Aren't the prerequisites for Whirlwind Attack kinda.... odd?

[UltimaGabe]

Hey, everyone. Has anybody wondered why exactly the Whirlwind Attack feat has the prerequisites it does? I mean, they just don't seem to make sense.

I mean, let's take a look at them individually:

Dex 13: Okay, I can understand that. No real problem here.

Int 13: Um... I suppose I can get that. You have to know how to use your momentum to the right extent, or whatever. Makes a bit of sense, but it seems to me like it's mainly due to the Combat Expertise prerequisite (below).

Combat Expertise: This one's kinda weird. I mean, I guess I can get it, since it's about defensive maneuvers (that is, attacking everyone in a circle rather than just one guy), but still. Oh well.

Dodge: This is where it starts getting weird. Dodge? Does Whirlwind Attack have anything to do with dodging? Not quite, but I'll forego this one, because it's the next two prerequisites that bother me.

Mobility: Wtf? What the heck does Whirlwind Attack have to do with moving through an enemy's space? Um... none?

Spring Attack: This one makes no sense whatsoever. I fail to see the similarity (or potential for complementation) between running up, attacking one, then running back, and standing in one spot and attacking a bunch of times in every direction. I mean, really, how does this make sense to anybody? The two feats are not similar in any way, shape, or form, nor is there ever a chance when both would be tactically possible. As I said with mobility, Wtf?

BAB +4: Makes sense. The damage is done.

So, that's that. The prerequisites (specifically, Mobility and Spring Attack) make no sense whatsoever other than some feeble attempt at balance (assuming that if it had less prerequisites, more people would be able to take it earlier- but who even takes this feat anyway aside from Spiked Chain-Wielding Fighters?). In fact, looking at the other feats in the PHB, the idea of Whirlwind Attack seems to fit much more logically with another chain of feats- that is, the Power Attack/Cleave/Great Cleave chain (considering hitting one guy, then the guy next to him, and next to him, and so on is exactly what Great Cleave and Whirlwind Attack both do). And, look at that! Same number of feats! So any threat of balance is gone. Did some guy at WotC climb up the Stupid tree and fall out, hitting every branch on the way down, or was there some sort of reasoning behind this? Because I sure can't find it.

 

[pbd]

Whirlwind attack is at the end of the dodge feat tree. This tree is dedicated to learning how to move quickly and effectively in combat and how to deal with multiple opponents. Whirlwind attack is the penultimate ability in dealing with multiple opponents; combining swift movement with swift attacks to address every opponent aroud you. In order to do this you would need to know how to move in combat very well, hence the prereqs. Combat expertise as an additional prereq addresses the ability to use defensive maveuvers, as you said.

Think if WWA as about movement, albeit in a circle rather than in a line.

If you combine it with the dervish dance fromt he dervish PrC from complete warrior, then you can move in a line.

pbd

 

[dcollins]

Mobility: Wtf?

To me, that's probably the easiest one to explain. To pull off Whirlwind Attack, you need to be Mobile. Very, very Mobile, in fact.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Point Blank Shot is a prerequisite for Far Shot.

So?

-Hyp.

 

[Chorn]

I initially pictured a Whirlwind Attack to be a one big circular sweeping attack and also became puzzled at the odd choice of prerequisites. Then it occured to me that the manner of attack could be more creative in its interpretation. What about Jackie Chan versus a gang of mooks or maybe Yoda bouncing off the walls and his opponents being a representative of a more mobility based form of Whirlwind Attack? Spring Attack is there because elements of it would be used in the more confined area of the Whirlwind Attack. Dodge and Mobility show up because of their link to the Spring Attack method of combat.

 

[werk]

No. I don't think so. (see sig)

 

[Crothian]

wow, I've been quoted.....

 

[Bad Paper]

Whirlwind attack is the penultimate ability in dealing with multiple opponents

OK, I'll bite: what is the ultimate ability?

 

[moritheil]

OK, I'll bite: what is the ultimate ability?

I imagine the response will be that the ultimate ability is to drop a defiled ice storm at your feet, while being a fully progressed member of that PrC that grants immunity to cold.

Or something similar to that.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

I've always envisioned Whirlwind Attack as a scene from an old samurai movie, where the hero is standing in the center of a half-dozen guys and zips this way and that, dodging, darting to the side, etc. etc. until all of them are dead. Sort of like a number of Spring Attacks strung together.

As such, I've never had a problem with any of the Prerequisites.