Best 1st LVL Feat?

[Ridley's Cohort]

Ive seen it argued by some that say "I dont waste my time with imp init. Im gonna get the same amount of attacks in anyways" Well I have to argue vs. that. Getting the first blow in on your enemy is the purpose of any and every combat...I really dont see a logical opposition to this. But I know its out there!

Pshaw! The name of the game is to get the last attack in. If I can do that, I will have won every single time.

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

I often think the real benefit from Improved Initiative is for the player, more than the PC. There's always someone at the table who just likes being at the top of the list.

I'd tend to agree with this.

But, then again, I am definately of the "get me in there last and I will DEMOLISH it" school.

 

[VirgilCaine]

Wow. I hadn't considered that. Guess I'll be keeping these funky gloves after all. When I saw the cost when adding up my char wealth, it didn't occur to me that these were worth the equivilant of a feat.

And besides, not having to drop a torch or lantern when you encounter enemies is useful.

Scribe Scroll. Every wizard should have that feat at first level. Oh wait. Nevermind.

I think this is a must-have for every spellcaster. I couldn't imagine being limited to just my spells/day.

 

[taliesin15]

Very interesting discussion. I must say I'm quite amused by the remarks on "irregardless" ('ain't' ain't a word), and then the mini-digression on Toughness. If the latter Feat was 3 hit points *per LVL* I would certainly argue that would be the best first Feat.

Anyhow, there are some very good points, especially the Feat tree arguments. My basic premise especially applies to fighters--the first lvl fighter average hit points 5.5 in a typical encounter is fighting a goblinoid or animal with weapon or bite doing on average 1d6 damage could put her/him down with the first strike--moving the party into proper place is another major consideration, before provoking AoO's--I think these considerations are in fact more important for the 1st LVL character

I tried at first to do an actual poll, but didn't have the books and time to set it up--it seems like it would be interesting to do a poll on this both for 3.0 and 3.5

 

[cybertalus]

I often think the real benefit from Improved Initiative is for the player, more than the PC. There's always someone at the table who just likes being at the top of the list.

For some people that's probably exactly why Improved Initiative is so well liked. But the guy I know often encourages other people to take it as well. I'd think if he just wanted to be first that he'd be less of a salesman for the feat.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Anyhow, there are some very good points, especially the Feat tree arguments. My basic premise especially applies to fighters--the first lvl fighter average hit points 5.5 in a typical encounter is fighting a goblinoid or animal with weapon or bite doing on average 1d6 damage could put her/him down with the first strike

Don't forget that the first HD is full. So it's 10 hp on average (or rather 11 or 12, for fighters usually have higher-than-average con).

 

[jmucchiello]

I often think the real benefit from Improved Initiative is for the player, more than the PC. There's always someone at the table who just likes being at the top of the list.

Well said.

I have never written it on a character sheet PC or NPC. Has no tangible benefit from my point of view.

 

[Stone Angel]

Well I agree that there is no one feat for all characters. Just depends on both the character concept and the player and their style.

I was recently very torn in a new character creation between the Regional feat Blooded which grants you a +2 bonus to Init, spot and you cannot becom shaken(condition) or Furious Charge which grants a +4 on a charge instead of the normal +2. Most combats involve only a few charges and how annoying is it to miss when you only recieve on attack at the end of the charge(without any spells or additional feats) but in the end the character had shaped himself for the blooded feat.


The Seraph of Earth and Stone

 

[diaglo]

the one must have feat is:

skill focus (underwater basket weaving).

that way you can make all kinds of useful things out of your infinite slings.


edit: however, if you look in the MM you will see Improved Init is the most common feat.

and Weapon Finesse is not far behind.... even though the majority of the critters that have Weapon Finesse shouldn't .. as they didn't qualify at their first HD.

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

I'm going to chime in for imp. initiative. For me it is not so much going first, as I often delay for fellow flankers etc... Rather is is no longer being flatfooted and being able to threaten.