[RPG] What are the options for giving a Battlemind the ability to mark at range

battleminddnd-4emarkmulti-classing

Basically I wanted to be able to mark a target up to 10 squares away so I can then use the Battlemind level 6 utility power Psionic Ambush to teleport next to it.

The only potential option I see is to take the Student of the Sword (Fighter multiclass) feat. Would that allow me to throw a dagger or other thrown weapon to place a mark? Or from other ranged attacks with melee weapons (a Psychokinetic Weapon for example)?

I was thinking I'd like to spend my multiclass option on something other than Fighter (leaning towards Runepriest atm) so any other options would be appreciated. My Battlemind is currently level 9.

Cheers.

Edit: To provide the extra character info desired…

I am a level 9 Half-Elf Battlemind.

The character is for Living Forgotten Realms so I can technically retrain everything when I level except for Race and Class, which I am happy to do. Due to this I will give you my basic play style as something to work with. I am also fairly new to DnD and this is my highest level character (the few others <=2)

I have been targeting mobile versatility, in so far as getting to where I need to be to do my defendering as quickly as possible, and being able to quickly move across the battle map to where I'm needed if circumstances change. I've focused so far on abilities like Persistant Harrier, the level 2 utility Dimension Slide, level 1 daily Accelerating Strike, Improved Initiative feat, Lightning Rush, Lodestone Lure (almost always used augmented to bring in the ones I can't reach).

Also while I know I'm no striker, I like to be reliable with my damage and as such am using a Falchion, taken Valenar Weapon Training, and have currently got Iron Armbands of Power

Stat wise I have so far focused on Constitution, dumped Intelligence, ignored Charisma, and tried to spread the rest relatively evenly between Strength, Dexterity, and Wisdom. I haven't worried too much about my secondary stat riders in powers as they really haven't come into play much. I'd probably throw nearly everything in con and some dex (for the initiative) if I didn't have to worry about NADs.

Nothing too special feat wise except I'd want to keep Improved Initiative and Valenar Weapon Training.

The multiclass I mentioned is mainly for flavour, and as something to do while I'm sitting there getting pounded by multiple enemies to assist/buff my allies. This situation does seem to happen a lot as the Battlemind is great at throwing out a lot of marks 🙂

Thanks again.

Best Answer

A battlemind doesn't have lots of options in that regard, but there are a few with which you may be able to get close to what you want.

Note that other than your suggestion I haven't found a way to significantly increase the range at which a battlemind can mark, so most suggestions here are just workarounds or ideas which could help with increased mobility and so on.

The highest range I could find among battlemind powers with a quick Compendium search was melee weapon +3 reach (Dimensional Ambush[DDI]) respectively close blast 3 (Obsidian Shield[DDI]) - the rest was at most close burst 2.

Class features, powers and feats:

  • Wild Focus[DDI]: Battlemind class feature; free action, encounter, close burst 10; pull target Cha modifier squares and mark it till EOYNT.
  • Speed of Thought[DDI]: Battlemind class feature; free action, encounter; move 3 + Cha modifier squares, can be used even when surprised. Can be enhanced to 5 + Cha modifier squares with Improved Speed of Thought[DDI].
  • Persistent Harrier[DDI]: Battlemind class feature; immediate reaction, encounter, melee weapon; when enemy hits or misses you, you attack him back (even if the target is outside your melee reach) and teleport adjacent to it.
  • Iron Trap[DDI]: Githzerai racial feat; when enemy misses you because of Iron Mind racial feature, the enemy is marked and you gain combat advantage until EOYNT.
  • Demand's Reach[DDI]: Battlemind feat, paragon tier; increase Battlemind's Demand to close burst 5.

Equipment:

  • Predatory Weapon[DDI]: Weapon power; free action, encounter; when hitting with the weapon mark one target within 5 quares until EOYNT.
  • Farslayer Weapon[DDI]: Weapon power; standard action, at-will; make melee basic attack up to 5 squares away.
  • Greater Dancing Weapon[DDI]: Weapon power; minor action, at-will; animate weapon (direct with move action, fly speed 6, must see target squares), while you can see the weapon you can make melee weapon attacks through it (counting the weapon's square as origin square instead of your square).
  • Blade of the Eldritch Knight[DDI]: Weapon property; when using a standard action to make a melee attack increase reach to 5 for that attack.
  • Planesplitter Weapon[DDI]: Weapon power; free action, encounter; when making a melee attack increase weapon reach by +2 squares.

In any case you might want to take a look at the "Beyond Bodily Brutality: the Basics of Building Battleminds" handbook on the WotC boards.

And yes, your assumption is correct. Taking Student of the Sword[DDI] would allow you to mark any enemy once per encounter with any attack that is made with the selected weapon type (one-handed melee or two-handed melee) regardless of hit or miss.

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