Is Spring Attack worth it?

[Joshua Randall]

I think Spring Attack is very good for the other warrior-type in a group of PCs. This could mean a melee-oriented rogue in a standard group of 4 PCs, or it could mean a fighter as the 5th character in a group of 5 PCs.

The Spring Attacker can use it to protect the soft parts of the group (the mages and to a lesser extent the divine casters) while still getting to do some damage.

For example, suppose the Spring Attacker is occupying a crucial square that prevents a big enemy from charging the mage and squishing him. But, there's another enemy a few squares away. With Spring Attack, the character can spring over to the second enemy, attack, then spring back into position to block the charge from the big enemy.

Spring Attack can also be useful for a skirmisher type of character whose goal is to close with the enemy and wreak havok in their ranks. There's nothing that says you have to spring back to where you were -- you can move forward 3 squares, attack someone, and then move forward another 3 squares. Meanwhile, the tank fighter in your group closes with the target you just attacked (moving only 4 squares total, most likely) to keep the enemy engaged while you continue springing about.

I don't know if Spring Attack is mathematically a powerful feat, but it gives you more options, and to me that is what I enjoy the most about D&D combat. Standing in a square trading full attacks is deadly dull -- Spring Attacking is interesting.

 

[axp_dave]

I can't agree enough with everyone that Sprint Attack is not a great feat for anyone but a rogue or scout. I used it twice for two fighter's in 8 -11 th level range and it was a wasted use of a feat tree. It limits your armor (not a problem for a ranger), but with only one attack per round and not being in in the face of a monster to spread out the damage against the party it was a poor move per turn.

David

 

[Darklone]

I can't agree enough with everyone that Sprint Attack is not a great feat for anyone but a rogue or scout. I used it twice for two fighter's in 8 -11 th level range and it was a wasted use of a feat tree. It limits your armor (not a problem for a ranger), but with only one attack per round and not being in in the face of a monster to spread out the damage against the party it was a poor move per turn.

It's a very good feat for fighters to AVOID full attack actions of big bad ugly monsters who would rip a fighter of a level two higher than the monsters CR to pieces in two or three rounds.

 

[axp_dave]

It's a very good feat for fighters to AVOID full attack actions of big bad ugly monsters who would rip a fighter of a level two higher than the monsters CR to pieces in two or three rounds.

Good counter point, but how many times can this be used in a campaign? To use this strategy you almost need to move the whole party to keep the fighter between the backline casters and the monster. This might work well in a very long 5' wide corridor, but in a 30x30 room or open space the monster will get a chance to get to a mage or bypass the fighter.

David

 

[frankthedm]

It's a very good feat for fighters to AVOID full attack actions of big bad ugly monsters who would rip a fighter of a level two higher than the monsters CR to pieces in two or three rounds.

1. That Is supposed to happen! CRs are set based on having a party that works together! Even the BBEG need mooks in the d20 system! NPCs are physicly weaker than monsters because the moster does not have customized gear. The barbarian is the only class that should be rushing to attack the party out in the open. All other lone combatants have to harrass and drag combats out or strike at the soft underbelly. Potions of invisabilty and silence are cheap. The NPC fighter earns his CR by charging the wizard after drinking potions of invisabity, silence and enlarge person. He then introduces the wizard to a goodly number of the strongest feats currently allowed in the game.

2. Everything gets ripped apart in two or three rounds of combat in 3E. The only things that would not have such a short duration fight would be a fey and a bard dueling with banjos.

3. If the creature is that strong, letting someone else get attacked is still putting someone in the dead book.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

I've got a TWF Urban Ranger who also has Spring Attack, and I think it works reasonably well for me. My idea was to take my low-AC, relatively low-HP ranger out of the reach of big monsters, so that I could maintain survivability. I also have the option of standing in on a fight and taking a full set of attacks, so I've got some tactical choices. Next up on the feat chain will be either whirlwind attack or the feat from PHB2 that allows multiple attacks on a Spring Attack.

 

[Felix]

2. Everything gets ripped apart in two or three rounds of combat in 3E.

This is true of combats that start at close range and where combatants want to close to melee as quickly as possible and attack attack attack. It is not true of combats where one of the parties wishes to escape or disengage, or when non-lethal damage is preferred in order to capture, or when combatants, fearful of being hurt, use the terrain or spells to make if very difficult to hit, or even attack the individual.

Once you add the assumption that an opponent doesn't want to throw his life away, they become much more cautious, much harder to hit, and they take much longer to kill.

3. If the creature is that strong, letting someone else get attacked is still putting someone in the dead book.

Unless you are in a dungeon or elsewhere that movement is so restricted you can't get more than 30' away, it is possible as back-liners to distance yourself from the opponents to apply your spells. It's called, "Nuking the site from orbit, the only way to be sure."

 

[Darklone]

I've got a TWF Urban Ranger who also has Spring Attack, and I think it works reasonably well for me. My idea was to take my low-AC, relatively low-HP ranger out of the reach of big monsters, so that I could maintain survivability. I also have the option of standing in on a fight and taking a full set of attacks, so I've got some tactical choices. Next up on the feat chain will be either whirlwind attack or the feat from PHB2 that allows multiple attacks on a Spring Attack.

Dual Strike? That works with Spring attack? I don't think so.

On the topic of using Spring attack to avoid full attack actions: A fighter can still block the monsters access to his groups spellcasters, he simply stays 5ft out of reach by using Spring attack. Well, the monster might overrun him or try to get around...

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

Dual Strike? That works with Spring attack? I don't think so.

No, Bounding Assault...

 

[Plane Sailing]

For a TWF ranger - probably not.

Although it is a great item in any fighters repetoire - for use when facing any creature that has a nastier full attack than you (and/or reach). Fighters that try to take on giants or dragons 1 on 1 without spring attack get wiped in my experience.

Of course, buddies tend to call it the 'leave me in the lurch' feat...