Change Weapon focus or Specialization

[darthkilmor]

I dont think its been mentioned but Ptolus has a method for this, one of the temples has a ritual that costs, iirc 1000gp, to convert one feat for another or move some skill points around. Maybe could have a whole sidequest of trying to find someone that knows said ritual or seomthing like it in your campaign.

 

[smootrk]

Actually, it's even easier than that. Fighter starts with WF & Spec: Greatsword. Allow him to swap out WF: Greatsword for WF: Glaive at one level. Now he has WF in the weapon he's currently using. The Spec: Greatsword can no longer be used, because the char no longer has one of its prerequisites--but that's okay, he's not using the weapon anyways. And now for one level he gets to use WF again. Then, the next level, he swaps out Spec: Greatsword for Spec: Glaive. Done.

I would consider that fair were I GMing (or even PCing! : ), and certainly enough hoops to jump through to switch out the WF and Spec.

Same idea, different order. I like your order better, because he at least gains the benefits of Weapon Focus immediately.

 

[Stalker0]

How cool a glaive are we talking about? I mean if its so good he's willing to give up his greatsword, then what's the big deal? The player should be happy that he got a cool new weapon, so what if he loses 2 to damage and 1 to attack if its got new abilities he's happy with. And he'll always have the chance to find a greatsword down the line, and be even happier when he gets a better weapon AND +1 to attack, +2 to damage. Leave it as is.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Actually, it's even easier than that. Fighter starts with WF & Spec: Greatsword. Allow him to swap out WF: Greatsword for WF: Glaive at one level.

By the RAW, this doesn't work. The rules clearly say that you cannot change a feat that is a prerequisite for another feat.

"the new choice can't make any of your later choices illegal"

You need to work down the chain removing the latter feats first. So ...

You cannot swap WF(greatsword) for WF(glaive) because it would make the later choice of WS(greatsword) illegal.

You could swap WS(greatsword) for WF(glaive), but you cannot later swap WF(greatsword) for WS(glaive) unless you took WF(greatsword) at fourth level or higher.

By the rules, MarkB has the correct answer. Assuming the feats were taken as early as possible it is a three level process.

Step One: You've gotta remove WS(greatsword) to any other feat that you are eligible and for which WF(greatsword) is not a prerequisite so that you can change WF(greatsword) at all.

Step Two: You can then change WF(greatsword) to WF(glaive).

Step Three: You can now change the one that was originally WS(greatsword) to WF(glaive).

Personally, for a fighter (or other class who received the specific feats in question through bonus feats of the class ability type) I think doing my stated way of class ability changes should be allowed. That makes the application pretty narrow, because all the feats in question would have to be gained through the class ability. But you are correct, MarkB. It technically probably shouldn't work that way. But in theory its no different than what happens to the ranger. But by RAW, it is a shakey solution at best!

 

[Twowolves]

Polymorph any object doesn't work on magic items in 3.5 .

Ok, cast (Greater) Dispel Magic on it first.

If the object that you target is a magic item, you make a dispel check against the item’s caster level. If you succeed, all the item’s magical properties are suppressed for 1d4 rounds, after which the item recovers on its own. A suppressed item becomes nonmagical for the duration of the effect.

Problem solved.

 

[frankthedm]

How cool a glaive are we talking about? I mean if its so good he's willing to give up his greatsword, then what's the big deal? The player should be happy that he got a cool new weapon, so what if he loses 2 to damage and 1 to attack if its got new abilities he's happy with. And he'll always have the chance to find a greatsword down the line, and be even happier when he gets a better weapon AND +1 to attack, +2 to damage. Leave it as is.

At 5th level, a specialized fighter should be willing to accept that he might be stuck using a masterwork weapon until he gets enough cash to buy his magic weapon. And a fighter at any level has to be ready to accept the “Plot Artifact” might not be his favored weapon.

A +2 weapon breaks even with a masterwork weapon for someone who is specialized other than for DR magic.

And if said glaive is +3, then it can be sold /traded to get a 2 greatsword. If it is more that +3, it sounds like the other players are getting too small of a treasure share in comparison.

Feats are supposed to be hard choices, not something to be traded when the treasure haul does not go the PCs way.

And if the player neglected to have a back up weapon, he fully deserves to be screwed. Weapons do break in D&D, just not that often.

 

[Legildur]

Feats are supposed to be hard choices, not something to be traded when the treasure haul does not go the PCs way.

And if the player neglected to have a back up weapon, he fully deserves to be screwed. Weapons do break in D&D, just not that often.

Agreed. My archer just died in the World's Largest Dungeon. I've just created a half-orc Bbr1/Ftr2/Clrc3 of Kord wielding a spiked chain with the standard array of battelfield control feats (intending to take levels of Exotic Weapon Master). I'm stuffed if the chain ever gets destroyed. Still, the feats are applicable to any reach weapon, just not as effective as the chain.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Feats are supposed to be hard choices, not something to be traded when the treasure haul does not go the PCs way.

In your game, perhaps. I personally think that the PHB II retraining option models real life better. I spent 7 years of my life learning French. 10 years later, I know squat of it. However, I did spend 4 recent years of my life learning Koine Greek. I do it much better than French now.

I used to only be able to print. Now I prefer to write cursively. [Actually, i prefer to type and hit the print button to be honest. Although tecnically I can still print]

I used to be able to play my six string guitar really well. Then I discovered that my true love is the bass guitar and since I am in a band and play my bass quite frequently ... I am much more proficient with my bass.

I prefer games where real life is mirrored. At least I should say I prefer games where my experience of what real life is mirrored. But that is my opinion, I don't expect you to agree with that. In fact, I'd expect you to say that you like games where feats are hard choices to make and a player gets screwed from time to time. And that's cool if you like it.

But by non-CORE RAW, there is certainly precedent for this to be allowed. It isn't a case of should or shouldn't. It is a case of "it can happen under these rules," but you don't have to allow them because the DM has control over the game!