Feat: Power Strike

[hong]

Weapon Specific? Sorry, it seems as if you would have such agility you would possess it with all weapons with which you are proficient.

Well, it means that if you get disarmed, which is one of the weaknesses of someone who depends on Spring Attack, you're SOL.

So you trade one definite attack at +8 for 2 at +3. Its clearly unbalanced to give 2 attacks at +8 (or double damage, imo).

Spirited Charge does the same thing, and only costs 3 feats.

 

[hong]

In addition to the existing issues, another problem with Power Strike is that it can be very helpful for bypassing DR.

Why is this a problem?

 

[med stud]

I think it is easier to give constructive critisism if you define what standards you are measuring feats by. If this feat is compared to the feats in the PHB, it is probably overpowered while it is more powerful then any feat there.

If you want powerful feats, though, this one is good. With a BAB requirement of 11, a fighter will get this feat when clerics get Harm and wizards get Disintegrate, etc. In that sense, it's probably not overpowered (as in, the rest of the players feel cheated when not having this feat).

 

[hong]

If you want powerful feats, though, this one is good. With a BAB requirement of 11, a fighter will get this feat when clerics get Harm and wizards get Disintegrate, etc. In that sense, it's probably not overpowered (as in, the rest of the players feel cheated when not having this feat).

Oh, I'm all in favour of powerful feats -- IMO the lack of good feats in the PHB for high-level fighters is a real downer. The trick is just to make sure that the prereqs are in line with the abilities. The "other players won't feel cheated" rule is probably the best rule of thumb around.

 

[Technik4]

I still contend that it shouldn't be weapon specific. Also the double (or triple) damage modifier that is in Spirited Charge is pretty much specific to charging, being charged, etc. The mechanic has its basis in momentum, and a spring attack isnt necessarily a charge. Therefore I propose this.

Charging Spring Attack
Your attack is a veritable onslaught of pain.
Prerequisite: Dex 13+, Dodge, Mobility, BAB 4+, Spring Attack
Benefit: When using the spring attack feat you may combine it with a charge. You must move forward and directly away in the same line, and you suffer a -2 AC as if you were charging. If your attack hits, you do double damage.
Normal: You may not Charge during a Spring Attack.

I would accept this, though I would require that you always must "spring" back at least 5 ft. I don't require Power Attack since anyone can charge, though I would allow this in conjunction so str-based fighters didn't feel cheated.

Ultra Charge
You charge with conviction and overwhelming strength.
Prerequisite: Str 13+, Power Attack, Improved Bull Rush
Benefit: When you charge, if you have only moved your speed (ie- not twice your speed as a charge action allows) you may deal double damage if you hit.

The only other alternative I see is the things that were suggested above. For the record I think all feats should be balanced enough with each other. Making tons of prereqs to improve your feat is bad business, and adding needless limiting factors is just as bad.

Technik

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Spirited charge is also much much much more situation dependant since it relies upon a mount in order to be used (and mounts (with the exception of Windrider, Paladin, Blackguard, and Holy Liberator mounts) are first very vulnerable and second only able to be used in a limited number of situations.

What you're proposing is spirited charge without the charge or mount requirements.

Spirited Charge does the same thing, and only costs 3 feats.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

I still contend that it shouldn't be weapon specific. Also the double (or triple) damage modifier that is in Spirited Charge is pretty much specific to charging, being charged, etc. The mechanic has its basis in momentum, and a spring attack isnt necessarily a charge. Therefore I propose this.

Charging Spring Attack
Your attack is a veritable onslaught of pain.
Prerequisite: Dex 13+, Dodge, Mobility, BAB 4+, Spring Attack
Benefit: When using the spring attack feat you may combine it with a charge. You must move forward and directly away in the same line, and you suffer a -2 AC as if you were charging. If your attack hits, you do double damage.
Normal: You may not Charge during a Spring Attack.

I would accept this, though I would require that you always must "spring" back at least 5 ft. I don't require Power Attack since anyone can charge, though I would allow this in conjunction so str-based fighters didn't feel cheated.

This one might be better if it required that all movement be in a straight line and in one direction--making it the ground equivalent of ride-by attack. As it is, this one seems to do two things:
1. Grant double damage
2. Allow you to move twice your normal move (charge distance) with a spring attack.

Ultra Charge
You charge with conviction and overwhelming strength.
Prerequisite: Str 13+, Power Attack, Improved Bull Rush
Benefit: When you charge, if you have only moved your speed (ie- not twice your speed as a charge action allows) you may deal double damage if you hit.

I'd give this a BAB requirement (maybe +4 or +6--it wouldn't be a good feat to give PCs at the first few levels because the new offensive capability would require them to go up against foes that would rip them to shreds if they didn't get one-shot killed). It needs some notation about partial charges too--can it be done at all on a partial charge? And, if so, is the character limited to 1/2 his normal move? (IMHO, the answers to both should be yes).

I'd also give it a new name--"Ultra" reminds me of Unreal Tournament which isn't necessarily bad but is certainly the wrong genre. Maybe Unstoppable or Indomitable Charge or something like that.

 

[DreamChaser]

since fighters (and psychic warriors) are really the only characters that every gain many combat feats, I think that every prereq. a feat has should allow it more powerful. Whirlwind is obviously more powerful than Expertise and Great Cleave is obviously more powerful than Power Attack.

This feat seems fine and I would even remove the single weapon restriction but perhaps up the BAB to +11.

 

[hong]

What you're proposing is spirited charge without the charge or mount requirements.

True, hence the stiffer prerequisites.

 

[Jens]

It doesn't make sense to me if you can hit twice as hard when spring attacking than you can when attacking without springing. So I don't think the original suggestion makes too much sense.

Then I think comrade raoul's suggestion (Lightning Strike; two attacks instead of one, the second penalized by the usual -5) makes much more sense. I think this is neat because it simply allows the fighter to get his two first normal attacks, and therefore resembles a 'normal' mechanic.

Alternatively, it could be altered a bit to resemble Rapid Shot (Rapid Strike: Req. BAB +11 and Whirlwind; make two attacks instead of one, both at highest attack bonus -2) with the obvious extension to Lightning Strike (req. BAB +16 and Rapid Strike; make three attacks instead of one, all at highest attack bonus -5). I have no idea if this is balanced, but my Rapid Strike should be equivalent to comrade raoul's Lightning Strike (-2/-2 is about as good as -0/-5). Lightning Strike is hopefully more powerful.

Rapid Strike [General]
You can deliver a pair of quick attacks in the time it would take most combatants to strike once.
Prerequisite: Weapon Focus, Dex 13+, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Int 13+, Expertise, Whirlwind Attack, base attack bonus +11 or higher
Benefit: As a standard action, you may perform a rapid strike with any weapon you have Weapon Focus with. Treat this as a normal attack action, but you may attack twice (both attacks use your highest attack modifer with a -2 penlaty). You may use this feat in conjunction with Spring Attack in order to move, attack twice, and move again (provided that you are not wearing heavy armor).

Lightning Strike [General]
You can deliver three quick attacks in the time it would take most combatants to strike once.
Prerequisite: Weapon Focus, Dex 13+, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Int 13+, Expertise, Whirlwind Attack, Rapid Strike, base attack bonus +16 or higher
Benefit: As a standard action, you may perform a lightning strike with any weapon you have Weapon Focus with. Treat this as a normal attack action, but you may attack three times (all attacks use your highest attack modifer with a -5 penlaty). You may use this feat in conjunction with Spring Attack in order to move, attack three times, and move again (provided that you are not wearing heavy armor).

Note: I changed the Weapon Focus requirement.