saving feats when you level???

[Taelorn76]

Mabey I am understanding this wrong but to continue with the example of the rogue

If s/he takes the feat weapon finesse at level 1, they can't use it's ability until they reach level 3. Which to me makes it seem like a waste because the rogue could have chosen something that they could have benifited from instead.

If I am wrong in seeing it this way please say so.

 

[Nail]

If s/he takes the feat weapon finesse at level 1, they can't use it's ability until they reach level 3.

A rogue fulfills the prerequisites of Weapon Finesse at level 2 (BAB +1). But the poor rogue only gets feats at levels 1, 3, 6, etc. Therefore Rogues may only take the feat at level 3....unless you break the rules by allowing players to "save" feats.

 

[Taelorn76]

A rogue fulfills the prerequisites of Weapon Finesse at level 2 (BAB +1). But the poor rogue only gets feats at levels 1, 3, 6, etc. Therefore Rogues may only take the feat at level 3....unless you break the rules by allowing players to "save" feats.

So the Rogue would get Weapon Finesse a level sooner then normally. But I still see it as some what of a waste because they could have taken something benifitial to them at level 1.

edited
I just realized my error in this line of thinking.

 

[Nail]

Right.

Look, there are always sub-optimal ways of doing things. The "no saving feats" rule is not meant to prevent you from being sub-optimal. Quite the opposite intent, actually.

 

[silentspace]

I say you're all way wrong

If you can get from 10th level to 20th level in one sitting, then of course you can save feats! Why wouldn't you be able to? What, do you expect the players to waste time figuring out what feats to take? Let them do that later, after they've finished killing the army of Balors!

 

[MerakSpielman]

This comes up every now and then.

It's simple people. When you gain a level, you get another hit die, skill points, class abilities, and/or feats. You can only take things you qualify for.

Nowhere do the rules say that you can take a feat at second level if you declined to take one at first level. Why would this be allowed? There's a reason you are given feats at certain levels, and the fact that you otherwise qualify for a feat during the "in-between" levels is irrelivent. You have to wait until your next feat-gaining level to get the goodies.

If your DM doesn't think this will screw up the balance, well, good for him. Abuse the hell out of it until he changes his mind.

 

[Altalazar]

This comes up every now and then.

If your DM doesn't think this will screw up the balance, well, good for him. Abuse the hell out of it until he changes his mind.

Spoken like a true power-gamer. You know, some people play for other reasons, and have no problems with minor changes, especially when they usually won't affect game balance anyway.

 

[anon]

I have yet to see a concrete example of how allowing players to pick feats before they qualify for them would create unbalance. And even if you can come up with some strange corner case unbalanced scenario, IMHO, the idea that a player is able to delay gratification and plan ahead are more important in the big picture.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

The "abuse" deals with PrC design - sometimes you can take a PrC early by doing that.

That could be easily avoided by always giving PrCs a BAB or skill requirement. Even for spellcasting PrCs.

 

[Plane Sailing]

If your DM doesn't think this will screw up the balance, well, good for him. Abuse the hell out of it until he changes his mind.

Not a very mature attitude to be promoting, Merak; I'm surprised to hear it from you.

Since D&D is a community game surely the ideal situation is where DM and players are working together to make the rules work well for their game. What purpose does it serve for players to attempt to make life awkward for the DM or vice versa?

Sure, occasionally a group will try a rules change which, even when used in good faith, unbalances the game. That's only to be expected. Looking for loopholes in order to be awkward though...?

Regards