Patlin
Explorer
I'm trying to evaluate this feat. At first glance, 1-8 additional damage on an ability I expect I won't often get to use (our group, including the DMs, avoid provoking OAs as a general rule) seems trivial and unworthy of a feat. However, it occurs to me that there may be a "hidden" benefit.
Without modification, the Spirit Shield attack deals only wisdom modifier damage. As it does not involve a dice roll, effects which provide bonuses to damage rolls don't help it. With a 24 wisdom, Spirit Shield does exactly 7 damage each and every time, excluding criticals, even if you are holding a +5 totem.
With the Protector's Shield feat, you have a damage roll. I'm inclined to believe a non critical hit with the feat-modified Spirit Shield with 24 wisdom and +5 totem would deal 1d8+12 damage rather than 7 damage. That's enough of a difference to justify the feat, I think.
Is this just boundless optimism, or am I interpreting the relevant rules correctly?
Bonus question: As I was writing this, it occurred to me that a critical hit with a typical magic totem would provide extra dice of damage, which by the same argument might allow in effects which aid damage rolls. Would a character with the above items on a critical (no feat) deal 5d6+7 damage, 5d6+12 damage, or just 7 damage?
Thank you all in advance for your input!
Without modification, the Spirit Shield attack deals only wisdom modifier damage. As it does not involve a dice roll, effects which provide bonuses to damage rolls don't help it. With a 24 wisdom, Spirit Shield does exactly 7 damage each and every time, excluding criticals, even if you are holding a +5 totem.
With the Protector's Shield feat, you have a damage roll. I'm inclined to believe a non critical hit with the feat-modified Spirit Shield with 24 wisdom and +5 totem would deal 1d8+12 damage rather than 7 damage. That's enough of a difference to justify the feat, I think.
Is this just boundless optimism, or am I interpreting the relevant rules correctly?
Bonus question: As I was writing this, it occurred to me that a critical hit with a typical magic totem would provide extra dice of damage, which by the same argument might allow in effects which aid damage rolls. Would a character with the above items on a critical (no feat) deal 5d6+7 damage, 5d6+12 damage, or just 7 damage?
Thank you all in advance for your input!