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Dynamic feat selection?
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<blockquote data-quote="Dorloran" data-source="post: 2969179" data-attributes="member: 15748"><p>Just wondering if anyone has come across or has tried doing a system that would allow for a more dynamic, character-based feat selection process? Here’s what I’m thinking.</p><p></p><p>Started playing a Dusk Blade from PHB II. I admit, I personally always have trouble choosing feats-never know what to do. Min/max? Choose a feat that somehow relates to my character’s personality? Combat feat or non-combat feat? Pick one of the +2-to-a-skill feat to boost something I think might need improvement in? </p><p></p><p>I looked and looked at the list (just the core PHB, at that), trying to guess what would be the best pick. Combat Casting? Yes, that looks promising for a Dusk Blade. No, wait. I get that as a bonus feat later. Combat Expertise? Wait, let me see what that feat is the prerequisite for—which meant I had to guess several levels in advance which feat I might want at 6th level so I could take the right feat at 3rd level to get the right feat that I think I will want/need at 6th level. To me, that’s a little complex. </p><p></p><p>I *think* the above example illustrates a dilemma in 3.5 between giving a player a lot of customization options, but at the same time, adds a great deal of complexity to the system. Is there a happy balance? For instance, I had all kinds of choices in feats, but the task of choosing and predicting the future was way too complex, and feats chosen now lock me into certain choices later. How do I know at 3rd level what my character will learn/encounter/experience at 6th level, and what direction I will want to take him in? </p><p></p><p>I’ll give one more brief example from when I was DMing a session that leads to the original question. We had a really well-developed rogue character. I was experimenting with ways to make combat more cinematic, and the player did a great, imaginative job. It became obvious to us both right away that the character should have the Spring Attack feat, but of course he didn’t have the prerequisite feats. </p><p></p><p>Now, as one of our players states, and correctly I think, the feat prerequisites are there for a reason, so we hesitate to ignore them. On the other hand, the system seems complex and somewhat non-responsive in allowing feats to be chosen dynamically or being character driven. For instance, instead of choosing a feat every three levels, what about something in which the character would “earn” or “learn” a feat through the course of play? If the character does something remarkable, or the player has a moment of brilliant or insightful play, perhaps he could acquire Spring Attack on the spot as a result, or Alertness, or Acrobatic, or even Toughness?</p><p></p><p>Does anyone know of a system, or what might a system look like, that somehow allowed for character/play driven feat selection or assignment?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dorloran, post: 2969179, member: 15748"] Just wondering if anyone has come across or has tried doing a system that would allow for a more dynamic, character-based feat selection process? Here’s what I’m thinking. Started playing a Dusk Blade from PHB II. I admit, I personally always have trouble choosing feats-never know what to do. Min/max? Choose a feat that somehow relates to my character’s personality? Combat feat or non-combat feat? Pick one of the +2-to-a-skill feat to boost something I think might need improvement in? I looked and looked at the list (just the core PHB, at that), trying to guess what would be the best pick. Combat Casting? Yes, that looks promising for a Dusk Blade. No, wait. I get that as a bonus feat later. Combat Expertise? Wait, let me see what that feat is the prerequisite for—which meant I had to guess several levels in advance which feat I might want at 6th level so I could take the right feat at 3rd level to get the right feat that I think I will want/need at 6th level. To me, that’s a little complex. I *think* the above example illustrates a dilemma in 3.5 between giving a player a lot of customization options, but at the same time, adds a great deal of complexity to the system. Is there a happy balance? For instance, I had all kinds of choices in feats, but the task of choosing and predicting the future was way too complex, and feats chosen now lock me into certain choices later. How do I know at 3rd level what my character will learn/encounter/experience at 6th level, and what direction I will want to take him in? I’ll give one more brief example from when I was DMing a session that leads to the original question. We had a really well-developed rogue character. I was experimenting with ways to make combat more cinematic, and the player did a great, imaginative job. It became obvious to us both right away that the character should have the Spring Attack feat, but of course he didn’t have the prerequisite feats. Now, as one of our players states, and correctly I think, the feat prerequisites are there for a reason, so we hesitate to ignore them. On the other hand, the system seems complex and somewhat non-responsive in allowing feats to be chosen dynamically or being character driven. For instance, instead of choosing a feat every three levels, what about something in which the character would “earn” or “learn” a feat through the course of play? If the character does something remarkable, or the player has a moment of brilliant or insightful play, perhaps he could acquire Spring Attack on the spot as a result, or Alertness, or Acrobatic, or even Toughness? Does anyone know of a system, or what might a system look like, that somehow allowed for character/play driven feat selection or assignment? [/QUOTE]
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