Combat Reflexes a Rogue Must-Have Feat?

[Darklone]

You only get the AoO if the guy your fighter buddy tripped tries to get up. That's not certain either...

If you want AoOs, get a reach weapon.

 

[Klaus]

mmm that + keen rapier wow...just.... wow

Yep. Telling Blow at 1st, Weapon Finesse at 3rd and Improved Critical (rapier) or a +1 keen rapier and your rogue (or ninja, or scout, or dread commando...) will be dealing his ambush damage on any confirmed critical on a 15-20 range (1-in-3 chance).

 

[Cabral]

And you don't get an AoO if someone 5' steps and casts, or 5' steps and attacks with a bow.

Normally, a 5' step never provokes an AoO, but if your combat reflexing rogue takes some martial feats (Martial Study and something else) to get the level 3 Devoted Spirit stance Glade of Thickets (I may have the name and/or discipline wrong.), then those 5' steps provoke. Actually, IIRC, all movement, including tumbling, provokes.

It's a few feats but if you want a little more control over attacks of opportunities, you may want to consider it.

"He takes a 5' step back to cast ..."
"I make an AoO trip attack"
"but, but, but ..."

 

[hong]

Normally, a 5' step never provokes an AoO, but if your combat reflexing rogue takes some martial feats (Martial Study and something else) to get the level 3 Devoted Spirit stance Glade of Thickets (I may have the name and/or discipline wrong.), then those 5' steps provoke. Actually, IIRC, all movement, including tumbling, provokes.

It's a few feats but if you want a little more control over attacks of opportunities, you may want to consider it.

"He takes a 5' step back to cast ..."
"I make an AoO trip attack"
"but, but, but ..."

It's Combat Reflexes 3 all over again!!!1

 

[1500run]

Normally, a 5' step never provokes an AoO, but if your combat reflexing rogue takes some martial feats (Martial Study and something else) to get the level 3 Devoted Spirit stance Glade of Thickets (I may have the name and/or discipline wrong.), then those 5' steps provoke. Actually, IIRC, all movement, including tumbling, provokes.

It's a few feats but if you want a little more control over attacks of opportunities, you may want to consider it.

"He takes a 5' step back to cast ..."
"I make an AoO trip attack"
"but, but, but ..."

yeah, all of what you named is broken. i'd never allow it in my campaign.

 

[Legildur]

Unless you were determined to take the Vexing Flanker etc sequence of feats, then I would never bother with Combat Reflexes as a rogue.

I've only seen about 3 characters in my live games that have ever taken it - a monk (bonus 2nd level feat), my Bbr/Clr/Ftr spiked chain wielder (using Enlarge Person from the Strength domain), and a paladin..... The feat was next to useless for the paladin, except for the time we got swamped by Stirges. My tripping monk got some good use from it (often enlarged by the Sorceror) and my spiked chain wielder has already had several occasions where he got 3 AOOs (for movement) in one round.

 

[Cabral]

yeah, all of what you named is broken. i'd never allow it in my campaign.

I don't see why. Combat Reflexes is generally considered underpowered.

Oh and the other stuff, remember that a pure Rogue can qualify for a 3rd level stance only at 10th level. (Requires Martial Adept initiator level of 5, rogues have a martial adept initator level of 1/2 the class levels.)

So, you take a weak feat and spend two more to make it useful. In the end, it's likely still a weak combo. Particularly since it revolves around the rogue standing in the middle of a group of opponents in order to be most effective. I mean, in order to set yourself to get a few AoOs as the enemy(ies) charge the fighter, you have to be between the fighter and the foes ... at which point, why wouldn't they just charge you?

IMO, it's like Diehard, it appears better than it is.

 

[1500run]

I don't see why. Combat Reflexes is generally considered underpowered.

Oh and the other stuff, remember that a pure Rogue can qualify for a 3rd level stance only at 10th level. (Requires Martial Adept initiator level of 5, rogues have a martial adept initator level of 1/2 the class levels.)

So, you take a weak feat and spend two more to make it useful. In the end, it's likely still a weak combo. Particularly since it revolves around the rogue standing in the middle of a group of opponents in order to be most effective. I mean, in order to set yourself to get a few AoOs as the enemy(ies) charge the fighter, you have to be between the fighter and the foes ... at which point, why wouldn't they just charge you?

IMO, it's like Diehard, it appears better than it is.

combat reflexes is weak, no doubt about it. but the other feats are persona non grata in my book. why? for a rogue, yeah, they're not all that bad. but if you allow the rogue to have them, they why can't the fighter have them too? then the second fighter wants them. and the cleric, maybe. then all the baddies pick it as a "must have" feat chain. no, allowing AoOs on 5' steps is broken, no matter which way you slice it. no character should be allowed that.

*edit*
also, that entire book is broken, and a waste of money.

 

[Mistwell]

*edit*
also, that entire book is broken, and a waste of money.

Wow. Way to paint with the broadest possible brush, and widest strokes to boot!

 

[Sithobi1]

I suppose you'd consider the Knight broken, too, since it prevents 5ft stepping entirely...