Revision Spotlight (6/17)

[TiQuinn]

A low-prereq feat that provides automatic protection from an attack? Kinda lame and definitely unbalanced. Rule zero strikes again.

It was a useless feat prior to this, now it at least provides some value. Besides, blocking ONE missile attack isn't unbalancing. At low levels, it's a great ability, but then again, who besides the monk is really going to take this feat. The fighter? More likely fighters will be taking cleave, expertise and feats of that nature. At higher levels with multiple attacks, the power loses some oomph, but not so much that it is completely obsolete. I like it.

 

[Kyamsil]

It was a useless feat prior to this, now it at least provides some value. Besides, blocking ONE missile attack isn't unbalancing. At low levels, it's a great ability, but then again, who besides the monk is really going to take this feat. The fighter? More likely fighters will be taking cleave, expertise and feats of that nature. At higher levels with multiple attacks, the power loses some oomph, but not so much that it is completely obsolete. I like it.

What scares me is what will happen with the Epic chain of feats related to deflect attacks. A monk who pursues that path will be nearly unstoppable if he hasn't to check a Reflex save to be able to deflect attacks. What epic feats am I talking about?

One that allows for an unlimited number of deflect attacks per round.

Other that allows you to deflect exceptional attacks (boulders for example) and that also allows to deflect ranged touch spells and spell like abilities (but the save DC was based on spell level and was really hard)

Another to round it up that allows you to reflect the attack (even spell if you have the second one) back towards the attacker.

 

[John Crichton]

A low-prereq feat that provides automatic protection from an attack? Kinda lame and definitely unbalanced. Rule zero strikes again.

From one projectile. No big deal especially when we're looking at mid and higher levels. Plus, you gotta know it's coming which doesn't always happen. Hardly automatic.

 

[Li Shenron]

It was a useless feat prior to this, now it at least provides some value. Besides, blocking ONE missile attack isn't unbalancing. At low levels, it's a great ability, but then again, who besides the monk is really going to take this feat. The fighter? More likely fighters will be taking cleave, expertise and feats of that nature. At higher levels with multiple attacks, the power loses some oomph, but not so much that it is completely obsolete. I like it.

I have seen the previous one in use, and I don't think it was useless. But the Reflex roll everytime was quite annoying, and many times the player forgot to use the ability at all.

Anyway, I don't like this to be automatic, because without a roll it does not take into account favorable/unfavorable situations. What if you are prone? AFAIK you are not flat-footed when prone... or are you?

 

[John Crichton]

What scares me is what will happen with the Epic chain of feats related to deflect attacks. A monk who pursues that path will be nearly unstoppable if he hasn't to check a Reflex save to be able to deflect attacks. What epic feats am I talking about?

> epic snip <

Another to round it up that allows you to reflect the attack (even spell if you have the second one) back towards the attacker.

Epic Level versions of deflect don't concern me that much. By that time you'd think that a monk should be deflecting just about everything flying his way.

 

[John Crichton]

I have seen the previous one in use, and I don't think it was useless. But the Reflex roll everytime was quite annoying, and many times the player forgot to use the ability at all.

Anyway, I don't like this to be automatic, because without a roll it does not take into account favorable/unfavorable situations. What if you are prone? AFAIK you are not flat-footed when prone... or are you?

Prone is just what it is. Means that you can't fire off any projectiles except a x-bow and you take a hit to your AC and your attacks. Nothing more. It does not add a flat-footed status.

I will say that it would be nice to know a few sample spot DC's for determining awareness. Altho it's pretty easy to ad-hoc. I'd just assign a -4 to the check (if needed at all) for a prone defender. Unless someone hasn't fired off a shot yet, the deflector is going to know he's being fired at and I would consider that aware. Before that would be a spot check or maybe in some cases a reflex save.

 

[TiQuinn]

I have seen the previous one in use, and I don't think it was useless. But the Reflex roll everytime was quite annoying, and many times the player forgot to use the ability at all.

Anyway, I don't like this to be automatic, because without a roll it does not take into account favorable/unfavorable situations. What if you are prone? AFAIK you are not flat-footed when prone... or are you?

You have to be aware of the attack as well...there's plenty of wriggle room in there for special situations.

 

[Belen]

If I am correct, don't you have to make a successful ranged attack in order to deflect the arrow. The new feat does imply that....

 

[John Crichton]

If I am correct, don't you have to make a successful ranged attack in order to deflect the arrow. The new feat does imply that....

They would have to specifically state that such an attack must be made by the deflector. Otherwise that is putting words in their mouth.

 

[MerricB]

Me too, I just read the 3.0 version, the only difference is the omission of the mention of the Reflex save. It does make you wonder a bit though since it says, "Attempting to deflect a ranged weapon..." Who's attempting if it's automatic?

The attempt isn't automatic if it's a giant's boulder, or if some unnamed magic overrides the monk's ability.

Cheers!