more than one dodge buddy?

[evilbob]

By your own logic it's superfluous.

True - but still not conclusive.

Don't get me wrong here - there is a good, clear implication that feats cannot be taken more than once unless otherwise noted, but there's just no specific wording that says exactly that. In fact, the only specific wording that exists could be construed to imply the opposite. Hence the possibility of the theory.

(On the whole, however, I'd say this discussion has certainly flavored my personal opinion that dodge can probably only be taken once.)

 

[Hypersmurf]

Feats are not only able to be taken once unless otherwise noted; all dodge bonuses stack. Ergo, you could take dodge more than once to gain a +2 dodge bonus since it is not expressly forbidden in the feat's description.

Even if you allow the feat to be taken twice, it would be an exception to the rule that Dodge bonuses stack.

"If a character has the same feat more than once, its benefits do not stack unless indicated otherwise in the description."

The Dodge feat does not 'indicate otherwise'; therefore its benefits (applying a +1 Dodge bonus to one opponent) do not stack. No matter how many times you have the Dodge feat, its benefits do not stack; you can still only apply a +1 Dodge bonus to one opponent.

-Hyp.

 

[evilbob]

Good point, except for the rule that all dodge bonuses stack with any other bonuses. Thus, it would be acceptable to assume that even though it was not specfically mentioned that the dodge bonus from the dodge feat stacked, the dodge bonus gained from anything would stack with all other dodge bonuses (especially since "in the description," it describes the bonus as a "dodge" bonus.).

This is all really just nitty-gritty, hypothetical posturing at this point, though.

 

[Nail]

..but fun "nitty-gritty, hypothetical posturing". Keep at it! (I had never considered the Dodge feat to be any good at all. But with this wacky interp.......oh wait. It still sucks.)

 

[Hypersmurf]

Good point, except for the rule that all dodge bonuses stack with any other bonuses. Thus, it would be acceptable to assume that even though it was not specfically mentioned that the dodge bonus from the dodge feat stacked, the dodge bonus gained from anything would stack with all other dodge bonuses (especially since "in the description," it describes the bonus as a "dodge" bonus.).

Hmm... if it just called it a Dodge bonus and left it at that, I'd disagree, since the indication that Dodge bonuses stack would not be 'in the description'.

However, the Dodge feat actually specifically reiterates the rule that Dodge bonuses stack with each other in the description.

I still see no support for multiple instances of the Dodge feat allowing you to apply the bonus to more than one opponent, but I concede that if a character somehow ends up with the Dodge feat more than once, the feat does 'indicate otherwise' on the viability of stacking the bonus.

-Hyp.

 

[ForceUser]

To veer from the debate for a moment and answer the OP: yes, I have seen a feat or class ability that allows a PC to dodge more than one foe in a single round. It's called parry, and it belongs to the unfettered class from Monte Cook's Arcana Evolved. Parry works exactly like Dodge, except that the unfettered adds his Int bonus as a dodge bonus to his AC vs. one foe in a round. Combining parry and Dodge, an unfettered character can "dodge" two foes per round: one with parry, and one with Dodge. Or you can stack them on a single foe. Furthermore, I forget what it's called, but in an Arcana Evolved supplement called Transcendence: the Arcana Evolved Player's Companion, there is a feat for unfettered characters that increases the number of foes an unfettered may parry in a single round from one to three. So there you go.

Okay, back to the egoistic nit-picking!

 

[ForceUser]

..but fun "nitty-gritty, hypothetical posturing". Keep at it! (I had never considered the Dodge feat to be any good at all. But with this wacky interp.......oh wait. It still sucks.)

Yeah, but Mobility rocks. Oh, how it rocks.

"La dee dah, watch me traipse around the battlefield intentionally triggering AoOs to safeguard my companions because I know you can't hit my 29 AC except on a natural 20, fa la la..."

 

[Storyteller01]

To the original poster:


I know this is a house rule, be we developed this martial arts style for more mobility based fun:

Aikido

You have mastered the art of pitting your opponents against themselves.

Requirements:
Dodge, Mobility, Improved Unarmed Combat, Improved Trip, Defensive Throw, Combat Reflexes

Bonus:
The amount of creatures that may safely come in contact with you (ie: occupy an adjacent square) is reduced by half. Should a character with this feat find themselves surrounded by more creatures than is safe (by accident or deliberate design), he may force excess creatures out of combat.

Mechanics:
With this martial arts style, a character may only be safely surrounded by half the usual amount of opponents. Example: a human monk may usually be safely surrounded by 8 Medium creatures. With this feat, that number is reduced to 4. Allies count against this total.

The character may choose a number of creatures equal to the amount above what is considered safe to make a Ref save (DC 10 + the characters Dex bonus + the number of surrounding creatures). Only opponents in an adjacent square may be forced to make this save. A successful save allows the creature to remain in combat for that round. On a failed save, the opponent must take a 5 foot step in any direction they choose, so long as the creature and chararcter are no longer in contact with one another. The creature may take no other action against said character for that round.

The character may force this save every time they are surrounded by more creatures than is safe. Different creatures may be chosen every save attempt.

This ability does not function if the character is Entangled, Held, grappled, or otherwise immobilized.



Essentially, reduce the amount of attacking opponents, then have fun with Defensive Throw... . It could work against larger critters in theory, but most have reach or occupy so many squares as to nullify this. What are the odds that two Huge or larger critters would get that close to one another?

 

[frankthedm]

I allow a greater dodge feat [Artful Dodger: pre req;dodge] that applies to all foes.

 

[ForceUser]

I allow a greater dodge feat [Artful Dodger: pre req;dodge] that applies to all foes.

Feh. I wouldn't burn two feats to pick up +1 AC.