Concerning Power Attack

[bestone]

Does anyone think it would be too overpowering to siply give fighters (fighters as is, no other changes) Power attack plus the bonus feat at level 1? cause this thread has me thinking i might do it

 

[irdeggman]

Does anyone think it would be too overpowering to siply give fighters (fighters as is, no other changes) Power attack plus the bonus feat at level 1? cause this thread has me thinking i might do it

It might not be overpowering but it will make the class much more melee oriented, which IMO goes against the flexability that was built in by allowing choices of feats.

If you made it a path choice like rangers get melee or ranged and gave abilities that were based on that it ends up being far too similar to a ranger, IMO.

 

[Quartz]

Good comments all, thanks.

 

[Bad Paper]

...it's utterly devastating when combined with the Emerald Razor maneuver, the Deep Impact psionic feat, or the Wraithstrike spell.

Seeing as how those three things don't exist in my game, and that my campaign is currently in its last throes of allowing bad-math (2-for-1) PA, I can't agree. Keep your cheese out of my peanut butter, thanks. I'm waiting for the chocolate.

Fighters are suboptimal? Maybe if you make them take the same damn feat tree every time you play one, but, uh, wow. That's kinda like complaining about the rogue's skill points.

 

[Kurotowa]

It's not that it's too good to not take it, rather that it gives the fighter character needed flexibility.

I disagree. For a straight melee character, is IS too good not to take it. That flexibility and damage potential are crucial. Especially past the lower levels, you can't survive without Power Attack. Archers and TWF use a different tact, of course. But for the other warriors it just can't be passed by.

 

[hong]

Actually, why not make PA 2-for-1 for all weapons? That makes it useful for every melee person, whether they use light weapons, 2-handed, sword+board, 1-handed, 2 weapons, or whatever.

 

[BlueBlackRed]

So why not make Power Attack a Special Ability of Fighters? Limited by their fighter class level? Perhaps they gain it as a Special Ability at 2nd or 3rd level, and Combat Expertise a level later?

If you give them power attack as a special ability, then you should take away a feat. And all that accomplishes is taking at what level the player would usually take it.

I have thought about a kind of untrained power attack, but with a very poor exchange rate (half effectiveness or worse).

 

[axp_dave]

Especially past the lower levels, you can't survive without Power Attack

I know I am in the minority, but I do not take PA with my fighters. IMC we typically fight fewer, tougher monsters making cleave of little value. PA is risky as we are often fighting tough opponents where the risk to missing is comporable. If my DM's style was weaker, but more numerous monsters, than PA and cleave would be more valuable. I really believe these two feats value depends on the DM's style.

David

 

[Kurotowa]

I know I am in the minority, but I do not take PA with my fighters. IMC we typically fight fewer, tougher monsters making cleave of little value. PA is risky as we are often fighting tough opponents where the risk to missing is comporable. If my DM's style was weaker, but more numerous monsters, than PA and cleave would be more valuable. I really believe these two feats value depends on the DM's style.

You're probably right. I haven't had a DM who really enjoyed using mobs over big guys, but in that case Great Cleave would be much more useful. Still, even then you have to take Power Attack in order to get to Cleave and Great Cleave.

 

[Ranger REG]

I've just been creating a mid-level character and something struck me:

Pretty much every combat-oriented character takes the Power Attack feat. It's not that it's too good to not take it, rather that it gives the fighter character needed flexibility. One can say something similar for Combat Expertise. And Combat Reflexes vis-a-vis Rogues. But those are for other threads. So why not make Power Attack a Special Ability of Fighters? Limited by their fighter class level? Perhaps they gain it as a Special Ability at 2nd or 3rd level, and Combat Expertise a level later?

Now I'm all for rampant multiclassing, which largely obviates this idea, but there are many here who resist multiclassing.

I've not thought this through, so your thoughts, please.

Not enough fighter bonus feats for you? JK.

I agree with the others that the fighter must be customizable and not focus on being melee-oriented.