Round 18 is OVER

[Sammael]

Perhaps the most overpowered feat ever? I assume you don't buy too many D&D books

Nah, not too many. I only have about forty 3.x books.

Since this thread is about core feats, I think it's obvious what I meant.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

A fighter who loses initiative is flat-footed when his enemy attacks him, before he can get off a full attack.

What kind of wussy fighter has a DEX bonus!?!? *grin*

But, seriously, I know all these points. In actual play, it normally ends up being something more like this:

Enemy runs forward, charging and hitting for X damage (or missing)
All the PCs hit the enemy killing it.

Beside, neither I, nor anyone I know every thinks about the fact that it might be better to delay and see if the enemy runs forward. They are all impressed that they go first, they can't help but charge forward. Besides, if you go first, you don't KNOW what the enemy will do, he might stand there, in which case delaying might be a bad idea. If you go after him, you have no choice but to wait for him to act, so you can react with better tactics.

Complicated? Yes! Convoluted? Definitely! Still my reasoning? Yup!

 

[Romnipotent]

Die Rapid Shot for not applying to Ranged Touch Spells!

 

[Sledge]

Rapido shoot away!

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Bleh, POWER ATTACK. I don't care if it does give you more damage... what's the point of doing more damage if you can't hit when you swing?

Don't go there.

 

[Gez]

Bleh, POWER ATTACK. I don't care if it does give you more damage... what's the point of doing more damage if you can't hit when you swing?

Power Attack is slightly less useful than Two Weapon Fighting or Rapid Shot, but is otherwise very useful in two circumstances:

1. Your opponent has an AC so high you need a natural 20 to hit anyway. In that situation, take maximal power attack. You won't increase or decrease your 5% chance of hitting the damn AC tank, but at least, if you hit him, he'll suffer for your troubles!
2. Your opponents have low AC, so you'll hit them anyway. With cleave, you may even get more attacks that way.

TWF was better than PA because it helps you attack more mooks, and it gives you better odds of hitting an opponent that benefits from concealment or invisibility. It was also more bangs for your bucks -- you could easily deal much more than +2 or +4 damage for the -2 penalty.

Really, the "I don't want my attack score to be lowered" argument is only valid against enemies who have an AC that requires you to roll high, but still below 20.

 

[Darmanicus]

IMPROVED INITIATIVE

Taking it still won't put my initiative in the positive!

 

[johnsemlak]

I voted power attack because I've only ever used it as a prerequisite for later feats or other things. I am aware of the uses outlined by Gez above, but for me trying to keep that stuff in mind just adds complications which I don't want my straightforward, simplistic warriors to think about

 

[Gez]

IMPROVED INITIATIVE

Taking it still won't put my initiative in the positive!

Wow! Dex 3 or less? I'm impressed!

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

I voted power attack because I've only ever used it as a prerequisite for later feats or other things. I am aware of the uses outlined by Gez above, but for me trying to keep that stuff in mind just adds complications which I don't want my straightforward, simplistic warriors to think about

That's why you should live your life by the golden rule:

ALL POWER ATTACK, ALL THE TIME!