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Community
General Tabletop Discussion
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Aren't the prerequisites for Whirlwind Attack kinda.... odd?
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<blockquote data-quote="UltimaGabe" data-source="post: 2215292" data-attributes="member: 16019"><p>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.</p><p></p><p>I mean, let's take a look at them individually:</p><p></p><p>Dex 13: Okay, I can understand that. No real problem here.</p><p></p><p>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).</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>Mobility: Wtf? What the heck does Whirlwind Attack have to do with moving through an enemy's space? Um... none?</p><p></p><p>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?</p><p></p><p>BAB +4: Makes sense. The damage is done.</p><p></p><p>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.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="UltimaGabe, post: 2215292, member: 16019"] 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. [/QUOTE]
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Aren't the prerequisites for Whirlwind Attack kinda.... odd?
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