Knowing your foes better than themselves.

[RangerWickett]

How's this look for a feat:

Style Opposition
You are skilled at defending against familiar combat styles.
Prerequisites: Dex 13, Int 13, Combat Expertise, Dodge.
Benefit: Once per turn, as you choose a defender your Dodge bonus applies to, you may also choose a feat you possess that has a prerequisite based on Strength, Dexterity, or Intelligence. As long as you threaten your declared Dodge target in melee, that creature acts as if it did not possess the chosen feat. However, any extant benefit the creature has already gained before your action this turn remains, and the creature does not lose access to feats it has that use the lost feat as a prerequisite.

For example, Leoval is battling Gregor. Leoval knows Gregor's style is very defensive, so he declares Gregor as his Dodge target, and chooses the feat Combat Expertise. Earlier this same turn, Gregor had used Combat Expertise to improve his AC by 5, and that bonus remains for the rest of this turn. However, on Gregor's next turn, he acts as if he does not have Combat Expertise. Gregor can still use Improved Disarm, though, even though it has Combat Expertise as a prerequisite.



The intent is to keep folks from using, say, Combat Expertise to block your attacks, or Cleave to get an extra attack against you. I'm wondering if it's too weak, too strong, or too complicated. Opinions?

 

[Brasswatchman]

Hmm. I dunno... let me think about it.

 

[Cheiromancer]

Is there a mechanic to determine if the opponent has or is using a particular feat?
__________________
[Highlight]Tales of Wyre: Compiled Sepulchrave Story Hour (updated 05-15)[/highlight]
and associated Rogue's Gallery (master list of links)

 

[Pyrex]

I like the idea, but your execution needs some work.

What about something like this?

Style Opposition:
Whenever an opponent within 30' that you can see declares the use of a feat on the Fighter feat list that you have make a Sense Motive check as an immediate action with a DC of 10+OpponentsBaB. If you succeed the benefits of that feat cannot be used against you. (i.e., an AOO granted by Combat Reflexes fails, you ignore an AC bonus from Combat Expertise, the opponent does not gain the usual damage bonus from Power Attack *against you*, etc)

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

RW: I like the concept...

Pyrex, this looks simple and workable, altho I would limit to one denial at a time.. perhaps requiring that opponent to be your dodge buddy.

Not sure about the Skill DC check tho. It seems a bit easy... but I like the extra use of Sense Motive in combat

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

How about implementing the rules for assessing an opponent's power relative to you with the sense motive skill, as detailed in Complete Adventurer? Allow a free action SM check (once per round?) if the opponent is using an applicable feat. In order to determine the feat, you must both: a) know it yourself; b) Have the SM check result narrow down the threat to only one category either by beating the opponent's bluff check by 10 or more, or automatically doing so on a success if you have the combat intuition feat (CAdv). "If both conditions are met, you may make use of the benefit of this feat."

I wonder though. Would the appropriate knowledge check allow you to know the typical melee feats a monster would have?