Power Attack Chain

[Vrecknidj]

After some thought, I've decided that there's more fun to be had with Power Attack. I posted a similar feat some long time ago (I think), but I've decided that one feat that does all of this is too much. Comments appreciated.

Power Attack 2
Prerequisites: Power Attack, BAB +6
Benefit: You may choose to not use Power attack on your first attack, but then still use it on future attacks in the same full-round action. If you do not use Power Attack on your first attack in a full-round action, you may use it on successive ones, using the normal limitation (i.e. your second and future attacks this round, including attacks of opportunity, are made with the same reduction). If you have three or more attacks, you may forego using Power Attacks on any number of attacks before using it on your remaining attacks. You may not, however, use this feat to use Power Attack on an attack and then revert to attacking normally on a successive attack.

Power Attack 3
Prerequisites: Power Attack, Power Attack 2, BAB +11
Benefit: You may choose which of your attacks use Power Attack and which do not. Any of your attacks in a full-round action can use or not use Power Attack. However, any of your attacks that do use Power Attack do so at the same modifier.
Example: Samson is a 16th level fighter in combat with two demons. On his first attack against one demon, he uses Power Attack to reduce his attack bonus by 5; he succeeds in dropping the demon. After his Cleave attack on the second demon, that enemy still stands. On his second attack and third attack out of his normal sequence of attacks, he does not use Power Attack; he hits once but does not drop the foe. On his fourth attack, he chooses to use Power Attack again, but must do so at the -5 attack penalty from his previous use of Power Attack this round.
Special: If you are granted an attack of opportunity, you must use your current adjustment (i.e. if you finished your attacks with a Power Attack, the same penalty will apply to your attack of opportunity if you’re granted one before your next action).

Power Attack 4
Prerequisites: Power Attack, Power Attack 2, Power Attack 3, BAB +16
Benefit: You may choose which of your attacks use Power Attack and which do not, and you may choose the amount of penalty to apply to your attacks on an attack-by-attack basis (including any attacks of opportunity you may take).

 

[pbd]

I just can't really see the benfit in taking multiple feats for this; it doesn't really provide somehting useful until you get to the third one.

I can't see wanting to use power attack on my iterative attack, but not on my highest BAB attack (What PA 2 gives) ; and it just takes too many feats to get to being able to use it on the first attack, but not the others.

Sorry, my $0.02
pbd

 

[CRGreathouse]

Won't you PA2 just lead to people Power attacking for everything on the third & fourth iteratives?

 

[Vrecknidj]

Thanks for the responses. After thinking about it, there are too many feats in the chain (at first I felt the final link was too powerful to have with fewer links). I also realize that people will just Power Attack away on their last attacks since they'll probably miss anyway. But, there's a way to change this . . . .

I haven't run through all the options yet, but I'm thinking of a feat that allows variation within the iterative attacks. For example, someone with a +11 BAB and this new feat (Power Attack Specialist?) could do any of these.

A) Power Attack normally, at maximum Power, at -11, -11, -11 on the three rolls (for totals of +0, -5, -10).
B) Power Attack normally again, anywhere up to that (such as -4, -4, -4 for +7, +2, -3).
C) Power Attack with this new feat, at -11, -6, -1 on the three rolls (for totals of +0, +0, +0). The damage would be corresponding (i.e. +11, +6, +1), but this would give the player the option.
D) Power Attack with this new feat, anywhere up to those. For example, since his normal BAB sequence is +11/+6/+1, he could do -5, -5, -1 or -7, -4, -0, or whatever, so long as the first is less than 12, the second is less than 7, and the third is less than 2.

Dave

 

[Sammael]

I liked your ideas, but not the execution, so I thought I'd give it a shot:

Adaptable Power Attack
You know when and how to forego precision in order to deal powerful blows.
Prerequisites: Str 13, Int 13, base attack bonus +6, Combat Expertise, Power Attack.
Benefit: When you use the Power Attack feat, you can change the penalty for each attack during a full attack action. The penalty on iterative attacks must be at least one-half the penalty you took on the first attack (rounded up). For example, a fighter who takes a -5 penalty on his first attack must take a -3 (or greater) penalty on his subsequent attacks. The penalty taken on the last attack persists until your next turn (along with the bonus on damage rolls).

Reactive Power Attack
You know how to react to any combat opportunity with exceptional power.
Prerequisites: Str 13, Int 13, base attack bonus +11, Adaptable Power Attack, Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Power Attack.
Benefit: You can use the Power Attack feat as an immediate action. This allows you to apply the penalty on an attack of opportunity, rather than on your action.
Additionally, you can cease using Power Attack as a free action.

 

[Jdvn1]

The bonus and penalty from Power Attack lasts until the start of the next round, ie it affects AoO's. If you're changing from attack to attack, do you use the penalty for AoO's?

 

[Sammael]

The point of Reactive Power Attack is to be able to "turn off" the bonus and penalty at any time during the character's action (since it is a free action), so, yes, the benefit and penalty can be eliminated for AoOs. I feel that this is not unreasonable for a level 11+ character that had to invest in a number of very diverse feats.