Sean Reynolds' Feat Point system

[Oni]

I quit pursuing the idea, given the lack of interest at the time. I don't even know where it is now.

 

[Li Shenron]

A cursory look at the PHB feats reveal that (at least in 3.0) there was a clear design pattern:

Typically used once per combat? +4 bonus (improved init, combat casting, mobility??)

Typically comes into play less than once per round? +2 bonus (weapon specialisation - although you attack every round it only comes into effect in the rounds on which you hit)

Typically comes into play every round? +1 bonus (weapon focus)

I have never thought about feats in this way, that's an interesting observation!

I was usually thinking just that for example Weapon Specilization is better than Weapon Focus because it gives +2 over a die which is for example a d10, while WF gives a +1 over a die which is d20, so WS gives about +20% and WF only +5% (ad in fact I used to think WF was weak and should have been +2). But at the same time of course you are benefitting from WF at every attack, while you benefit from WS only at every successful attack...

Your vision is definitely better.

 

[Pbartender]

The other interesting thing you could do with these 'feats points' is...

Intead of getting 10 feat points evertime you gain a feat, as Sean suggests, you could spread it out more... Use a mechanic simialr to skill points: 12 feat points at 1st level, and 3 feat points every level thereafter. That way, you can pick up feats as you get the points for them.

 

[Chacal]

Keep in mind that some of the metamagic feats (e.g. extending range, area) are relatively weak compared to some other feats. I like the way Monte Cook handled this in Arcana Unearthed: the Modify Spell feat basically allows you to do several PHB feats.

Just my thoughts ...

I agree that some metamagics are quite weak and could be handled to spellcasters for free (i.e: arcane spellcasters, but I'm biased).

But are they all weak ? If a system intends to evaluate more precisely the feats, then it should adress the differences in metamagics as well. (see http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=68716 for some discussion about this)

I just wanted to state that his system was drastically changing the cost of metamagics (it's not necessarily bad), which I hardly think are all on the same level as endurance.

Chacal

 

[Kemrain]

Intead of getting 10 feat points evertime you gain a feat, as Sean suggests, you could spread it out more... Use a mechanic simialr to skill points: 12 feat points at 1st level, and 3 feat points every level thereafter. That way, you can pick up feats as you get the points for them.

And give 10 featpoints at your first fighter level, and 5 'Fighter Feat Points' at every additional level? Or maybe 10 at second, too, as I just ran the math and that comes out to 105 feat points, not 110, as it should...

- Kemrain the Very Dis-Mathed.

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I've never liked Weapon Focus because it applies to only one type of weapon. I don't know about other people, but my characters tend to use a very wide variety of weapons, not only over the course of their careers, but over the course of one battle. A +1 to hit, but only in certain situations, is a lot like a +1 to AC agaisnt one opponent; not as useful as it sounds.

At least I don't have to keep saying "I weapon focus this weapon this round...

- Kemrain the Forgetful Dodger...

 

[Enkhidu]

...At least I don't have to keep saying "I weapon focus this weapon this round...

- Kemrain the Forgetful Dodger...

I have that covered in this way - my standing declaration is that Dodge applies to the first thing that attacks me in a particular combat. The DM allows it, and we all feel its not too big a deal.