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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Elder-Basilisk" data-source="post: 455249" data-attributes="member: 3146">Rapid reload has its uses--just not for PCs.For PCs, even a low strength rogue who uses ranged sneak attacks to deal damage wouldn't find this a useful feat. By the time the rogue is eligable for it the rogue could have point blank shot and rapid shot instead. Since most of the rogue's damage will come from sneak attack, even in a worst case scenario, he is better off with a short bowRapid reload: 3 attacks every 2 rounds. 1d8+2d6 sneak attack: average damage per round (assuming all hit)= 17.25Rapid shot: 4 attacks every 2 rounds. 1d6-4 (Strength of 3)+1 (point blank shot)+2d6 (sneak attack):average damage per round (assuming all hit)=18+If the rogue has a strength higher than 3 or is level 5+, the difference will become even more dramatic. Give the rogue enough levels to have iterative attacks and rapid reload is an even worse deal.Of course, the PC could do even better (assuming that he probably will get the archery feats anyway) by spending the feat on repeating crossbow proficiency. That way, he'll get better damage dice, negate the strength penalty and still get multiple attacks.The feat isn't completely useless though. It has good utility as an NPC feat. A squad of crack crossbowmen (human War 3 or Ftr 2)could be a viable military force and use rapid reload to fire their heavy crossbows every round. Although they would not be effective as effective as longbow archers in a battlefield confrontation, they would get more milage out of every shot and hence would probably be more effective siege troops. More importantly, even if they weren't as effective as longbow troops, they would still be effective enough to be useful.For that matter, it would be a good feat to give to members of a town militia. A human exp 3 could take the rapid reload feat and fire their heavy crossbow every round. That would be superior to an expert who was simply proficient in the longbow as the crossbow has superior range, deals more damage and costs less. Lack of mobility probably isn't an issue for a militia primarily concerned with defending the walls of its town either.Since NPCs generally don't advance at the same rate as PCs and may not care to devote too much attention to combat, rapid reload is a good feat for the common NPC but an almost completely worthless feat for any PC.</blockquote>

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