Round 18 is OVER

[Ridley's Cohort]

Improved Initiative is a fine feat, but it lacks style IMO.

As for the importance of going first on the first round, Sun Tzu would say that the superior general defeats the enemy before the battle begins.

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

Improved Initiative is a fine feat, but it lacks style IMO.

As for the importance of going first on the first round, Sun Tzu would say that the superior general defeats the enemy before the battle begins.

Therefore he would invest in Improved init! Large scale combat has much different dynamics I think...



Eliminate Rapid Shot! BAB is fine.

 

[Shade]

It saddens me that not only is POWER ATTACK still on the island, that the remaining voters don't see it for the blight it is.


2b) This includes inanimate objects like doors (who needs a theif) and phylacteries, and other structures and tough-to-kill dinguses.
3) The DR rules supposedly add flavor to the game by making it so having a magic weapon doesn't trivialize it. Well, power attack puts us right back in the same boat.
4) All the above is not such a big deal, until you consider the case of two-handed weapons that DOUBLE the negative modifier. The "who cares if you miss if you do more damage" becomes much less of a troubling trade-off when you are getting double what you put in.

I'm with you. 3.5 Power Attack is a blight on the game. The 2-for-1 thing is what really bothers me, because Joe Barbarian can get 2-for-1 with his greataxe, while Bob Great Wyrm Red Dragon is stuck doing 1-for-1 with his massive claws and tail.

It gets even sicker when you factor in prestige classes and variant rules (such as action points) which allow 3-for-1 or even 4-for-1.

That said, I voted for Rapid Shot, because even though I don't like it, Power Attack as written is the more useful feat.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

I'm with you. 3.5 Power Attack is a blight on the game. The 2-for-1 thing is what really bothers me, because Joe Barbarian can get 2-for-1 with his greataxe, while Bob Great Wyrm Red Dragon is stuck doing 1-for-1 with his massive claws and tail.

But he could do 2-for-1 with his bite... No?

Since his bite does STR x 1.5 as its base damage, I'd consider that equivalent to a 2-handed weapon.

 

[Kelleris]

I'm with you. 3.5 Power Attack is a blight on the game. The 2-for-1 thing is what really bothers me, because Joe Barbarian can get 2-for-1 with his greataxe, while Bob Great Wyrm Red Dragon is stuck doing 1-for-1 with his massive claws and tail.

Gah! Dragons with 2-for-1 Power Attack makes for very dead PCs. The feat's already basically a given for any dragon I build. They always have tons of attacks and points of attack bonus to blow. I just try to think happy thoughts about the abstract nature of attack bonuses and damage counts when this comes up.

 

[Mr. Kaze]

"Improved Initiative" is just another way of saying "Irrationally Trigger Happy". I'd rather see Uncanny Dodge be promoted to a feat then have everybody trying to out-initiative each other only to be disgusted when the full-plate dwarf rolls a 20 anyway.

But maybe I just don't understand the logic that gives barbarians Uncanny Dodge before a rogue would get it.

::Kaze

 

[Blackthorne]

Finally, the world listens to reason. Improved Initiative, you had it coming.

 

[Bront]

Rapid shot

Because, well, I want to save Improved Initiative (Otherwise I'd be weapon finesse)

Improved Initiative. Normally the enemies don't kill you in one hit so it doesn't matter if you go before or after them on the first round. Heck, if they run up to you during their action, you get a full attack against them instead of only one attack. Or if you are a Cleric, you can act AFTER all your friends get hurt instead of having to delay.

Here's to going last!

With a higher initiative, you can choose when you go in the first round (Hold your initiative), so you get more options, which are always advantagous in combat. It also means that you can't assume that just because the guy's in plate armor he's going to loose initiative due to lack of dex...

 

[drothgery]

I'm with you. 3.5 Power Attack is a blight on the game. The 2-for-1 thing is what really bothers me, because Joe Barbarian can get 2-for-1 with his greataxe, while Bob Great Wyrm Red Dragon is stuck doing 1-for-1 with his massive claws and tail.

The basic problem with Power Attack is that it becomes less effective the more damage you're doing without it; by the time you have enough BAB to put into PA that it would help, a 1 for 1 PA is a terrible idea, and a 2 for 1 PA -- which was basically put in to fix that problem -- only delays the inevitable.

 

[demiurge1138]

C'mon, people. Improved Initiative is universally useful. And, as mentioned before, I have a grudge against Rapid Shot

Demiurge out.