Swapping feats?

[Gnome]

Just wondering if anyone has a house rule allowing characters to swap out previously-selected feats new feats at any point. Maybe a workable system would be starting at 6th-level, a character could trade the feat selected at first level for another feat, if he desires, and at 9th-level, he could trade the one selected at 1st or 3rd level, etc.

Obviously if a feat was traded for another one, the benefits of the original feat would no longer apply, and any feats that required that feat at a prereq would no longer be usable (presumably the character would swap these out later). If the character swapped-out a feat needed for a PrC, then he could no longer gain any levels in that PrC.

Seems like this would allow characters more flexibility, but not make it too outrageous, I think.

 

[DanMcS]

Just wondering if anyone has a house rule allowing characters to swap out previously-selected feats new feats at any point. Maybe a workable system would be starting at 6th-level, a character could trade the feat selected at first level for another feat, if he desires, and at 9th-level, he could trade the one selected at 1st or 3rd level, etc.

I wouldn't make it quite that easy, otherwise you'll probably find wizards taking toughness at first level, and then swapping it out for something more useful later on.

Obviously if a feat was traded for another one, the benefits of the original feat would no longer apply, and any feats that required that feat at a prereq would no longer be usable (presumably the character would swap these out later). If the character swapped-out a feat needed for a PrC, then he could no longer gain any levels in that PrC.

If you lose any prerequisite for a prestige class, not only can you no longer gain levels in it, but I believe you lose all class abilities except for BAB, saves, and hit points. Something like that, anyway, I think it's described in the PrC section of the DMG. I would strictly enforce that.

In the past, I've seen it done this way: when you level up, you can choose to drop a feat. This gives you an open slot, but you can't fill it immediately, you have to wait until the next time you level up to fill it. That gives a penalty for a level, in return for the flexibility this kind of option offers.

 

[Brain]

In one campaign I'm in, the GM allowed me to use a wish that was granted to me to change my weapon focus and specialization from one weapon to another.

 

[Crothian]

Also, make sure that they can only take feats the had the porequites for when they took the first feat. So, no taking endurance at first level and then at level 9 switiching it for improved critical.

 

[MerakSpielman]

Within 2 levels of selecting a feat I allow characters to swap it out for a new one, providing they have not used the feat in any significant way since it was selected. Essentially, I allow people to swap out feats that they thought would be neat but, in play, ended up never used.

 

[the Jester]

Not in my campaign, no way. Live with your choices.

Edit: at least not without something like Brain's wish. Which, truth to tell, was in my campaign.

 

[Jdvn1]

Well, there's a power in the XPH that lets you rechoose stuff like feats, skills, and (I think) class levels. All you have to do is find a Psion and pay the xp cost.

 

[knight_isa]

We allowed the switch in our group, provided that the original feat had never been used.

Also, make sure that they can only take feats the had the porequites for when they took the first feat. So, no taking endurance at first level and then at level 9 switiching it for improved critical.

That sounds like a good idea, although it didn't come up in our group.

 

[Jdvn1]

Wow, it's only a 4th level power too. Makes the Wish seem kind of harsh. It's for skill points and feats.

From SRD:

Psychic Reformation
Telepathy [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Psion/wilder 4
Display: Auditory, mental, and visual
Manifesting Time: 10 minutes
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Power Resistance: No
Power Points: 7, XP; see text

When this power is manifested, the subject can choose to spend its most recently gained skill points differently (picking new skills and abandoning old ones if it chooses) and to choose a different feat from the one it selected when advancing from its previous level to its current level.

The subject can also choose to forget powers it acquired when advancing to its current level, replacing them with new ones.

The subject can undo decisions of these sorts that were made at lower levels, if both the subject and the manifester agree to pay the necessary XP before this power is manifested (see below). The subject must abide by the standard rules for selecting skills and feats, and so it cannot take feats for which it doesn’t qualify or take crossclass skills as class skills.

XP Cost: This power costs 50 XP to manifest to reformat choices made when the character reached her current level. For each additional previous level into which the revision reaches, the power costs an additional 50 XP. The manifester and subject split all XP costs evenly.

 

[Stalker0]

Arcana Unearthed allows it at 10th and 20th levels, and I believe you have to spend 1000 gp in a special ritual. That's one way to go about it.