to do this first round).
3. Prepare to piss off your DM.
4. Go ahead and use the Belt of Titan's Strength's Daily Power. The Damage bonus will help.
5. Use Knockout. Dex vs. Fort. You should have a +36 to hit [15 Levels + 8 Dex + 1 Weapon Focus + 1 Nimble Blade + 3 Proficiency + 6 Enhancement + 2 Combat Advantage] before any of your allies buffs or anything like that. DO NOT USE YOUR SNEAK ATTACK YET. You'll deal 3dW+24 (3d8+24 damage, 37.5 Average, with a rapier) and knock the opponent unconscious (Save Ends, but that's not important. He'll be awake if this all fails, from the damage, but he'll have a huge hangover.)
6. Spend an Action Point to gain a Standard Action
7. Use Assassin's Point as a Coup de Grace on your now unconscious foe. You Crit. You want to use your Sneak Attack now, too. You deal the enemy 7W+30+12d12+10d8 damage (With a Rapier, 219 damage)
8. Collect Loot.
Conclusion -
In one round, you dealt on average 256.5 Damage with your Rapier to an enemy. What's more, if the enemy's bloodied HP is 219 (on average) or less, it dies instantly from the Coup de Grace. It won't kill a Solo enemy, most likely, but it'll take a nice chunk out of it, which is a good way to start the combat.
Against another PC, you kill him. A fighter, with Toughness, who maxed out Con the same way you did Dex and has Toughness, has 230 HP. In other words, no other player should piss you off.
I know it's not the cheesiest trick ever, but with 4e the cheesy tricks are few an in between. I think it's a pretty nice find, though - Any suggestions?