Flaws would you...?

[Wraith-Hunter]

If you have decent Con and Dex (+3 modifiers) would you be tempted to take the flaws that give you -3 to fort. and ref. saves to pick up a 2 extra feats? Especially if you plan on taking a couple classes and PrC's that have +2 to these saves?

Basically removing the bonus you get for a high ability score on the saves? Worth a couple extra feats? Its tempting...

Would you?

 

[Musrum]

Ref: No.
Fort: NO! ARE YOU INSANE?

 

[Sejs]

*sing-song voice*
you'll re-greeeet it..

 

[nittanytbone]

The penalty to Reflex saves isn't too bad. Most reflex saves give half damage from an elemental attack and it is fairly easy to get protection against such attacks. The other batch of Reflex saves usually inhibit motion, so if you have some way to get Free Action then that doesn't matter either.

For example, as a cleric of Travel I'd have no beef with taking the -3 to REF saves; As a cleric, Dex is my dump stat and Ref saves are my poor save, so I won't be making any saves with serious DCs anyways... Between my spells and domain granted power, I can cover the weaknesses of a low REF save... And clerics are feat-starved, so I get a good deal out of the free feat compared to, say, a fighter.

I'd never take the penalty to fort saves. If you fail a fort save, you often die.

 

[Doom Chicken]

Don't take the -3 to fort saves. I remember one flaw you can take, it's called Shakey, it gives you a -2 on all ranged attacks, which you could easily work around. You're insane if you are willing to take a permanent -3 to all your fort saves though.

 

[Ipissimus]

Don't take penalties to saves, any of them can be fatal. Fort makes you vulnerable to poison, Ref makes you vulnerable to good old-fashioned fireballs and Will you'll regret the first time you run across an enchanter, succubi, vampire or other such creature with Charm person or Suggestion. Bad ideas all 'round in my opinion.

 

[Darklone]

Fort: Lowering it kills me. I often end up with my bardmultis in the range of petrification spells anyhow and never failed. Yet. Guess why.

Refl: What did I take Evasion for when I lower it?

Will: I don't really like the idea of slaughtering my buddies.

So: Nonono. Other flaws: yes, these: no way.

I might be tempted to take them for low level games one shots or short campaigns that are certain to stay like that.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

*sing-song voice*
you'll re-greeeet it..

Hello again!

 

[Sejs]

Hello again!

*rimshot*

 

[monboesen]

For example, as a cleric of Travel I'd have no beef with taking the -3 to REF saves; As a cleric, Dex is my dump stat and Ref saves are my poor save, so I won't be making any saves with serious DCs anyways... Between my spells and domain granted power, I can cover the weaknesses of a low REF save... And clerics are feat-starved, so I get a good deal out of the free feat compared to, say, a fighter.

And in one fell swoop you just showed why the Flaw subsystem stinks. It will always be mined for Flaws that essentially doesn't hurt the character.


So my answer would be NO WAY (and my advice not to use the Flaw system at all, instead just hand out more feats for everyone if you feel the need for it).