Gaining Feats?

[sylvyr]

Is it possible to hold onto a feat (not use it) untill you meat the prerequisits of it? Example: BAB +13 and you have +12, could you wait on that feat untill you had the next level? As far as I have found it's up to the DM to determin that, but I didn't know if there was an official ruling.

---Sylvyr Angel

 

[dcollins]

No. All of the designers have weighed in on that topic. Frequently they point to the "Level Advancement" task list (on PH p. 145-146) as choices that are mandatory (and in listed order), not optional.

 

[Crothian]

While according to the rules you do have to choose a feat when you get it, our party has selected feats later and even ability increases. AS long as they are done before the adventure and the GM agrees, we have no problem. Unless you are overly concerned with game balance or fear your players will min max the heck out of this, I say allow it.

 

[the Jester]

Personally I think a lot of the reason the prereqs for some feats are what they are is to essentially put level limits on them. F'rinstance, a feat that requires a base attack of +1 is not available to a single classed rogue until 3rd level (because they don't get a feat until then, except for first level.) Part of my reasoning is to keep fighters the best fighters and keep 'em that way earliest.

 

[Mahali]

In our game you can take a feat at any time however it can't be used until you meet the prereqs. So at first level a rogue can take weapon finesse but can't use it until 2nd.

 

[nsruf]

I allow one feat at a time to be kept "open" until a PC meets the prerequisites, but this is a house rule. The official rules state that you have to choose it right away.

 

[Ywain]

I play by the rules in this case.

I think that the Fighter loses too much power if you allow feats to be banked. In general the fighter gains access to the most powerful feats one or two levels earlier than the barbarian, paladin or any other class. In some situations it can be 3 or 4 levels. When playing a campaign this has an impact on the relative effectiveness of the PCs. The other classes have their advantages, this is the fighter's.

For example, a Human Barbarian could take Power Attack and Cleave at first level, bank his third level feat and take Great Cleave at 4th level. So the fighter no longer has the option of having Great Cleave two levels before the Barbarian.

Example Two: Human Ranger fighting with two short swords can bank his 6th level feat and take Improved Critical (Shortsword) at Level 8 and Improved Two Weapon Fighting at Level 9. (If he can't bank those feats then he has a tough choice at Level 9, and has to delay taking IC for 4 levels or ITWF for 3 levels, relative to the fighter.) Now if he had banked his 3rd level feat to take Spring Attack at L4, then at Level 9 he has three "boss" feats instead of two. The distribution of the best feats is no longer weighted towards the fighter.

This is even worse if you are starting your campaign at level 6+. The PC's don't even have to put up with a few featless levels -- there is no disadvantage to banking feats in order to load up on the best ones.

Same deal for the Wizard, but the effect isn't as pronounced because they don't get as many bonus feats. Even so, a Wizard can take Craft Wand at 5th level and Craft Magic Arms and Armor at 6th level. Sorcerers, Clerics, etc. should have to wait until 6th and 9th to get both of these feats (and by 9th, the choice gets even tougher as to which feat to take), but if they can bank feats they can take them at 5th and 6th as well. If you are rolling up a 6th level Cleric, there is no disadvantage to doing so. The wizard will still have more feats, but they won't have more powerful feats.

Blech, I say.

 

[Marshall]

In our game you can take a feat at any time however it can't be used until you meet the prereqs. So at first level a rogue can take weapon finesse but can't use it until 2nd.

Actually, Thats the 'Official' ruling.

 

[SpikeyFreak]

Actually, Thats the 'Official' ruling.

The official rule is that you have to take it and you have to meet the prereqs to take it.

I have seen a chat or email (can't remember which) where Skip states that he doesn't think it's a terrible idea to do it that way though.

I think he's dead wrong, again, for the reasons others have stated.

Frex, a rogue shouldn't be able to have weapon finesse until 3rd level, like the designed intended. A ranger shouldn't be able to have both imp 2 weapon fighting and imp crit at 9th level. Its part of the "hard choices" aspect of the game that intend to keep there.

--Anal Spikey

 

[Orco42]

Frex, a rogue shouldn't be able to have weapon finesse until 3rd level, like the designed intended. A ranger shouldn't be able to have both imp 2 weapon fighting and imp crit at 9th level. Its part of the "hard choices" aspect of the game that intend to keep there.

--Anal Spikey

Wow!!!

I actually agree with Spikey!