(total frustration) There MUST be an Extra Feats Academy around somewhere here ...

[Peterson]

Something I've done for quite a while now is hand out "Metagame Feats".

Basically, if the player writes - and continues writing - in a real journal about their character's adventures, I award a free bonus feat every 5th level (starting at 5th level).

Additionally, I allow them to trade in experience for bonus feats - but this takes a careful DM and a trusting group to pull off. Its a bit difficult to gauge each feats "exp cost".

Peterson

 

[Sejs]

I as a DM have given out feats or skill points as 'treasure' before, though admittadly what they are is chosen by me.

"Even after the effects of being thrust into the mental construct of a thousands-years-dead wizard's ghost have faded with you restoring his sanity, you still have the memories of that other life you stepped into lurking in the depths of your mind. You gain five ranks in Profession (Gardener)."

 

[Sammael]

I'm allowing extra feats for XP (no more than one per level). The price is 3000 xp, plus 1500 xp per prerequisite feat (and you must still meet all prerequisites normally).

 

[Edena_of_Neith]

You're right: I shouldn't tinker with the rules. So I won't.

I continue to look for ways to increase feat progression within the official rules.
The d20 modern system allows it, but it also requires you take d20 modern classes. I'm not doing that, so the d20 modern system is out.

You can take 6 extra feats over the course of 6 levels, by taking Righteous Warrior and Wonderworker.
You must have taken a specific exalted feat first, plus one other exalted feat. And all 6 feats you then take must be exalted feats. Your class progression slows slightly, but continues at a pretty reasonable clip, while you are in the 3 levels of Righteous Warrior and the 3 levels of Wonderworker.
These feats are on top of the normal feats you would gain for level.
These feats stack with feats you'd gain in the class.

For example, if you started as a fighter 1st, then took 3 levels in Righteous Warrior, you'd gain the fighter's 1st level fighter feat, his 2nd level fighter feat, and his 4th level fighter feat. You'd also gain your starting feat at 1st level, plus your feat at 3rd level. If you were human, you'd gain a feat at the start. If you took 2 flaws, you could gain 2 extra feats from that.
But ... you must be an exalted character. That is the price to be paid.

I would consider an extra 6 feats (even if you must select from the exalted feat list) to be a very strong incentive to play an exalted character.

-

You wonder why I speculate, min-max, create sample characters, and whatnot?
This is all a way of learning the game.
I am still searching for a group (and I will find one.) Until then, I'm teaching myself, with your help.

The speculation, min-maxing, creating of characters, and asking of questions is a way of sustaining momentum (to learn), creating interest (to learn), interacting with and learning from you, having fun (which aids in learning), and exploring the possibilities (which also helps in learning.)

Because of my questions and your responses, I have memorized many of the feats in the Player's Handbook. I no longer even need to reference them. I have memorized some from the Complete Adventurer and Complete Warrior.
Because I forced myself to create characters, and thanks to your input, I have begun to learn which skills apply where. And I have partly memorized the skill list from the Player's Handbook.
There is nothing like work, and more work, and more work (creating characters) to aid in memorization. Once you have things memorized, understanding comes more easily (because you aren't busy trying to remember, you can sit and think about the subject.)

You see me exploring theoretical possibilities, some of which are absurd.
But I do that, to see what is possible. And why. By overreaching, I hope to gain understanding of more mundane concepts. An analogy would be: if you wish to learn arithmetic, try learning algebra first. If you wish to hit something really hard, mentally aim for a point beyond the target. Go for the greatest achievements ... and when you fall short, perhaps you will at least have realized some of your lesser goals.

Did I mention this is fun? Yes, it is. It is fun, even if with every other post, you slap me down (telling me I did it wrong, telling me my conception was flawed, telling me I misunderstood the rules, etc.) Indeed, if you did not slap me down, I would not learn anything.
Work, humility, curiosity, enjoyment and fun, and ... did I mention work and more work? ... make for good learning.

 

[Edena_of_Neith]

Over on rules, I have created several characters.
None of these characters are gestalt characters.
I am forcing myself to abide within the limitations of regular characters. The limitations have made me wish to tear the hair out of my head repeatedly, but I abide by them, and accept the challenge.
The challenge is how to build a great character, under the normal rules. Note I said great, not good. That's because you aim for the stars, if you wish to hit the moon.
I don't know if I have yet created a quality character (I doubt it) but I keep trying, and aim to make the best (in terms of roleplaying potential and min-maxing both) character I can.

 

[Psychic Warrior]

My friend suggested a feat that allows you to take a free feat.

 

[Shazman]

For abunch of feats within the rules, you could go monk2/psychic warrior2/samurai2/fighter 14. You'll end up with 15 bonus feats, plus the normal eight that a human character gets over his or her career. A human cleric of a deity with a martial favored weapon and the war domain starts out with 4 feats. I know how you feel about feats. There never seems to be enough feat slots for all of the feats you want. I'd stay away from flaws. Anything that weakens my character makes me cringe. The best thing to do is pick your niche and pick the few feats you get accordingly. The game is desinged so one character can't be good at everything. That's why you usually need at least four to make viable party.

 

[Thanee]

Or you could just learn how to build a viable character with a concept you envision without using truckloads of feats...

That's actually pretty useful, since normally you simply do not have truckloads of feats!

Bye
Thanee

 

[Storminator]

Or you could just learn how to build a viable character with a concept you envision without using truckloads of feats...

That's actually pretty useful, since normally you simply do not have truckloads of feats!

Bye
Thanee

There's also the issue that feats aren't always as useful as they appear on paper. Sometimes you have to see things in action to figure out if they're really valuable.

It works in reverse as well.

PS

 

[Silveras]

You can take 6 extra feats over the course of 6 levels, by taking Righteous Warrior and Wonderworker.
You must have taken a specific exalted feat first, plus one other exalted feat. And all 6 feats you then take must be exalted feats. Your class progression slows slightly, but continues at a pretty reasonable clip, while you are in the 3 levels of Righteous Warrior and the 3 levels of Wonderworker.
These feats are on top of the normal feats you would gain for level.
These feats stack with feats you'd gain in the class.

For example, if you started as a fighter 1st, then took 3 levels in Righteous Warrior, you'd gain the fighter's 1st level fighter feat, his 2nd level fighter feat, and his 4th level fighter feat. You'd also gain your starting feat at 1st level, plus your feat at 3rd level. If you were human, you'd gain a feat at the start. If you took 2 flaws, you could gain 2 extra feats from that.
But ... you must be an exalted character. That is the price to be paid.

I would consider an extra 6 feats (even if you must select from the exalted feat list) to be a very strong incentive to play an exalted character.

So lessee...
1 - Fighter 1, BAB +1 (1), Will +0 (0), 1 Feat, 2 Flaws, +2 Feats, Human +1 Feat, Fighter +1 Feat (5)
2 - Fighter 2, BAB +1 (2), Will +0 (0), Fighter +1 Feat (6)
3 - Fighter 3, BAB +1 (3), Will +1 (1), 1 Feat (7)
4 - Fighter 4, BAB +1 (4), Will +0 (1), Fighter +1 Feat (8)
5 - Fighter 5, BAB +1 (5), Will +0 (0)
6 - Fighter 6, BAB +1 (6), Will +1 (2), 1 Feat, Fighter +1 Feat (10 total) *Now qualified for Sword of Righteousness if 2 of the previous feats were Exalted*
7 - SoR 1, BAB +1 (7), Will +2 (4), +1 Exalted Feat (11)
8 - SoR 2, BAB +1 (8), Will +1 (5), +1 Exalted Feat (12)
9 - SoR 3, BAB +1 (9), Will +0 (5), 1 Feat, + 1 Exalted Feat (14)
10 - Wiz 1, BAB +0 (9), Will +2 (7), +Scribe Scroll Feat (15), 1st level spells, Caster level +1 (1)
11 - Wiz 2, BAB +1 (10), Will +1 (8), Caster Level +1 (2)
12 - Wiz 3, BAB +0 (10), Will +0 (8), 1 Feat (16), 2nd level spells, Caster Level +1 (3)
13 - Wiz 4, BAB +1 (11), Will +1 (9), Caster Level +1 (4)
14 - Wiz 5, BAB +0 (11), Will +0 (9), +1 Wiz Feat (17), 3rd level spells, Caster Level +1 (5) *Now qualify for Wonder Worker*
15 - WW1, BAB +0 (11), Will +2 (11), 1 Feat, +1 Exalted Feat (19), Caster Level +0 (5)
16 - WW2, BAB +1 (12), Will +1 (12), +1 Exalted Feat (20), Caster Level +0 (5)
17 - WW3, BAB +0 (12), Will +0 (12). +1 Exalted Feat (21), Caster Level +0 (5)

In the end... 21 Feats over 17 levels, +2 Flaws
4 of which are Figher bonus, so pretty much combat geared only
2 of which are required to be Metamagic or Item Creation (wizard feats)
8 of which are required to be Exalted (6 from classes, +2 required to get into those classes)
leaving 7 which are truly open choices

Have you looked at the Flaws closely? Their penalties generally outweigh the benefits of a feat, to balance the likelihood that someone will select a flaw/feat pair that will give a benefit much more often than the penalty will come into play. You could *almost* count them as -2 feats.

The character now has about the same BAB as Clerics, Bards, Druids, and Rogues at the same level, with a slightly better Will save. Spellcasting is 12 levels behind a straight spellcaster.

I am not seeing much to the good in the trade-off.