Dodge

[Jdvn1]

Q: A player in my group has a character with the Dodge feat. During play he designates one enemy that threatens him in order to gain the bonus against that enemy’s attack of opportunity while he moves past to attack a second enemy; he then finishes his turn by stating he is switching his dodge to the second enemy he just attacked. Can he do that? I argue that he can only designate one dodge per round. He states that he can designate dodge on any action even if it includes doing it more than once per round. Who is right?
--Matthew

A: The intention here is to allow the character with the Dodge feat to designate a single opponent (referred to hereafter as your Dodge-buddy) on a round-by-round basis, thus making it possible to do so only once per round. As such, it wouldn’t be possible to change your Dodge-buddy more than once per round.
--Chris Lindsay

Dodge [General]
Prerequisite
Dex 13.

Benefit
During your action, you designate an opponent and receive a +1 dodge bonus to Armor Class against attacks from that opponent. You can select a new opponent on any action.

A condition that makes you lose your Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) also makes you lose dodge bonuses. Also, dodge bonuses stack with each other, unlike most other types of bonuses.

Special
A fighter may select Dodge as one of his fighter bonus feats.

Bold added for emphasis.

It looks like that player has a point. Now, I'm pretty sure that Chris Lindsay didn't write that feat, so I'm not sure how he can claim intent, but it's a pretty reasonable ruling anyway.

... Although the Dodge feat is pretty underpowered.

So would you rule:
Intent: 1/round
RAW: On any action.
Middle Ground: 1/action
Other?

 

[ElectricDragon]

To simplify combat, strengthen the feat, and because IMC no one ever remembers to declare their dodge buddy; I made the Dodge feat apply to the total AC, Touch attack AC, and Incorporeal Touch attack AC. I see no problem with a +1 dodge bonus to AC versus everybody and do not think it overpowered. Uncanny Dodge makes this bonus also apply to Flatfooted and Incorporeal Touch Flatfooted ACs. This means either Fighting Defensively or Total Defense stack on other dodge bonuses (with or without 5 ranks of the Tumble skill); but these types of bonuses do stack.

Ciao
Dave

 

[ThirdWizard]

I House Ruled it to just give a +1 dodge bonus to AC.

 

[Scharlata]

[...]... Although the Dodge feat is pretty underpowered.[...]

IMC, we have the feat Dodge house-ruled to provide a permanent +1 dodge bonus to AC. No other changes were made, i.e. as how to apply dodge bonuses to AC.

It does function and it is NOT overpowered.

Enjoy!

 

[wmasters]

Just adding my voice to the 'I've made the same house rule as everyone else' thread.

 

[Jdvn1]

Just adding my voice to the 'I've made the same house rule as everyone else' thread.

According to the poll, not everyone else has made that house rule.

 

[shilsen]

I House Ruled it to just give a +1 dodge bonus to AC.

Ditto.

 

[Dross]

Other than myself, only one other person has taken dodge for one of her PC's. That's roughly 3 dodging out of 30 PC's.

As written, it seems more a stepping stone than a feat by itself (not sure if this is good or bad).

I'm of the category, "Hhhmmm, it hasn't really come up, so I can't vote." :\

 

[mikebr99]

Ditto.

double ditto...

Mike

 

[Infiniti2000]

double ditto...

Triple ditto. It's probably the most common houserule.