Improved Whirlwind Attack

[daTim]

Wow, I was just looking at the Improved Whirlwind Feat and was very impressed. It seems to have gotten a really good beefing up since the 3.0 Epic Book. Here is how it appears in the SRD now...

IMPROVED WHIRLWIND ATTACK [EPIC]
Prerequisites: Int 13, Dex 23, Combat Expertise, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Whirlwind Attack.

Benefit: As a standard action, the character can make one melee attack for every five points of his or her base attack bonus (including epic attack bonus, round fractions down).

The character cannot attack any one opponent more than once as part of this action. These attacks (as well as all other attacks made until the start of the character’s next turn) suffer a -4 penalty.

When using the Improved Whirlwind feat, the character also forfeits any bonus or extra attacks granted by other spells or abilities (such as Cleave or the haste spell).

Since these attacks are made as part of a standard action the character can’t make a 5-foot step between any two of the attacks.

Normal: Without this feat, using the Whirlwind Attack feat requires a full attack action, and the character can take a 5-foot step between any two of the attacks.



I just want to make sure I'm reading this right. With this feat, if I have a +20 BAB, I can attack every body in range once for every 5 points of BAB I have, but at a -4 penalty.

So if I'm an Epic Hill Giant with a Spiked Chain and qualified for this feat, I could hit everyone within 20 feet at +16/+11/+6/+1 (only modified by the -4 from the feat).

If this is true, this is a truly epic feat! I just want to make sure I get it right before I unleash it on my players.

For the record, it will be a Huge Advanced Cornugon with a Spiked Chain. 30 foot reach, hit everything at +28/+23/+18/+13 for 3d6+21 damage, and a save vs Stun DC 34. Pretty nasty even for a CR 20 creature.

 

[dcollins]

Benefit: As a standard action, the character can make one melee attack for every five points of his or her base attack bonus (including epic attack bonus, round fractions down).

The character cannot attack any one opponent more than once as part of this action. These attacks (as well as all other attacks made until the start of the character’s next turn) suffer a -4 penalty.

No, that reads quite differently to me. It doesn't say "one melee attack per 5 points against each opponent", it just says "one melee attack per 5 points", period, the end.

The giant doesn't get +16/+11/+6/+1 against each opponent, he just gets +16 against each opponent (up to 4). The advantage appears to be that it's a standard action, so he can move into position and still accomplish this in the same round.

 

[Kemrain]

Your Cornugon would get to make 1 attack at +28 against any 5 opponents within 30 ft, and move it's speed before or after it did. That's pretty crazy. Limited use, but an awsome feat!

- Kemrain the Whirlwinded.

 

[daTim]

Hmm, that seems to make more sense, but does not seem too epic. Thanks for the insight!

 

[drnuncheon]

I just want to make sure I'm reading this right. With this feat, if I have a +20 BAB, I can attack every body in range once for every 5 points of BAB I have, but at a -4 penalty.

Nnno. You can make 4 attacks on single individuals at -4 penalty. That is to say, if your normal attack bonus is +30, you can make 4 attacks on 4 individuals at +26 each (rather than, say, 4 attacks on 1 individual at +30/25/20/15).

J

 

[Taren Seeker]

The designers think WAY too highly of Whirlwind Attack. This feat is...not very impressive. There are still a few classes that can WW as a standard aren't there?

 

[Aust Diamondew]

The current epic level version of Whirl Wind Attack sucks. IMC I've house ruled it so it reads as follows (I based this version off of an ability of the same name from the Oriental Adventure's PRC, the weapon master):

You can make a whirlwind attack as a standard action (instead of a fullround action).

This beefs it up a little. Allowing you to hit every one around you and at no penalty as opposed to about half a dozen guys around you at a penalty.