Best 1st LVL Feat?

[MerricB]

For a fighter, Cleave + Power Attack make a good first two feats (add Weapon Focus when a human fighter).

For a barbarian, Power Attack (and Cleave for a human barbarian)

For a wizard or sorcerer, Spell Focus (illusion or enchantment).

Improved Initiative is nice, but not essential.

Cheers!

 

[Ryltar]

Irregardless

Please. Don't use that word. It doesn't exist. Thanks. Move along .

Regarding the topic: I wouldn't say that there is a single feat which can be considered the most useful one for 1st lvl characters - it all depends on the "build", so to speak. There are regional feats in the FR sourcebooks which are more "powerful" than regular feats, but if you pick one that doesn't fit your character, you're going to end up with nothing. So there: "It depends" is the best first-level feat .

 

[Pants]

For Spellcasters: Eschew Materials - Who wants to keep track of those annoying components anyways?

For Anyone: Improved Initiative - Some probably don't agree, but the ability to go first in initiative is very important later on the game (when winning combats comes down to who gets to react first) and it's very important for Sneak Attackers, who can more easily catch opponents flat-footed.

For Cowards: Run - Get away faster and without losing your Dex bonus.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I don't think there is any one best feat. It always depends on the character. Improved Initiative might be great, but a courtier would find it useless, as there are no Initiative Checks in conversations. You won't win the emperor's ear because you speak faster than the other guy (unless your name is Eddie Murphy ).

 

[Darkness]

My DM house rules Toughness to be 3 HP/level.

He didn't really consider the effects of that, did he?

 

[Crothian]

He didn't really consider the effects of that, did he?

so everyone has a few more hitpoints each level, as far as bad rules I've seen worse.

 

[Elric]

so everyone has a few more hitpoints each level, as far as bad rules I've seen worse.

Wow, Crothian has Improved Initiative (+3 Init/level). I was about to post the same thing and he beat me to it. Making Toughness give 3 hp/level is the equivalent of giving every character and NPC one less feat and some extra hit points (constructs and things without feats are just in trouble). Clearly too powerful for a feat (even at 2 HP/level, this feat would be taken by absolutely everyone), but not that bad.

 

[Crothian]

Wow, Crothian has Improved Initiative (+3 Init/level). I was about to post the same thing and he beat me to it. Making Toughness give 3 hp/level is the equivalent of giving every character and NPC one less feat and some extra hit points (constructs and things without feats are just in trouble). Clearly too powerful for a feat (even at 2 HP/level, this feat would be taken by absolutely everyone), but not that bad.

Ya, I'm known for quick postings.

While everyone would take it and that alone makes it too good, hit points, at least a lot of them, are not something as a DM I really worry about. Its easy with power attack, maximize spell, and other options to really have the bad guys dish out lots of damage.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

so everyone has a few more hitpoints each level, as far as bad rules I've seen worse.

The only potential problem I see is that the DM might not apply this change to Toughness to the monsters that already have it.

 

[Crothian]

The only potential problem I see is that the DM might not apply this change to Toughness to the monsters that already have it.

well, then that's the DM's fault. I don't look at rules by how forgetful people might deal with them.