Elusive Target

[Alpha Polaris]

I now have a character with a long feat chain, dodge, mobility, spring attack, whirlwind attack, to which I will shortly add Elusive Target from Complete Warrior. This tactical feat grants, three abilities, negate power attack which, well, negates the damage bonus on power attack from the opponent you dodge, cause overreach, which gives you a free, one way trip attempt against anyone missing you while making an AoO against you because you move out of a threatened square, and the big piece of cheese, Diverting Defense.

To use this maneuver, you must be flanked and you must designate one of the flanking attackers to be affected by your dodge feat. The first attack of the round from the designated attacker automatically misses you and may strike the other flanking foe instead. The attacking creature makes an attack roll normally, and its ally is considered flat-footed. If the designated attacker is making a full attack against you, its second and subsequent attacks function normally.

I feel some wordings are quite problematic here. First of all, my chracter would have 8 levels of rogue when selecting this feat, which means he basically shouldn't be able to use it, since he could not be flanked (unless by a rogue at least 4 levels above him etc...). But still.

a) What if the attacker uses the full attack action, but the first attack is for somebody else ? Does it count as "the first attack of the round from the designated foe", or one among "its second and subsequent attacks".

b) What if the designated attacker uses whirlwind attack, but strikes someone else before my character. What if he cleaves ?

c) What if the flankers are not allies (they both want to kill my character, but would gladly kill each other as well). Would you allow a character with this feat to designate one of its allies with its dodge bonus, in order to have said ally "strike through" him, thereby catching the opponent flat-footed ?

 

[Herpes Cineplex]

a) What if the attacker uses the full attack action, but the first attack is for somebody else ?

Well, it says the first attack of the round from the designated character, which strongly suggests that it means the first time that particular guy attacks you, since you're the guy with the feat and we're only interested in attacks against you. That would be how I'd read it, anyway.

That would mean that you could apply it to the attack from a guy using whirlwind attack or a guy who took a cleave attack against you, provided that he hadn't taken a swing at you earlier in the round.

But yes, it's vague, and someone could argue the (IMO, weird and nonsensically restrictive) interpretation that the feat only works if it's genuinely the attacker's first attack. Good luck.

c) What if the flankers are not allies (they both want to kill my character, but would gladly kill each other as well). Would you allow a character with this feat to designate one of its allies with its dodge bonus, in order to have said ally "strike through" him, thereby catching the opponent flat-footed ?

You know, I think I would. Why not?

--
oh i am so very laissez-faire this morning
ryan

 

[The Souljourner]

What he said. It's definitely intended to be the first attack against you. Also, if the two guys attacking you are getting flanking bonuses, then you can definitely use the feat.

BTW, I think this is far and away the best of the manuever feats, and the one the rest of them should have been modelled after. Three decent abilities that aren't really worth a feat in and of themselves.... as opposed to the other ones which are "waste one or two turns doing stupid crap and get a mediocre benefit out of it on the next turn".

As for the "flanking" term, I'd assume that your rogue ability wouldn't negate it. This is more of a "in flanking position" rather that "getting the flanking bonuses"

-The Souljourner

 

[rkanodia]

Ain't that the truth about Tactical feats.

Personally, though, I think the 'diverting defense' manuever puts Elusive Target over the top. While it's not quite as solid as Improved Uncanny Dodge at avoiding sneak attack, it does avoid the first attack each round, which is going to be the one with the highest attack bonus, and it entirely negates the attack's effect against you, not just the sneak attack portion. And I think it's ridiculous that the attacker doesn't get any chance to beat the effect, even after witnessing it in action.

 

[Piratecat]

BTW, I think this is far and away the best of the manuever feats, and the one the rest of them should have been modelled after.

Actually, I very well might have my psiwarrior PC take the tactical feat that lets you cleave into the person after a successful sunder. It turns a questionable combat maneuver into a no-brainer.

Incidentally, I also agree with Herpes Cineplex. These circumstances come up relatively rarely, so I'm generally liberal with my rules interpretations for them.

 

[James McMurray]

Combat Brute is definitely a nice one. Its triggering actions for two of its abilties (charging and sundering) come up fairly frequently.

Shock Trooper is also fairly decent.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Combat Brute is definitely a nice one. Its triggering actions for two of its abilties (charging and sundering) come up fairly frequently.

Shock Trooper is also fairly decent.

Not having the books right here - if you got a wizard or sorceror with a high enough BAB, and the requisite feats - could you use shock trooper with telekinesis?

 

[James McMurray]

No idea, since I also don't have the books here. I'm pretty sure there are a few feat prereqs and a decent BAB prereq that would make the feat problematic for a wizard. It would also only work on a few of its applications via telekinesis. Just based on what I remember of the feat I wouldn't mind it. It could make a cool addition to a Master of the Unseen Hand.

 

[Saeviomagy]

No idea, since I also don't have the books here. I'm pretty sure there are a few feat prereqs and a decent BAB prereq that would make the feat problematic for a wizard. It would also only work on a few of its applications via telekinesis. Just based on what I remember of the feat I wouldn't mind it. It could make a cool addition to a Master of the Unseen Hand.

Well - improved bullrush DOES add to telekinetic bullrushes - +4 to the attempt is pretty sweet. I forget the other prereqs for shock trooper though - at a guess power attack is one and maybe improved overrun. As well as +6 bab.

Possible with a level 12 wizard certainly.

Even without master of the unseen hand, a character using bullrush attempts with a big bonus from range, the ability to make bullrush attempts that change direction and the ability to bash two opponents together and get a pair of trip attempts seems pretty sweet. I could of course be totally wrong...