Opinions on a feat

[Olive]

As I was lying in bed this mornign i had a feat idea. The book I was reading mentioned a person who had an affinity for horses...i was wondering whether or not there could be a specialized skill focus style feat for animal handling where you chose an animal type. If you're house ruling skill focus to +3 like lots of people are (myself included) then it would be +4.

or maybe you could have an 'animal affinity' feat where you chose an animal type (equines, canines or whatever) and it gave you a +2 on skill checks to do with those creatures?

what do people think?

 

[Crothian]

Combat casting is a bonus to concentration checks, but only under specific conditions and it grants a +4 bonus.

For this, I'd be tempted to add +4 to Animal Empathy and Animal Handling for horses or any other specific animal.

Out of curiosity are you reading one of the Serpant War Saga by Raymond E Fiest?

 

[wolfpunk]

Ok well I would think that this idea would offer iteself a couple of ways to develop. First of all would be an alertness type feat that would grant a +2 bonus to Handle Animal and Animal Empathy.

But Animal Empathy is a class exclusive skill, I dont know if we want to downplay the ranger and druid classes by doing that.

A concetration based feat could be a good solution.

Animal Intuitiveness,
You are inherrently aware of how an animal will react to a situation.
Benefit: Choose a specific type of animal, you gain a +4 bonus to all Handle Animal and Ride checks when dealing with animals of this type.

 

[Crothian]

You could still have it apply to Animal Empthy. If you have no ranks in the skill, you can't use it anyway.

 

[wolfpunk]

Well perhaps we could have the alertness one affect three skills, ride, handle animal and animal empathy

We dont want it to be handle animal and animal empathy if they are going to be able to use animal empathy, a feat for a +2 to one skill can already be done with skill focus.

 

[Crothian]

Animal Intuitiveness (to steal your name): You have an natural understanding with a certain kind of animal.
Benefit: You gain +2 to Animal Empathy, Animal Handling, and Ride with an animal of your choice.
Special: THis feat may be taken more then once. It's effects do not stack, each time select a new animal.

Edit: Oops, wierd mistake.....

 

[wolfpunk]

Crothian posted,
Animal Intuitiveness (to steal your name): You have an natural understanding with a certain understanding.
Benefit: You gain +2 to Animal Empathy, Animal Handling, and Ride with an animal of your choice.
Special: THis feat may be taken more then once. It's effects do not stack, each time select a new animal.

I am assuming you meant, you have a natural understanding with a certain type of animal.

I think that is a good feat right there.

 

[Malin Genie]

I like the general idea of 'specialist' Feats, that give higher bonuses, but in restricted circumstances. +4 to one skill or +2 to three skills seems about right (maybe +3 to two skills?)

 

[Crothian]

I like the general idea of 'specialist' Feats, that give higher bonuses, but in restricted circumstances. +4 to one skill or +2 to three skills seems about right (maybe +3 to two skills?)

I think that is a nice general guideline. Right now I'm of amixed mind. Allowing skills to get high at early levels really helps out the character as he can do things practically automatically. On the other hand, with ELH coming out and really high DCs for skills being defined, I'd like to see some character's be able to do them.

I too like the specialized feats. I think they addd more character to the character. But since they are situational, they need to be powerful to balance out. I also think certain skills should not have "specialized feats". Spot, listen, move silently, hide, tumble, open lock, search, and disarm device are some of the better skills and I fear would be too easily abused if "Specialized feats" were created for them.

Other tyopes of specialized feats:
Decipher script: Specialize in deciphering certain language tree
Diplomancy: Specialize with dealing with certain race or social class of people
Knowledge: Specialize in more specific area of the knowledge skill
Perform: Specialize in one perform sub type

 

[Psychotic Dreamer]

Diplomancy: Specialize with dealing with certain race or social class of people

I have thought in the past that Diplomacy should maybe be handled more like Knowledge, Craft and Profession skills. Since being diplomatic with Dwarves and being diplomatic with Drow are two very different styles.

Just a thought I've had from time to time.