A stat-boosting feat

[ValhallaGH]

Improved Aptitude

If I have to choose between this feat and almost any other, I'd take this feat. The fact that you can't stack it with itself keeps this feat under control but it's still better than 90% (or more) of feats.

Human Barbarian. Human feat - this one (strength). First level - this one (constitution).
Third level - either this one or Power Attack, and that's actually a difficult choice.

Ability scores are the king of the d20 system. Everything depends upon ability scores, and getting those as high as possible is one of the fastest ways to the most power (access to higher-level spells is the other big one). As long as you've got a 40 in your abilities, you can pretend to be five or six levels higher than you really are. Heck, with a 40 in all abilities, a Commoner 1 can pretend to be a 7th level PC (AC 25, HP ~17, spear +15 attack for 1d8+22 damage, +15 to all saves and skills). The worst class in the game, at the lowest level that has stats, and he's doing a credible impression of a mid-level hero simply because he has (really) high ability scores.

A feat is either too good or required for a class to work correctly if every member of the class takes it. Weapon Finesse is common for Rogues and helps that class function as intended. Natural Spell is common for Druids and helps that class rule the game. Natural Spell is too good, since it's taken by the majority of druids and provides a massive (and unneeded) increase in character power.

This feat has great appeal to every character of every class. It will almost certainly be taken once by everyone. The benefits it provides are comparable to going up a level (leveling is better, but this feat makes a valiant attempt to equal it). This virtually screams "overpowered" and tells me that any DM that allows this feat needs to keep a very close eye on how and when it is used.

Good luck.

 

[Yalım]

Alright, Valhalla. Your build is wrong.

PREREQUISITE: Level 3+
So your build could kick in say... at least at level 5. Which I'm fine with. You just spent 2 feats for +1 to hit, +1 damage, +5 HP, +1 fort saves, and +1 to a group of useless skills.


-------------------

Uder, I'm fine with +1 to AC all the time (except flatfooted, of course). I'm also totally OK with +1 to hit and +1 damage. I mean, big woop... Improved Toughness is OK, but not fantastic, and combining it with half of Great Fort is actually nice. An extra skill is OK, though it's hardly even worth a feat. I don't see why you think that's strong. +1 to perception and will saves is REALLY NOT A PROBLEM, and Charisma... yup, not a problem.

Hmmm. OK, I'm fine with beating spell focus. And yes, a caster who doesn't take this IS a fool, but a caster who doesn't take Extra Spell (Polymorph) or Scribe Scroll is also a fool.

So no. Your arguments do not sway me. Not a bit.

 

[ValhallaGH]

Alright, Valhalla. Your build is wrong.

Quite true, and equally inexcusable.

So no. Your arguments do not sway me. Not a bit.

Okay. You don't care about how much better this feat is than 80% of other feats (apparently those feats are too weak to be worth comparing with?).

I guess we're all done here, then. Have a nice game.

 

[Yalım]

What feats are better than this?

The TWF chain and multiattack nonsense, Natural Spell, Reserve Feats, THAT FEAT IN TOME OF BATTLE THAT GIVES YOU A MANEUVER, Animal Devotion, Metapower and Linked Power, Choke Hold, Hamstring, Lightning Mace, to name a few.

Man, those sound like the feats that players actually use...

But you don't use them? Well, I guess we're all done here, then. Have a nice game.

 

[Bladesinger_Boy]

Could you just make the feat a +1 stat bonus (rather than a +2)? You can take it pre-epic, but only once, whereas the "Great X" epic versions can be gained multiple times. +1 to your chosen stat isn't so bad... could we give it a level req, like 9th or 12th level maybe? I know you originally said 3rd level. Otherwise, I see it as just more feat tax for earlier on.

Another direction is that you only allow PCs to take it once ever (NOT once per stat) on a base state 13 or below, but it does grant the +2. Kind of the opposite of that "Pathetic" flaw. Basically, you can use this feat to help boost a weaker stat but your primary will be too high to be selectable. Of the two options, this seems fairer as it supplements weaknesses more then it helps further specialize/progress strengths.

 

[ValhallaGH]

But you don't use them?

Not most of them, no.

Well, I guess we're all done here, then. Have a nice game.

Thank you. I appreciate your well-wishes.