Jonathan Tweet denounces Power Attack

[Wisdom Penalty]

I'm with Tweet.

Me too.

 

[Abstraction]

Forgive my ignorance. The designer of Power Attack denounced it as a sloppy feat. Is he on the 4E rules design team? If he isn't, then it's just conjecture as to whether power attack is in or out.

 

[Kraydak]

I have to agree with Tweet on Power Attack; it's a bit too good a feat in the first place (I don't think I've seen a single fighter without Power Attack!), and the "sliding scale" thing complicates things in the middle of the fight, as people start calculating how hard they dare to PA and still hope to hit.

Bah, PA is weak (without multiplier increasing abilities, even 2H PA is usually not worth it). The sliding scale is needed to make it a non-catastrophic choice. (the range where PA is useful is narrow, and the payoffs are marginal... you need the sliding scale to be able to actually get any advantage out of it)

Admittedly, part of the problem with PA is that iterative attacks have low hit chances, and so are *extremely* vulnerable to PA. Shifting away from iterative attacks can raise PA's value substantially, making statements about what PA should look like in 4e... silly as things stand.

 

[JohnSnow]

:: sniff ::

:: cry ::

:: pout ::

I will miss power attack because, it was like the only way to make my swashbuckler deal any real damage... (High dex turns into + to damage when using a rapier)

Umm, not to belittle your feelings, but that sounds like a bug to me. Power attacking with a rapier just seems wrong... :\

 

[sidonunspa]

I have to agree with Tweet on Power Attack; it's a bit too good a feat in the first place (I don't think I've seen a single fighter without Power Attack!), and the "sliding scale" thing complicates things in the middle of the fight, as people start calculating how hard they dare to PA and still hope to hit.

ya but it was the only way for some fighters to = out the damage output of casters...

I always thought that was the purpose of the feat

 

[BadMojo]

It was a riveting experience.

That sounds a little to fast paced for me. I got a little out of breath just reading about it.

 

[blargney the second]

It's a useful feat, but deceptive in application. Here's how it should have been written.

Power Attack [Math Intensive]
Prerequisite: Str 13, player with very strong math skills.
Benefit: Spend each round doing calculus. If you're right, win the game.
-blarg

 

[TerraDave]

I am surprised by this. Even knowing that JoT can be a little tongue-in-cheek, I am surprised.

I see Power Attack as the signature feat of 3ed. It wasn't a 2nd ed carryovers , like blind fighting or weapon specialisation. It saw a lot of use in play (the list of feats used less is a long one). It, and variations on it, was popular in OGL games, where it was also used in play. Power attacks slightly wonky nature just added to its 3rd editioness. This feat was what 3rd ed was all about.

And know its been kicked to the curve by its maker.

Yes, surprised. But at this point, I guess I shouldn't be.

 

[Jedi_Solo]

With our group it was (almost) always used in sets of five... or for full.

I won't be too heartbroken to see it go.

 

[Merlin the Tuna]

I will miss power attack because, it was like the only way to make my swashbuckler deal any real damage... (High dex turns into + to damage when using a rapier)

Warblade + Diamond Mind is how manly men make swashbucklers, just so you know.