RLBURNSIDE
First Post
Dex classes
are already some of the best at defenses. Giving them at-par melee basics devalues Str and overvalues Dex more so than it already is in Dnd, IMO.
Think about the number of advantages someone in light armor has, who can pump up Dex sky high. No need to invest in too many feats for armor, it automatically goes up because it's your attack stat. Oh, and it's also your reflex stat. And for many of your skills, skills that often make you better in melee (acrobatics), or in situations.
Tell me, if Dex min-maxing is at such a disadvantage with one lost feat and a bit less on an MBA, what about the disadvantage that Str people have to catch up to Dex people? They have to take feats to get a good reflex, feats to boost their armor, feats to boost their secondary stat for Will, etc. If you haven't pumped Str, chances are you have ability points left over for Cha / Wis, meaning you are ALSO at an advantage over Str people, who if they are in heavy armor, can't benefit from having a high Dex, even though a lot of them need it anyway (heavy blade users). Tell me that's not a waste of "precious resources".
I'm in favor of the melee basic attack 1/2 damage to anyone else but Str. BUT, since they gave full damage bonus and the melee training feat for free for the essentials classes, it does unfairly punish the PHB rogue. However, the PHB rogue is better in a lot of ways, and they just got a HUGE damage boost with their 1/turn sneak attack errata.
PHB Rogues are doing very well, even with the "feat tax" of melee training. Seriously, if they can get their full dex bonus to AC and reflex and melee attacks, why can't heavy armor users get their full dex bonus in Agile armor? What's fair is fair. Just treat agile armor like light armor, or provide that at the cost of an Epic-level feat, just like Dex people can pump up one stat and be better adventurers in most situations than Str people.
are already some of the best at defenses. Giving them at-par melee basics devalues Str and overvalues Dex more so than it already is in Dnd, IMO.
Think about the number of advantages someone in light armor has, who can pump up Dex sky high. No need to invest in too many feats for armor, it automatically goes up because it's your attack stat. Oh, and it's also your reflex stat. And for many of your skills, skills that often make you better in melee (acrobatics), or in situations.
Tell me, if Dex min-maxing is at such a disadvantage with one lost feat and a bit less on an MBA, what about the disadvantage that Str people have to catch up to Dex people? They have to take feats to get a good reflex, feats to boost their armor, feats to boost their secondary stat for Will, etc. If you haven't pumped Str, chances are you have ability points left over for Cha / Wis, meaning you are ALSO at an advantage over Str people, who if they are in heavy armor, can't benefit from having a high Dex, even though a lot of them need it anyway (heavy blade users). Tell me that's not a waste of "precious resources".
I'm in favor of the melee basic attack 1/2 damage to anyone else but Str. BUT, since they gave full damage bonus and the melee training feat for free for the essentials classes, it does unfairly punish the PHB rogue. However, the PHB rogue is better in a lot of ways, and they just got a HUGE damage boost with their 1/turn sneak attack errata.
PHB Rogues are doing very well, even with the "feat tax" of melee training. Seriously, if they can get their full dex bonus to AC and reflex and melee attacks, why can't heavy armor users get their full dex bonus in Agile armor? What's fair is fair. Just treat agile armor like light armor, or provide that at the cost of an Epic-level feat, just like Dex people can pump up one stat and be better adventurers in most situations than Str people.
