Editing Binder (section)

==4e Binders==
The Binder returned in [[Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition]], as part of the Essentials line of [[Variant Class]]es. Debuting in the "Heroes of Shadow" [[splatbook]], the Binder was a Charisma-based Arcane Controller, in contrast to its [[Warlock]] roots as an Arcane Striker. Thematically, it was a somewhat clumsy attempt to meld 4e warlock lore with 3e binder lore; unlike conventional warlocks of the [[Nentir Vale]], who forge a pact with a singular patron as their instructor, binders treat with multiple individuals, borrowing, begging, bartering or stealing magic from many spirits and entities instead of forming a singular allegiance.

[[Derp|Despite this, they still divide into Patron-based subclasses, and of course the mono-dimensional styling of an Essentials class made every Binder of the same Pact feel exactly the same.]]

Mechanically, Binders function a lot like their [[Hexblade]] cousins.

At 1st level, they gain the features Pact Boon (two at-will powers, one Utility and one Attack, derived from their patron - their utility can only be triggered by dropping a creature to 0 HP or being adjacent to a creature dropped to 0 HP, just like a hexblade), Shadow Twist (+1 to ranged & area attack rolls against a creature with no other creatures adjacent), and Shadow Walk (as per the standard [[Warlock]]).

At 4th level, they gain the Pact Lore feature, which is an inherent bonus derived from their patron. At level 9, they gain the Summon Warlock's Ally power - as with the Hexblade, this is a Daily attack that summons a loyal ally based on the specific patron type the binder treaties with.

Level 11 gives them another pair of patron-derived features, in Binder's Action (a rider for spending action points) and Binder's Favor. Level 12 gives them Pact Keeper's Pledge, a daily utility that can be used to teleport 10 squares, end a "save ends" effect, or nullify all damage they take until the end of their next turn.

Once more, patron choice determines the positive effects of the Binder's Boon, gained at level 16. At level 20, they gain the universal binder attack Offering of Magic, a daily attack power that blasts one foe up to 20 squares away and inflicts 5d8 + Cha modifier Force damage, half on a miss, and lets them use their Pact Boon power.

The last of the unique class features for the Binder are level 22's Master of Magic (another daily utility, and literally identical to the Hexblade power of the same name) and level 25's Greater Summon Warlock's Ally, a more powerful version of the Summon Warlock's Ally power.

As one of the last classes to emerge from 4e before its demise, binders have the fewest Pact choices. Heroes of Shadow only features the Gloom and Star pacts; [[Dragon Magazine]] introduced a Fey pact in issue #406

'''Gloom Pact:''' A binder with the Gloom Pact gains the utility spell ''Echoing Dirge'' and the attack spell ''Shadow Warp'' as their pact boon. ''Gloom Pact Lore'' gives them Darvision and Resist Necrotic +5. Their ''Binder's Ally'' is a Shadow Lurk, a minor wraith-like creature. ''Gloom Pact Binder's Action'' means that an attack fueled  by an action point grants you combat advantage on each of the attack's target. ''Gloom Binder's Favor'' lets you hit a third creature with a smaller amount of psychic damage when you use Echoing Dirge. ''Gloom Binder's Boon'' lets you use Shadow Warp to slide targets through enemy spaces and blocking terrain, although they must still end up in a space they could ordinarily occupy. Their ''Greater Binder's Ally'' is a Gloom Beast, a shadowy equivalent to a [[Displacer Beast]].

'''Star Pact:''' A binder with the Star Pact gains the utility spell ''Hidden Lore'' and the attack spell ''Mind Shadows'' as their pact boon. ''Star Pact Lore'' gives them +2 to Arcana & Religion checks and +5 Psychic Resistance. Their ''Binder's Ally'' is a Soul Eater, a star-spawned horror that converts the essence of the dying into greater power for its master's spells. ''Star Pact Binder's Action'' means that when you spend an action point, you gain +4 to damage rolls with attacks that deal cold, necrotic and/or psychic damage ntil the end of your next turn. ''Star Binder's Favor'' means that when you hit with your Mind Shadows spell, all attacks made with combat advantage against that spell's target give you a +2 damage roll bonus until the end of your next turn. ''Star Binder's Boon'' means that casting Hidden Lore makes you insubstantial until the end of your next turn as well as invisible. Finally, their ''Greater Binder's Ally'' is a Doom Hulk, whose deadly touch is supplemented by a life-sapping aura.

'''Fey Pact:''' A binder with the Fey Pact gains the utility spell "Cloud Sight" and the attack spell ''Fascinating Shadows'' as their pact boon. ''Fey Pact Lore'' grants a +1 bonus to AC and to Will. Their ''Binder's Ally'' is a Satyr of the Night, an unseelie version of the common [[satyr]]. ''Fey Binder's Action'' means that an action-point fueled attack can daze one of its targets until the end of the binder's next turn. ''Fey Binder's Favor'' causes the binder's allies to have partial concealment against the targets of the binder's Fascinating Shadows power until the end of the binder's next turn. ''Fey Binder's Boon'' means they have combat advantage against targets of their Cloud Sight power until the end of their next turn. Finally, their ''Greater Binder's Ally'' is a [[Displacer Beast]].

It is worth noting that the Warlock ''did'' also continue the tradition of vestiges in 4e, ironically without supporting the binder subclass with it.  The Vestige Pact was introduced in ''Arcane Power'' and involved drawing power from various ancient and bound entities.  Each has one bound at all times, but can switch between them by making a choice at certain times, or by activating a power that binds them temporarily to a new vestige (usually a daily power).  The choice alters the Warlock's pact boon and pact at-will power, making the Vestige Warlock versatile but also forcing them to be strategic.

4e Binders are..... Well to be blunt, awful, arguably one of the weakest Essentials classes, with very wonky mechanics; this mostly stems from them being Controllers who need to constantly kill things to use their controller abilities, and one might argue that isn't a crippling problem, it still means that you are required to be in in the front lines of combat to operate at peak efficiency, and you're a caster........ I'll let you put 2 and 2 together. About the best thing you can say about 4e binders is that at least they're not [[bladesinger]]s.

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