Advice on Custom Feats

[Lord Zardoz]

I have had these two ideas for custom feats kicking around for a while. So to kill some time, why not let you guys give your opinions on them.

Ruinous Strike: Automatically inflict damage as per a Critical Strike as a full round action with a chosen weapon.
Pre-requisits: Power Attack, Weapon Specialization, Improved Critical, BaB +12.
Using a full round action, the character may make one attack against the chosen victim. The victim then rolls a Fort save at DC 15. If it fails, the damage is rolled as though it were a critical strike. If the roll results in a Critical Threat, then then the victim gets no save.

Armoured Dodge: Increase max dex bonus for armor to equal your str bonus, and similarly reduce armor check penalties.
Pre-requisite: Armor Proficincey, Light, Str 15.
When wearing armor that your are proficient in, you may use your Dex Bonus to AC normally. If your Str bonus is greater then your dex bonus, then use the number for your Str bonus. The Dex bonus may not be greater then your Str bonus. (IF you have a +4 modifier for Str and a +2 modifier for Dex, you may use +2 dex to armor. If you have Str at +3 and Dex at +4, then you may use +3 dex to AC). All Armor check penalties are reduced by half.

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[Crothian]

Ruinious strike would be very powerful with a vorbal weapon, except that the fort save is so low it will rarely be missed.

Armored Dodge is not making sense for some reason. However, I think you should say it is limited to light armor only (since that's the only requirement), and that reducing armor check penalty by half is too much.

 

[Lord Zardoz]

Regarding Armored Dodge

The problem might be the poor name.

With Armored Dodge, its a way of having stronger characters less hindered by their armor. That way, a character with a decent Str score will be able to wear heavier armor and still get the benefit of a good Dex. To put it another way, it changes the Max Dex bonus of your armor to your Str bonus if your Str bonus is greater then the max Dex bonus.

The Pre-Requisit is there simply because to benefit, someone needs to actually be wearing armor anyway. Currently, there is little or no incentive to wear heavier armor for someone with a Dex of 14 or better. Especially when you consider the movement penalty.

I suppose one could set this up as a feat chain.

Armored Dodge 1: - Light Armor
Armored Dodge 2: - Medium Armor
Armored Dodge 3: - Heavy Armor

This would mean that only fighters are likely to bother with the feat.

Alternatively, instead of reducing the armor check penalties, one could remove the movement penalty of the armor.

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[Xylix]

Ruinous strike is fine for the most part. I would move the Fort save to be Str+10+ 1/2 level, instead of 15. Otherwise it would be pointless at higher levels.

Take care when this is used with a vorpal weapon, however considering how broken vorpal weapons are.... does one really need to bother saying that?

It is really nice if you are fighting someone with DR, and you can bypass it with a critical...


For Armored dodge I would brake it into two feats. One would be Armored Dodge which would increase the Max Dex bonus by the players strength bonus


The second would be Armored dexterity, that would do the same for the armor penalty.


The reasoning is to keep Full Plate mail off of those that sneak unless they really want to learn. On the other hand taking the two feats would be great for multi-classing or a dexterity fighter.

 

[Lord Zardoz]

Thanks for the input

I like the idea of splitting Armored Dodge into two feats. However, I would appreciate some thoughts regarding the pre-requisits for the "Armored Dexterity" version.

I was not thinking much along the lines of a Rogue in plate armor sneaking around. I was thinking more along the lines of a high str ranger making a jump check or climb check (both str related skills).

Beyond the Str requirement, perhaps requiring Mobility, and a high base reflex save?

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[Xylix]

That would be fine. A rogue isn't likely to take it unless he has high strength anyway, and in that case will probably pick up its cusin.

However, adding mobility, dodge, or something similar would be good. I would also say the player must have proficiency in the armor worn inorder to benifit from the feat.

A high reflex save is uneccessary, several feats in the chain pretty much take care of that, and figher / rouges should have it available sooner.