Is Spring Attack worth it?

[Sir Brennen]

It also seems like Mobility loses a lot of its usefulness once you get Spring Attack.

Spring Attack only lets you ignore the AoO from your target, not all the mooks surrounding him. So it's still very useful, as most fights involve multiple opponents, especially at higher levels.

I'm using the feat to good effect with a dwarven scout (hey, don't laugh; he get's +4 stability bonus vs. the Trip attacks everyone says fouls Spring Attackers). His strategic options go up alot, whether he's purposefully drawing AoO's so the cleric with low Concentration can get off spells in threatened areas, or attacking target A, then moving to shield the wizard from mook B. Being able to run a complete circle around a target for extra skirmish damage and no AoO doesn't hurt, either.

 

[BadMojo]

Yes, because Spring Attack is cool but so is the feat after it.

Whirlwind Attack? That one does have a special place in my heart. I actually just posted about it in the thread about Duskblades and arcane channeling. Still, who can resist the sheer, broken glee of Leap Attack.

 

[Machiavelli]

Like most of the supposedly "broken" rules, Leap Attack isn't broken, it's just very fragile.

The trouble with Whirlwind Attack is that is completely hijacks your round when you use it, so your options for enhancing what you can do in a single round almost universally don't apply to Whirlwind Attack. It's one of the non-fragile feats.

 

[Delta]

I'm wondering if the spring attack feat chain is really worth the 3 feats to a non-fighter (melee focused ranger) as this is a big investment for a character that does not get as many feats as a fighter. How effective is this for the most part?

My experience when I took it with a fighter is the same as Frank says above. If you're in a standard PC party, you want your fighter-type in the monster's face, protecting the rest of the party. Using Spring Attack protects your fighter and increases the threat to everyone else, freeing up the monster and restricting other party movements.

For a sole NPC villain, or a one-shot type like a rogue, it's more to the point.

 

[Felix]

Still, who can resist the sheer, broken glee of Leap Attack.

But that the attack has to follow all the rules for a charge, which would disallow movement away from the target after you've hit him.

And the feat is just fine if it turns two-handed PA damage into x3 instead of x4. Despite the writer's intent and further WotC clarifications.

 

[EyeontheMountain]

I really do think SPring atack is a worthwhile option, especially if you are going for the one big hit mechanic, other than flurry of littler hits mechanic. I especially like it with a psychic warrior as the touch attack on a hit feat will allow you to easily spend all your BAB on extra damage. Pretty nice.

 

[frankthedm]

For a sole NPC villain, or a one-shot type like a rogue, it's more to the point.

It is also good for critters with improved grab since that monster ability is a free action to activate after an attack and the monster can move while it is using improved grab on a victim.

This is called the "Eat and Run" technique.

 

[Mistwell]

I am hoping to find it a very useful feat for my reach-weapon wielding rogue. Move to flank, hit for sneak attack damage, move back behind the front rank. Tumble when necessary, and +4 to AC if tumble fails. Cast expeditious retreat on self using Use Magic Device. Should work out well.

 

[Darklone]

I am hoping to find it a very useful feat for my reach-weapon wielding rogue. Move to flank, hit for sneak attack damage, move back behind the front rank. Tumble when necessary, and +4 to AC if tumble fails. Cast expeditious retreat on self using Use Magic Device. Should work out well.

The tactic rocks as long as your tank lives, but: Try to get some ability to get up from prone... Are there official feats out there ATM?

 

[Mistwell]

The tactic rocks as long as your tank lives, but: Try to get some ability to get up from prone... Are there official feats out there ATM?

Yeah, there is a feat to get up as a free action I believe...but I am not too worried about it.