Power Attack offset

[Omegaxicor]

I am looking ahead to starting a new campaign. Is there any early way to offset the penalty to Hit with Power Attack, before Shock Trooper which requires level 6.

EDIT: I thought about Persist Spell but that requires level 7 spell slot, would that last 24 hours or until used; or 24 hours?

 

[xigbar]

I am looking ahead to starting a new campaign. Is there any early way to offset the penalty to Hit with Power Attack, before Shock Trooper which requires level 6.

Not to negate the bonuses, no, but racking up easy bonuses to counter balance is good. Brute Gauntlets are cheap and useful at low levels. Do not take Weapon Focus for this.

 

[kitcik]

Law Devotion

 

[xigbar]

If you run the PA/Shock Trooper on a Duskblade, you can probably use Knowledge Devotion as well.

 

[Sekhmet]

Prior to Shock Trooper, you can only accrue bonuses to offset with gear/spells, but you'd be doing that anyway when using Shock Trooper to guarantee more hits.
Just build like you're normally going to for Shock Trooper and you'll end up right about the same place.

 

[Omegaxicor]

1) Brute Gauntlets affect damage not Hit
2) hmmm...I will look into Law devotion but it is still 1/day which is limited
3) Knowledge Devotion requires skill(s) I don't have the points for
4) That doesn't help, I want to be able to hit enemies at level 1-5, shock trooper doesn't help

yes I was wrong to say offset, I do mean an easy way to gain bonuses to hit, I have 18 Strength, 1 BAB and, maybe, Weapon Focus which = 4 maybe 5 (I am giving up BAB for 2xDmg) I have a habit of rolling 4-8 on the dice, not bad on a d6 but on a d20 it hurts and drags battles on for 15-20 turns

 

[kitcik]

2) hmmm...I will look into Law devotion but it is still 1/day which is limited

1 minute / day -> which should last an entire battle.
Lobby the DM to allow you to use the 1 minute on a discontiguous basis, and it could be 2-3 battles...

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

How much do you need to PA for, anyways? At low levels, many things wil just plain die to being hit by a greatsword hefted by someone w/ Str 18+. Certain great things like the Knockback feat require PA, but you can PA for any amount, so even just a -1 to hit will trigger the benefit.

 

[HoboGod]

The Reckless Charge feat is one of my favorite offsets, giving you an additional +2 to attack when you charge. There are a couple ToB maneuvers that give you nice bonuses: Saphire Diamond Blade makes the opponent flat-footed, Steely Strike gives you a +4 to attack. Light Warhorses only cost 150 gold and you can bring them into any dungeon where you'd find large monsters, they'll give you a +1 higher ground bonus to unmounted medium sized or smaller creatures.

However, the best ways to offset power attack are implementing good strategy. At low levels you aren't getting extra attacks for full round actions, so spend your move action to gain a flanking bonus with an ally. Coordinate with your party, the spellcaster might be knocking an opponent prone with grease, the fighter might be tripping an opponent, the barbarian might be grappling an opponent.

 

[Omegaxicor]

1 minute / day -> which should last an entire battle.
Lobby the DM to allow you to use the 1 minute on a discontiguous basis, and it could be 2-3 battles...

O.O how did I miss that, wow actually that isn't bad, I WILL look into that, and ask about a non-continuous basis

How much do you need to PA for, anyways? At low levels, many things wil just plain die to being hit by a greatsword hefted by someone w/ Str 18+. Certain great things like the Knockback feat require PA, but you can PA for any amount, so even just a -1 to hit will trigger the benefit.

The idea is that I hardly hit, if I hit I don't do much damage. I have to decide between them, with PA I am guaranteed to kill ANY one target after 6-7 attacks, without PA I have a chance to kill most targets after 4-5 attacks.

for me it is better to use PA but my rolls do handicap me greatly, I have accepted the dice hate me and have moved on...

EDIT:

However, the best ways to offset power attack are implementing good strategy. At low levels you aren't getting extra attacks for full round actions, so spend your move action to gain a flanking bonus with an ally. Coordinate with your party, the spellcaster might be knocking an opponent prone with grease, the fighter might be tripping an opponent, the barbarian might be grappling an opponent.

I have noticed that, my party seem unable to grasp the basics of grappling and tripping (I hope to trip a few opponents and demonstrate the power) and the spellcaster is new and specialises in Evocation and damage dealing...tactics don't happen to be our groups thing I do Flank for the +4/0 (our group uses Facing rules so either +4, +2 or +0 depending on the monsters last attack)