Adding stunts to D&D & using feats you qualify for

[Terath Ninir]

Okay, so I've been playing a lot of Exalted recently. In that game, you can do things called stunts. You describe the cool way you're going to do an action. The DM determines just *how* cool your action was, and gives you an extra 1, 2, or 3 dice on your roll.

It's a fun concept, but it doesn't translate directly into D&D well. Sure, you could get a bonus on your roll, but I don't think the game really needs any *more* bonuses on most rolls.

So my idea is to do something else with stunts. I was thinking specifically of feats: with a stunt, you have the one-time use of any feat you qualify for. So you can't do a whirlwind attack, unless you have all the prerequisite feats already, but you could use dodge.

It'd need some work, obviously -- like how do you work one-time metamagic use? -- but it seems like a cool idea.

So I bring it here for people to punch holes in the idea. And then offer suggestions on how to fix it so it works right. Y'all have done it for me before, so I have high hopes for this time.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Wouldn't that mean all characters can use most feats that they qualify for as long as they can make a cool sounding description? Doesn't sound like too good of an idea. You need to elaborate on it more. On the other hand it could work just as you describe but you can only maybe mimic 1 feat per round so you'd have to take the feat to have it constantly active. It could add some diversity to combat.

 

[Terath Ninir]

You would only be able to mimic 1 feat per round. That is a *very* good thing to point out. You can't do a stunt that gives you dodge, weapon focus, and acrobatics.

Oh, and the stunt feat would only apply for 1 round or, rarely, for one task, if it takes longer than 1 round.

 

[domino]

Or just give extra XP for impressive sounding stunts.

And if it's a really impressive stunt, like jumping down from several stories, to thrust through the back of an ogre menacing a girl, THEN give them a bonus. But if it's something that, if they just said "I want to do X" they'd be able to do with consistancy, don't bother. It lets them do the really impressive stuff, but doesn't mean that the normal stuff becomes infallible.

 

[genshou]

You would only be able to mimic 1 feat per round. That is a *very* good thing to point out. You can't do a stunt that gives you dodge, weapon focus, and acrobatics.

Oh, and the stunt feat would only apply for 1 round or, rarely, for one task, if it takes longer than 1 round.

Perhaps you should also rule that the same feat cannot be mimiced for two (or perhaps three) consecutive rounds. That prevents someone from having one "always-on" feat.

 

[RisnDevil]

Why not make it cost an action point? I personally say there needs to be more diverse options for action points, along with more action points in general......

 

[William Ronald]

Why not make it cost an action point? I personally say there needs to be more diverse options for action points, along with more action points in general......

Cyberzombie, in Unearthed Arcana , action points can be used to emulate a feat (if a character qualifies for a prerequisite), improve a feat (there are examples for combat expertise, dodge, and improved critical among others), add a metamagic feat. I know that Eberron has a feat that allows characters to gain more actions points than normal. (As for metamagic, by spending one action point, a character can add the effect of any one metamagic feat to a spell. The spell is cast at its normal level and takes no extra time to cast.)

Genshou also makes some good suggestions.

I think you might want to take a look at the action point rules in Unearthed Arcana. I hope the suggestions in this thread help you out!

 

[Ravellion]

I've thought about adding the following mechanic:

Once a day, you're allowed to make a DC 15 Charisma check as a nonaction during your turn. If successful, you can use a feat you qualify for until your next action.

Add to that a feat that gives you three attempts per day, and a +3 bonus to the check.

Rav

 

[William Ronald]

I've thought about adding the following mechanic:

Once a day, you're allowed to make a DC 15 Charisma check as a nonaction during your turn. If successful, you can use a feat you qualify for until your next action.

Add to that a feat that gives you three attempts per day, and a +3 bonus to the check.

Rav

An interesting suggestion, as it makes use of charisma --- which often becomes a dump stat. Would this be in addition to or instead of action points?

 

[Ravellion]

An interesting suggestion, as it makes use of charisma --- which often becomes a dump stat. Would this be in addition to or instead of action points?

Instead.

Perhaps the DC should be lowered to 12, to make it a bit easier for most characters. But I wouldn't like dropping it any lower because of high level play and insane charisma's Sorcerers and Paladins tend to have by then.

Rav