New SWSE Feat: Improved Coordinated Attack

[FreeXenon]

Improved Coordinated Attack
Requirements: BAB +4, Burst Shot, Coordinated Attack, Heavy Weapons Proficiency
Benefit: You may Aid Another's Attack or Suppress all in your 4 square Area of Affect when Auto-Firing instead of a normal area of affect attack for damage.
Normal: You may only Aid Another or Suppress one target.

What are your thoughts on this proposed feat? I do not have my book handy and have not had a lot of time to read the rules. Any comments of balance, wording, its name, or anything else is appreciated.

This seems like a natural progression for a character that wants to run auto-fire all of the time.

 

[Nifft]

Looks fine to me, and it's a nice way of modeling a "killzone" where multiple heavy weapons have overlapping fields of fire. Like, if there are 10 E-Web cannons pointed at you, you will get hit.

Cheers, -- N

 

[FreeXenon]

Improved Coordinated Attack
Requirements: BAB +4, Burst Shot, Coordinated Attack, Heavy Weapons Proficiency, 7 ranks of Knowledge (Tactics)

Benefit: You may use the Aid Another's Attack or Suppress actions to all in your Area of Affect when Auto-Firing instead of a normal area of affect attack for damage.

Normal: You may only Aid Another or Suppress a single target.

Question
I am a little worried because Coordinated Attack makes the Aid Another's Attack and Suppress actions automatically successful. With this new feat these two actions will be automatic against everyone in the area of effect. Perhaps that is too much?

I am also not sure how the Aid Another's Attack will work in the AoE. I am thinking that all attacks verses people in the AoE will be Aided, but I do not think this may be correct by taking a closer look at the rules. I also worry that this single usage might be too powerful even with the Prereq's as they are.

What do ya think? :\

Perhaps I should split them up into two different feats: one for Suppress and one for Aiding Another? Am I worrying too much?

Or perhaps I could have it so that one target in the AoE is Auto Affected as per the Coordinated Attack feat and the rest you have to roll for. Then I could create another feat that made it Auto successful in the AoE.

 

[Nifft]

7 ranks of Knowledge (Tactics)

Ranks?!

-- N

 

[FreeXenon]

Ranks?!

My Bad! Your right. Something like Knowledge (Tactics) Trained?
Is there a precedent for using skills as a prereq for other feats like this or am I looney?

 

[Nifft]

I don't really see the necessity of Burst Fire or Coordinated Attack, or even of Heavy Weapon Proficiency -- you can do autofire with an assault rifle, after all.

As to mechanics, just say that Aid Another reduces the Reflex defense of everyone in the area of attack by -2, and Suppress imposes a -2 attack penalty on everyone in the area. Coordinated Attack will benefit those who take this feat since they'll automatically succeed, but it could be optional.

IMHO, prereqs could be: Weapon Proficiency (Heavy Weapons), BAB +2, Trained in Knowledge (tactics)

Then it's similar to Burst Fire but also different.

Cheers, -- N

 

[FreeXenon]

HW is there as a BF just prereq.

BF is there to show a great amount of control with Auto-Fire weapons. They have the control and training to be able to utilize Burst Fire instead of just randomly spraying light around like a crazed mad man.

CA is there to show specialized training in Suppressing and Aiding.

With the training that the previous 2 feats imply + Knowledge (Tactics) one should be able to focus their fire to be able Aid and Suppress efficiently over a larger area. That is what I am thinking, at least.


I like your implementation though... Hmmmmm....

Perhaps I should make it its own action instead building on Suppress and Aid Another, like Burst Fire is. Make it similar, but different. Howz the following sound which effectively combines the Aid Another action and Suppress into once action and applies it as an area of affect:

Cover Fire
Requirements: Weapon Proficiency (Heavy Weapons), Coordinated Attack, BAB +4, Trained in Knowledge (Tactics)

Description: Instead of Auto-Firing into an area of affect for damage you may choose to provide Cover Fire instead.

Benefit: All creatures successfully subject to your Cover Fire attempt, which follows the rules for Auto-Firing, suffer a -2 to Reflex Saves and a -4 To Hit until your next turn instead of taking full damage. If they would take half damage from your Cover Fire attempt they receive a -2 To Hit and to Reflex Saves, and no penalties on a miss.

Normal: When Auto-Firing you may only cause damage to those in your area affect.

 

[Nifft]

Doesn't Burst Fire also have a Strength prereq, though? I don't know if you want to require that.

Cheers, -- N

 

[FreeXenon]

I am not sure, but that does sound familiar (like Str 13?). I will have to add that if that is the case.

What do you think about it so far?

Thanks again Nifft!

I also had an idea for something like this as a feat or talent

Auto-Fire Specialist (or something): When Auto-Firing you gain a +2 to your attack roll and your Auto-Fire AoE is increased by one square.

 

[Nifft]

13 Strength, that's right.

Okay, I see why you'd use Burst Fire as a prereq, but I'd drop Coordinated Attack -- the synergy is great, so there's really no need to force it.

Cheers, -- N