Power Attack and the Intimi-Tank

[szaijan]

How valuable is Power Attack to an Intimi-Tank?

I'm evaluating my options for my first 32-point character build and am strongly leaning toward an 18/2 Fighter/Rogue (UMD) or 18/2 Fighter Monk. Stalwart Defender, either way. I already have a pure DPS Ranger I love and a pure Bard, so I'm focused more on tanking than the Halfling DPS THF Kensai I originally envisioned.

I'm, vacillating between WF, Dwarf, and Human for my SD. I assume Dwarf and WF are favored because they get Armor Mastery and Mithril Fluidity, respectively? Is there a way for the Human to make up for that lack? Historically, DA has been seen as inferior to Kopesh, even with the Dwarven Axe enhancements. Is tat still true in the latest content, where Fortification is rumored to be omnipresent?

Finally, the initial reason I favored the WF, in addition to the immunities, is their Power Attack enhancements. I reasoned that the added damage would make holding aggro much easier, but since PA can't be used at the same time as CE, I assume that option would be moot in most boss tanking situations.

[Borror0]

How valuable is Power Attack to an Intimi-Tank?

It's a must-have.

Finally, the initial reason I favored the WF, in addition to the immunities, is their Power Attack enhancements. I reasoned that the added damage would make holding aggro much easier, but since PA can't be used at the same time as CE, I assume that option would be moot in most boss tanking situations.

Depending on many factor, it may be a good idea to turn PA on while tanking. It depends on the group's DPS, the quality of your healer, etc.

However, you won't always be tanking. Sometimes, you'll need DPS. That alone is a reason to grab PA on your tank.

[Zadkiele]

It's a must-have.

Not at all.

I have a pure defensive intimitank with no Power Attack and while I will happily agree that he's not as versatile as other Intim's, he's built a reputation as being very good at what he does, has become our guilds #1 tank and gets asked daily to come and intim for other groups.

Having played my intim this way, I can understand why, for many people, having a reasonable offensive ability is important and thus why they would want PA, but no skill, feat, enhancement etc is ever a 'must-have' - it's statements like that that lead to boring cookie-cutter builds.

back to the OP's questions:

Dwarves are liked because of dwarven armor mastery, allowing them to potentially reach a higher AC
Humans are liked because of the human dragonmark leading into enhancements giving bonusses to intimidate, plus bonusses to incoming healing
Warforged are liked because of the warforged immunities, ability to be repaired as well as healed (very useful when healing curses are being thrown around) and innate DR

Zad

[Borror0]

I have a pure defensive intimitank with no Power Attack and while I will happily agree that he's not as versatile as other Intim's, he's built a reputation as being very good at what he does, has become our guilds #1 tank and gets asked daily to come and intim for other groups.

Having played my intim this way, I can understand why, for many people, having a reasonable offensive ability is important and thus why they would want PA, but no skill, feat, enhancement etc is ever a 'must-have' - it's statements like that that lead to boring cookie-cutter builds.

This game is so easy that a properly equipped character played by a good player can complete anything - no matter how gimped the original character is. So, yes, in that sense, there is no such thing as a must have. However, in the context, it is a must-have. That is, if you want to optimize your intimitank, you will grab Power Attack.

[Nyvn]

Power attack is very important for all melee builds. Not all raids/quests call for max defense, some call for max dps. If you want to contribute as much as possible at those times you need a DPS option, Power attack is a large part of that. Versatility is a fighters forte, you should at least be able to pull out a 2 two handed weapon turn on power attack and beat on portals. Or any other situation where dps is more important than defense.

[Jay203]

This game is so easy that a properly equipped character played by a good player can complete anything - no matter how gimped the original character is. So, yes, in that sense, there is no such thing as a must have. However, in the context, it is a must-have. That is, if you want to optimize your intimitank, you will grab Power Attack.

shoos borror0 away

[DragavonBeta]

Not at all.

I have a pure defensive intimitank with no Power Attack and while I will happily agree that he's not as versatile as other Intim's, he's built a reputation as being very good at what he does, has become our guilds #1 tank and gets asked daily to come and intim for other groups.

The most important job for any intimitank is to control that raid boss 100%. If you keep the boss intimidated all the time and block away all the dmg he dishes out, then everyone will consider you a great tank. It will not matter if you dont kill anything, you will still be a valued member in groups.

It will be a big help if you keep all mobs aggro in normal quests too, but it is not so important there.

Having said that, a good tank should really have both CE and PA.

[Emili]

I have always stated... I love PA on every melee build. On a fighter it be a no-brainer... My viewpont is every fighter build PA and CE are among my prefered feats beit Tank or DPS build... this is flexibility.

While mostly a DPS will rarely tank, turn on CE pop on items and you can indeed sport a reasonable effective Tanking role on trash should it need be done - a DPS build can indeed turtle some shall the call be needed. For a Tank ... toggle PA on and CE drop , sure you're down 5 AC but you're now more capable of holding agro outside the intimidate button alone.

The most important job for any intimitank is to control that raid boss 100%. If you keep the boss intimidated all the time and block away all the dmg he dishes out, then everyone will consider you a great tank.
Having said that, a good tank should really have both CE and PA.

Exactly... and this is why PA is sometimes neccessary... Intimidate has a 10sec cooldown and 6sec effect and that bloody ranger dualing GS khopeshes with FE evil outsided and his bloodstone on with PA ... is not listening and bloody flailing away on the target... tell him drop the bloodstone turn off his PA and you turn yours on and there will be less chance that boss chases his skinny bumn.

The beauty of the fighter build is suppose to be the feats - here lies it's versitility, while one attributes hard pressed DPS/Tank roles there are - least shall be enough feat slots to cross these lines... IMHO you're a 32 point fighter you can afford both... beit DPS or Tank built primarily, the ability to adjust to your group allows you the comfort of knowing you're ready for any group make up.

There are going to be groups where you are not the "only tank"... thus may opt to tank or add a little more dps at will, etc...

Coming back to this versitily... I believe many an old fighter - with the changes on horizon, are going to realize the potential their character may have in crossing lines and respec into such.

[Borror0]

Intimidate has a 10sec cooldown and 6sec effect

That has been changed in Module 7, in June 2008. It's now a 6 second cooldown and effect.

[cforce]

Strongly agree with those advocating PA. I have PA on my intimitank, because:

- Fighters get a lot of feats
- I was out of feats that made much of a defensive difference
- There are plenty of times when tanking is not useful, and DPS is preferable.

Given that it costs only one feat on a feat-rich class, I consider it a very solid decision to have enough versatility to whip out a two-hander and turn on PA when DPS is called for over tanking. It costs very little, and I probably run with it on (either because I'm in DPS mode, or because CE ends up as overkill in some content) 40-50% of the time.

[Thanimal]

My opinion:

- Definitely take Power Attack.
- It's OK to get it pretty late in life on a tank. Power Attack tends to be a wawg at low levels -- even all the way to 15ish on some builds. But eventually it becomes almost inexcusable to not have it as an option.

[DragavonBeta]

There are some feats and skills that any fighter should have really.

Skills are intimidate, balance and tumble, and preferably UMD.

Feats are Power attack, Combat expertise, Quick draw and Thoughness.

If you have that on your build you can adapt to almost any situation and quest imo.

Everything else is optional.

[Aranticus]

There are some feats and skills that any fighter should have really.

Skills are intimidate, balance and tumble, and preferably UMD.

Feats are Power attack, Combat expertise, Quick draw and Thoughness.

If you have that on your build you can adapt to almost any situation and quest imo.

Everything else is optional.

all you need is 1 rank in tumble

quickdraw is not as impt as weapon focuses or specialisations. some will even rate iron will and bull headed more important since the fatal point of a fighter is the will save. also the thf/twf feats are more important

wrong, weapon focuses and specialisations are not optional. thf/twf are not optional. they are a must have. a fighter have no other concrete way of increasing dps unlike barbs (rage) or rangers (rams + FE)

[Emili]

all you need is 1 rank in tumble

quickdraw is not as impt as weapon focuses or specialisations. some will even rate iron will and bull headed more important since the fatal point of a fighter is the will save. also the thf/twf feats are more important

wrong, weapon focuses and specialisations are not optional. thf/twf are not optional. they are a must have. a fighter have no other concrete way of increasing dps unlike barbs (rage) or rangers (rams + FE)

I agree, always have seen things this way... a tank build should have enough feats to supply meaningful dps ... I've always forseen a fighter shall be versitile, Tanking is one aspect ... but how much does that bring to a group in a quests full of mostly mindless undead? Thus... it is time to stand along side the other melee and bloody pack somewhat of a punch.
The basics for me have always been about specialization + PA ... then sway from there.