Dodge - House Ruled?

[evilbob]

This question comes from my previous post about armor-class related feats. How many people house-rule dodge? Or more specifically, how many people house-rule dodge to apply to all combatants instead of just chosing one on your action? As a follow up for those who do not: does that seem fair enough or balanced enough? Would upgrading this feat alter too much of the game?

 

[Ibram]

I use the variant where it is a straight dodge bonus rather then one targeted against a specific opponent. It just makes things a little bit simpler

 

[evilbob]

Is there a published variant rule on dodge?

 

[Creamsteak]

I've tacked this piece of OGL on to dodge. The variant itself suggests that you allow it for all characters, but I think it makes a much cooler variant to dodge, or can be combined with dodge.

A couple possible ways to use this:

Give for free as a combat option for all characters.
Give as regular feat of its own.
Give as a replacement for the normal dodge feat.
Allow a character with the dodge feat to perform this action against their selected dodge target.
Add this bonus to the regular Dodge feat.

This material is Open Game Content, and is licensed for public use under the terms of the Open Game License v1.0a.
OUT-OF-TURN DODGE
Any time you are about to be attacked, you can give up your next turn to gain a +4 dodge bonus to your AC. You must be able to apply your Dexterity bonus to your AC against the attack (so you can’t use it when flat-footed, for instance), and you declare this before the attack roll is made. Your initiative does not change; you simply do not take an action on your next turn. You gain this dodge bonus until the next time your initiative comes up after your “skipped” turn.
This rule gives a character the option of defending himself, providing an additional element to combat tactics. It also provides adventurers with additional tactical options, such as a “wolf pack” tactic: When a group attacks a single target, whoever the target retaliates against uses the out-of-turn dodge to aid his AC, while each of the others attacks the opponent on his or her turn.

–Andrew Finch

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

We use the constant dodge house rule. At mid-level+ it is too small a bonus to deserve being tracked.

 

[evilbob]

We use the constant dodge house rule. At mid-level+ it is too small a bonus to deserve being tracked.

The more I think about it, the more it seems like this is a good idea. The powerful side of dodge is that it stacks with everything, and that is indeed powerful. But, you lose it when you lose your dodge bonus, and the total modifier is only +1. AND, I know that in the two games I play, forgetting to use this feat is the biggest hindrance surrounding it.

So far no one has given a compelling reason to not expand dodge, other than the stacking thing I just said. Between the paltry bonus that means nothing at high levels and the constant real-world aspect of forgetting to use the thing, it seems like a good idea to me.

 

[Kemrain]

There are some feats, requiring Dodge, what give other special bonuses against your Dodge Target, but many of them are a little crazy. Can't give an example off the top of my head, but Complete Warrior has a few.

- Kemrain the Forgetful.

 

[EvilMood]

Ibram and others have got it right (too bad it's not in the PHB even 3.5) an all-around +1 dodge bonus to AC is the way to go.

Hint: Sniff powdered painkillers, it works wonders for headache.

 

[Voadam]

There are some feats, requiring Dodge, what give other special bonuses against your Dodge Target, but many of them are a little crazy. Can't give an example off the top of my head, but Complete Warrior has a few.

- Kemrain the Forgetful.

d20 modern has one that gives an AoO against someone your dodging if they miss you.

CW has one that negates the damage bonus from PA on the person you are dodging.

There are other feats that only give a dodge bonus in certain circumstances, such as when melee attacked (defensive martial arts in d20 modern I believe).

We use the "it grants a flat +1 dodge bonus" house rule to keep combat simpler.

 

[spider_minion]

Here's an idea . . . what if dodge worked something like 3.0 deflect arrows, where you could make a reflex save to avoid an attack once per round (success or failure). If the reflex save DC was fine-tuned, I think this would be a more interesting and cinematic varient.