Ability Focus

[Renaissance Man]

Is the Ability Focus feat meant to be analogous to the Spell Focus and Psionic Focus feats, but for spell-like abilities? I find the feat's description to be very vague.

How many "special attacks" does the bonus apply to? For instance, if a mind flayer takes this feat, does it apply to his mind blast as well as his psionics? Assuming he must choose one special attack, could he choose his psionics? Or must he select a particular psionic ability, say, suggestion?

And does this feat supercede the Boost Spell-like Ability feat from BoVD?

 

[kreynolds]

Is the Ability Focus feat meant to be analogous to the Spell Focus and Psionic Focus feats, but for spell-like abilities?

Sort of.

How many "special attacks" does the bonus apply to?

One.

For instance, if a mind flayer takes this feat, does it apply to his mind blast as well as his psionics?

No. He would have to pick.

Assuming he must choose one special attack, could he choose his psionics?

To be honest, I'm not sure. The feat is primarily for breath weapons, poison attacks, stuff like that.

And does this feat supercede the Boost Spell-like Ability feat from BoVD?

No. One feat applies only to spell-like abilities. Ability Boost can be applied even to extraordinary (Ex) special attacks.

 

[Kraedin]

It applies to one special attack.

A special attack is any entry in the "special attacks" section of the creature's stat block.

For example, a Solar could take Ability Focus (spell-like abilities) or Ability Focus (spells). A Illithid could take Ability Focus (mind blast) or Ability Focus (psionics).

 

[kreynolds]

For example, a Solar could take Ability Focus (spell-like abilities) or Ability Focus (spells). A Illithid could take...Ability Focus (psionics).

I don't know about this. From what I can tell, that's what the Boost Spell–Like Ability feat is for. Otherwise, by taking one feat (Ability Focus), they gain far more than they ever would from Boost Spell–Like Ability. Doesn't seem right.

 

[Renaissance Man]

That seems reasonable. Similar to the Boost Spell-Like Ability feat from BoVD, but... different. Does anyone see anything that would prevent the bonuses from those two feats from stacking?

 

[Grazzt]

I don't know about this. From what I can tell, that's what the Boost Spell–Like Ability feat is for. Otherwise, by taking one feat (Ability Focus), they gain far more than they ever would from Boost Spell–Like Ability. Doesn't seem right.

Right. I agree with this. I haven't seen it used to "blanket" an array of stuff like spell-like abilities. It seems more like it is used to enhance the DC of a SINGLE attack.