[RPG] How to keep the Blood Mage alive

blood-magednd-4eparagon-pathparagon-tier

I just made it to paragon tier! My wizard Bai has been focused on area damage with some control effects, especially slowed (save ends). I use Orb Mastery to make the opponents' saves more difficult for powers like Horrid Whispers and Twist of Space.

Defensively, I've been a get out of the way type, using Wizard's Escape to not be there for the attack in the first place. That's worked well when I've been able to stay behind the party. I'll still get hit a couple times before the end of combat, but it usually doesn't become dire. I actually believe I've done well at not being a sink hole for the cleric's powers.

This all is changing because I've taken the Blood Mage paragon path.

Now that I'll be taking damage much more often during combat (from the wounds I deal to myself!), I need to figure out a way to keep myself from dropping. So it looks to me like my strategy needs an update. (If I'm wrong, tell me why.)

My idea so far is to do healing on myself which might let me keep up with my own damage. Also, I think I read about some magic item that let you gain regeneration 5 when you're bloodied. I noticed the Heal skill powers in PHB3 which would let me spend a healing surge as a minor. Beyond powers and feats, I'm looking for good strategies and new tactics that would require minimal retraining, though retraining is not off the table. I'd also welcome any ideas for useful items I could put on my shopping list.

Best Answer

The magic item you're thinking of is probably the Potion of Regeneration. The level 9 version costs 160 GP a pop and gives you regeneration 5 while you're bloodied. It also costs a healing surge, which might be a problem for your wizard if you do a lot of encounters in a typical day.

Trollhide Bracers have a daily that also gives you regeneration 5, not just while you're bloodied, but those are a level 19 item so it'll be a while before you might have those.

Armor of Sudden Recovery is great for regeneration. You can, as a daily, convert any ongoing damage you're taking to regeneration -- so if you're taking ongoing 10, you can turn it into regeneration 10. I would strongly recommend a set. A slightly cheesy but amusing option: combine that with Dragonfire Tar, an alchemical consumable which does ongoing damage on the target. Use that on yourself. Check with your GM before using this one, though.

Back to non-cheese. For your neck slot, an Amulet of False Life has a daily that gives you temp hit points equal to your healing surge value. That's effectively an extra second wind once per day. I think that's better than the Amulet of Life, which allows you to spend an extra surge once per day when you spend a surge, since you have to wait for someone to heal you or use second wind with the Amulet of Life.

Diamond Cincture is another effective second wind, once per day. So that's pretty good. It fills your waist slot.

OK, let's see. Strategies -- don't forget about Shield. That's a very good defensive utility. With any luck it'll prevent one hit per encounter. For your level 10 utilities, you have a few interesting choices. Mass Resistance is a life saver if you're fighting anything at all elemental. It's party-oriented, which is nice. Blur is a great power to protect you -- you can't be seen by enemies more than five squares away, plus you get some defensive bonuses. If you have some way to fly, which you probably will eventually, this is a great way to stay safe in the air.

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