True Strike as a Swift Action

[blaine_evans]

a bladesinger can do it at second level once per day. but apart from that, a swift true strike is very powerful.

blaine.

 

[IcyCool]

Why do you all fear true strike so much and think it's so imbalanced? It basically makes it so you automatically hit one time, more or less ,and you still have a 5% chance to miss. No balance problems at all from what I can see.

I'll go ahead and second Hammerhead on this one.

Do you think it's particularly broken for someone to get +20-+40 damage bonus from a 1st level spell on a single attack?

 

[Anubis]

Nope, not broken at all. It's only ONE attack. It's no more powerful than being able to do 5d4+5 damage without making an attack roll or a saving throw. Besides, even if you put it on an item, it still takes a standard action to execute.

Let's compare, shall we?

Level 20 Fighter uses an item (I'm assuming this is what you're talking about, because I'm not scared of a wizards melee attacks regardless of attack bonus) to use true strike. In that same round, he could have done four attacks at likely +30/+25/+20/+15 (that's about par for the course I'd say). In the next round, he uses Power Attack 20 and uses full attack at +30/+5/+0/-5.

If he would have full attacked both rounds (let's assume a standard weapon like longsword), he could have probably had six hits totalling about 100 points of damage on average (assuming a decent Str and Greater Weapon Specialization). Using true strike, he's probably hitting only once, and even if he uses the weapon in two hands, he's only gonna do about 60 points of damage.

If we do this at lower levels, Power Attack isn't near as effective anyway, so the tradeoff, generally, isn't worth it. It's for hitting hard to hit creatures more than anything. Nothing imbalanced about that. The Quickened True Strike is a 4th-level spell (and not as powerful vampiric touch or orb of force overall).

So again, what's imbalancing? You allergic to high numbers? It only works on a SINGLE attack.

 

[Sledge]

5th level is what you mean right?

 

[Lord Pendragon]

So again, what's imbalancing? You allergic to high numbers? It only works on a SINGLE attack.

Now make that single attack from the back of a charging mount, with a lance and the Spirited Charge feat.

 

[FireLance]

Now make that single attack from the back of a charging mount, with a lance and the Spirited Charge feat.

For extra effectiveness, make sure you have 10 levels of Cavalier. And, does Leap Attack work when mounted?

 

[glass]

Does anyone know where the exact text is that changes True Strike to a Swift Action? I've looked all over and can't find it, but I know I read it somewhere.

The only place such a change could take place is in the PHB errata, so if it's anywhere it'll be there. I seriously doubt it is, though.


glass.

 

[glass]

Where does it mention the Quickened True Strike being a swift action? That could be it, but I'd have to read it to know for sure.

Quickened anything is a swift action, if you are using swift and immediate actions which are an optional rule.


glass.

 

[Krelios]

Now make that single attack from the back of a charging mount, with a lance and the Spirited Charge feat.

Don't forget the Diving Charge option and a flying mount! (Lance + (STR x 1.5)+Magic+(PowerAttack x 2))x4

If you don't see how terrible an advantage getting an automatic hit with something like that is, then there's no point in arguing with you.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Don't forget the Diving Charge option and a flying mount! (Lance + (STR x 1.5)+Magic+(PowerAttack x 2))x4

Diving Charge? I know a Dive is treated as a charge... I haven't heard of a Diving Charge. Are you combining a Dive and a Charge? I'd always assumed the two couldn't be combined... Is this spelled out somewhere?

My, that could make my griffon-mounted paladin even more awful than I'd thought...