PHB2 general feats review (heroic tier)

[Lauberfen]

Let's move on from the insanity or not of banning feats wholesale, and discuss feats
which are awesome.

Distant advantage is very cool, and makes great sense (someone distracted by two allies will be more vulnerable than someone who knows he's got a rogue standing behind them).

Melee training is generally cool and moderately useful. It will mean My rogue can charge effectively, or utilise commanders strike. It could also lead to silliness.

Improved majestic word is cool, perhaps a little too good. Temporary hit points make more sense thasn healing for a bard.

 

[Obryn]

I can see only allowing it for Dex, Int and Wis.

Charisma: My sword really likes me, so it swings better.

Constitution: I'm healthier/more durable than my sword and it respects that.

So neither of the other explanations works for you?

"I practiced really hard, drank my milk, and ate my wheaties, and now I can hit with swords as well as I can my smites/blasts"

"I can use my divine/arcane/pact energy/mojo to lend power to my basic melee attacks, and make it more likely I hit hard."



-O

 

[blargney the second]

There's a problem with [Distant Advantage] that nobody seems to be noticing yet: It makes it easier to flank with a ranged weapon than with a melee weapon.

Now, I understand the feat. You can't actually flank at range with this feat- but you DO gain combat advantage against a flanked foe, no matter where you are in regards to the enemy and your allies. If you were in melee, however, if your enemy is medium-sized, and two allies are on opposite sides of the enemy, it's going to be impossible for you to flank without another ally. And yet the ranger can be sitting in the back getting CA all he wants.

Anyone else notice this?

Hell yeah, I noticed it! We just levelled up and my girlfriend's artful dodger rogue is fully planning on exploiting it!

If the fighter is flanking a baddie with the party's other rogue, she's intending to walk right up and used ranged attacks to deliberately provoke OAs. All three PCs are adjacent to the target and gaining combat advantage, and the fighter is likely going to get an extra whack or two in from his mark. Good stuff all around.
-blarg

 

[Doctor Proctor]

Yeah, one of the "explanations" for CON, if you need one, has to do with endurance. Remember, attacks in a round can just as easily be thought of as a flurry of several attacks over the course of your, with one of them connecting. In case of someone who takes Melee Training: CON, it could be thought of as someone who attacks so many times that they tire out the other guy, causing him to drop his guard.

The same works for DEX actually, except that it's perhaps a flurry of attacks that's so fast that some get through and hurt the guy.

As for the CHA one, I think Obryn hit the nail on the head. The only people who would usually go Melee Training:CHA would be Chaladins, Bards, Warlocks and Sorcerers, as that's their primary stat. Since they're already to an extent channeling something to help them attack, this feat would just represent them channeling that power for basic melee attacks, instead of just their class attacks. It's not that much of a stretch, and it's definitely not "I'm so good looking, I hit you."

 

[Minigiant]

I've been waiting for Melee training. You use your best natural abililty to increase o melee basic attack. I love it.

Str: Muscle power (I'm strong. I can swing hard and fast.)
Con: Stamina (I can attack with all my might ALL DAY and never tire. Hold back? Pbbt)
Dex: Muscle Control (I aim for your heart. If'n you don't parry my attack, I'm gonna hit your heart. I don't miss)
Int: Combat Wit (I see that when you attack, your recovery to a defensive position is slow. You leave yourself open)
Wis: Combat sight (The left side or your armor is open when you swing)
Cha: Unpredictablity/courage (ROAR!)

Distant advantage is very nice. Crossbow SA shots to people who don't have time to pay attention to you.

Imp Grab and Bullrush I like but I'd prefer if they scaled by tier. +2/+4/+6.

 

[Danceofmasks]

"I'm so good looking, I hit you."

But that's so awesome!
Fabio flicks hair, spontaneous sparkles and background music distracts, Fabio slashes.

 

[Doctor Proctor]

But that's so awesome!
Fabio flicks hair, spontaneous sparkles and background music distracts, Fabio slashes.

While some of the other posters find it cheesy, I do think it would be funny to think of it that way. Like some Orc is charging at the Wizard and as he's going by the Paladin he takes of his helmet and flashes his pearly whites at the Orc. He's so distracted by how attractive this particular human is, and what nice teeth he has, that he literally runs right into his outstretched axe.

 

[Garthanos]

"I can use my divine/arcane/pact energy/mojo to lend power to my basic melee attacks, and make it more likely I hit hard."
-O

Charisma - is your connection to the divine (it literally means gifts from god), the divine is all about guiding people so ofcourse it lends your attack accuracy if you let it .. and the power of your emotional spirit... in Karate you learn you have to use spirit to lend true strength to your attacks and Charisma as the second half of will power is definitely about spirit.

 

[Danceofmasks]

He's so distracted by how attractive this particular human is, and what nice teeth he has, that he literally runs right into his outstretched axe.

Orcs might consider showing teeth a sign of aggression, but yeah .. that's hilarious.

 

[Runestar]

Now, that is a very interesting observation.

Since I'm starting new PCs at level 7 or 8 nowadays, I'll keep that in mind!

-O

The temp hp only works against physical attacks, IIRC.

So if you want to gimp the rager, simply use bursts or blasts (neither of which trigger the temp hp) or tack on the status effects (which bypass hp altogether).