Taking Epic feats at non-epic levels

[Kai Lord]

I'm looking at Rule Zeroing the requirement to be 21st level before taking Epic feats. The classes that stand the most to gain from this would be warrior classes, who are far behind spellcasters on the power scale at high non-epic levels.

All of the prereqs still have to be met of course, which rules out a number of Epic feats anyway, but a good number would still be available. Does anyone see a significant downside to this?

 

[Crothian]

Generally, no. I think all the really powerful Epic Feats have prerequites so high you must be 21st level to get them anyway. There is the feat that gives +4 to five skills (sorry, doing this from memory, book is back at at my new place). That has no requirements and would be great for a Bard or other Cha happy character to take at first level. The Damage reduction feat my be a little much for a Barbarian to take at level 12. Those are the only two I can think of off the top my head, I'm certain there are others. All you need to do is come up with some other prereuites for them and they'll be fine.

 

[Kai Lord]

Generally, no. I think all the really powerful Epic Feats have prerequites so high you must be 21st level to get them anyway. There is the feat that gives +4 to five skills (sorry, doing this from memory, book is back at at my new place). That has no requirements and would be great for a Bard or other Cha happy character to take at first level. The Damage reduction feat my be a little much for a Barbarian to take at level 12. Those are the only two I can think of off the top my head, I'm certain there are others. All you need to do is come up with some other prereuites for them and they'll be fine.

Yes, just having checked the book, there are definitely some others. Energy Resistance is a big one, and has no requirements. Damage Reduction could be taken by a gnome as early as 6th level.

The feats that give no prereqs because they expect you to be 21st+ level would obviously need something else before you could take them, while some others, like Epic Speed (prereqs: Dex 21, Run) would need additional requirements.

 

[Anabstercorian]

Well...

I agree that SOME of the Epic Feats could be taken at earlier levels, but many should not. I recommend you go through the list feat by feat rather than making a blanket decision. It shouldn't take you more than three hours to make a decision on all of them.

 

[Virgil Sagecaster]

Key word.........................."Epic".

 

[Cloudgatherer]

Heh, I can see it now. Low level characters taking the Great <ability> feats and bumping up their stats....

 

[Crothian]

Heh, I can see it now. Low level characters taking the Great <ability> feats and bumping up their stats....

Actually, this seemed to be a common house rule in the begining of d20. Many people created feats that increased a stat +1. If in moderation, I don't think it would be a problem. Limit it to one such feat until you become epic.

 

[Kai Lord]

Heh, I can see it now. Low level characters taking the Great <ability> feats and bumping up their stats....

Don't know that I see a problem with that. 7 feats poured into one stat gives you a +3 bonus from that stat. I think I'd rather have the 7 feats....

 

[Cloudgatherer]

Don't know that I see a problem with that. 7 feats poured into one stat gives you a +3 bonus from that stat. I think I'd rather have the 7 feats....

The really powerful Epic feats all have requirements of (roughly) a stat of 25 (some have 21). First a character has to get an ability score that high, then he/she can take the epic feats. Allowing a character to raise stats earlier allows that character to take the powerful epic feats sooner.

 

[Saeviomagy]

OTOH, for a stat requirement of 25, and assuming a starting stat of 18, they've essentially bought a 7-feat chain. Consider the power of the average 3 or 4 feat chain, and maybe it's not that bad?