Those [2 damage types] +1 damage feats

[Plane Sailing]

Do those feats beyond suck or what?

+1 damage with two 13 stat requirements?

+1 damage per tier.

+2 at Paragon, +3 at Epic.

Even if they were a straight +1 I don't think they suck, but they are better than that.

 

[Plane Sailing]

What these feats should have been:

Elemental Focus - Pick two non-weapon damage types. You have a +1 feat bonus to damage rolls when making an attack that deals either type of damage.

Ugh! I'm glad they didn't do that. Horrible and bland IMO.

Cheers

 

[Donovan Morningfire]

What these feats should have been:

Elemental Focus - Pick two non-weapon damage types. You have a +1 feat bonus to damage rolls when making an attack that deals either type of damage.

Too bland of a name. And as written much better than similar feats (weapon focus, backstabber, hunter's quarry).

Since you'd get to choose your damage type with no pre-reqs, it should only be choice of one type, not two, to bring it in line with Weapon Focus (which is limited to one weapon category).

Also, Mustrum's suggestion of more evocative names would help, with each element type being a separate feat.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Also, Mustrum's suggestion of more evocative names would help, with each element type being a separate feat.

There seem to be generally 2 approaches or preferences

- Generic and Bland Feat names based on mechanical abilities, granting a generically described mechanic benefit.

- Flavorful Feat names with thematic names, granting a mechanic benefit fitting the theme.

3E had both (Spell Focus vs Alertness). Many people complained about the waste of +2/+2 skill feats. That could be done a lot easier.

4E tried to go more in the latter direction, but initial fan reactions implied that maybe the "fluffy" description where not to everyones liking. (Though there might be different reasons - sometimes it might have been "we just don't like the name", sometimes it was "You are forcing your flavor into my game! I do what I want with your mechanics!")
So, now, we are closer to 3E again...

I think I'd prefer going the "flavor" route. Shouldn't every role-playing mechanical ability be somehow linked to its theme, to what it represents in the game?
Or, since we are all grown-ups and experienced role-players who substitute our own fluff, we should just be given good mechanics and the fluff is up to us?

 

[small pumpkin man]

Also, Mustrum's suggestion of more evocative names would help, with each element type being a separate feat.

That wasn't a "suggestion" per se, so much as a reference to the fact that they were fairly obviously originally named that before a bunch of people on the internet decided they didn't like the idea because some of the names weren't great.

Indeed, much of the complete fluffless nature of the PHB comes from people whinging about the new fluff, which a lot of other people actually liked. I liked "Gelugans are demons". I liked Emerald Frost and White Raven (allthough White Raven still shows occasionally) blah.

/rant

 

[Torchlyte]

Ugh! I'm glad they didn't do that. Horrible and bland IMO.

Cheers

Ugh! I would hate it if they made feats like "Improved Initiative" that give a bonus to one stat.

They should name it "Healtthy Wits" so you get +2 Initiative and +1 to your Fortitude defense. Prerequisite: 15 Cha.

Too bland of a name. And as written much better than similar feats (weapon focus, backstabber, hunter's quarry).

Since you'd get to choose your damage type with no pre-reqs, it should only be choice of one type, not two, to bring it in line with Weapon Focus (which is limited to one weapon category).

Also, Mustrum's suggestion of more evocative names would help, with each element type being a separate feat.

It's not bland compared to the other feats in the PHB, and it has the advantage of not pretending to be [however many] feats when it's really just one thing.

It's not really overpowered: a fighter that gets Weapon Focus: Longsword basically gets +1 damage to every attack, whereas here a Wizard only gets a +1 damage bonus to a subset of spells.

 

[Roxlimn]

Actually, that's not true. A Lightning and Thunder mage can get both bonuses for his Thunderwave and his Lightning Bolt - both melee and ranged options.

Astral Fire is the same, you can use the one feat to do Scorching Burst and Color Spray. A Weapon Focus: Heavy Blade can't be used that way, though a Weapon Focus: Light Blade technically could.

With the exception of Rangers and a few Fighter powers, multiattacks in 4e are not that common - except when we're talking about AoEs, in which case they're incredibly common. These +1 damage feats are more powerful in the hands of people who can make them count for more targets.

 

[Torchlyte]

I see no problem with these bonuses applying to caster AOE powers, since Weapon Focus applies just as well to Fighter/Ranger/Paladin/Rogue powers.

You're trying to put weapon types and elements in the same boat, but they are not the same concept.

 

[Sadrik]

Ugh! I'm glad they didn't do that. Horrible and bland IMO.

Cheers

Sorry, super better --> Elemental Focus - Pick two non-weapon damage types. You have a +1 feat bonus to damage rolls when making an attack that deals either type of damage.