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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jgsugden" data-source="post: 4722608" data-attributes="member: 2629">This is a very well balanced feat in my book. When you really look at it, it turns the basic attacks of creatures that have insignificant basic attacks into a balanced basic attack that has some utility.I have a dwarven invoker of 4th level. He has this feat, as well as dwarven weapon training and a +1 craghammer. He spent two of his three feats to have a basic attack that does 1d10+8 damage. He has a strength of 10, and a wisdom of 20. If he wasn't using the craghammer in melee, his ranged attack does 1d10+6 radiant or 1d10+9 radiant if there is a bloodied ally next to the target. The damage is pretty in line - especially when you consider I gave up 2 feats to be able to do it.I consider this to pretty much be the situation where one is getting the most bang out of the feat. The odd thing that occurs here is that my invoker with a hammer that used two feats is now attacking enemies slightly better when using a baisc attack than a fighter of his level (as the fighter will focus on strength to suit his encounter/daily powers, and can't get a strength as high as the invoker's wisdom).  If it were up to me, I might have made the feat say that you can use strength, consitution or dexterity in the place of strength in at-will attacks (including basic attacks). That would have shifted the utility a bit, making it far more useful for half-elves that want to get defender powers with dilettante. Regardless: When has this dwarven invoker been using this attack? #1: When it is more fun for a dwarf to whack something with a hammer than to hit a target with a spell. I enjoy playing this character as a bit rash, and smiting with a hammer is a bit more fun against a traditional racial enemy like an orc than smiting the orc with a beam of light.#2: When the party's paladin (multiclassed to warlord) grants a melee attack. I give him one more suitable ally to provide a partner for hammer and anvil. Having that extra option makes it easier to use that power, and I think it is good to make powers useful. If a player has an encounter power that they have trouble using almosty every encounter, I think that is kind of boring.#3: I occasionally use it as part of a charge to help set me up for better positioning to use a close power. This will be a more common tactic for me when I get to retrain my first level power to Astral Terror - I am looking forward to charging into the midst of enemies, dealiing a thwack with my hammer against a leader/elite, and then using an action point to drive those enemies out of position with Astral Terror. In the end, I think this feat opens up a lot of doors to allow PCs to make additional types of balanced attacks. In my book, that is just a lot of fun. And if you're still not convinced: In most situations, a character with a high strength, low constitution and the toughness feat is comporable to a character with a high constitution, low strength and this feat when you speak of basic attacks - but the high strength guy gets a bunch of other advantages.</blockquote>

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