Unbalanced: Dodge feat just +1 to ac?

[MadScientist]

If it was changed to give the bonus against all enemies, it'd be strong enough that I'd probably take it with all characters sooner or later.

Yeah I probably still wouldn't take it unless I was interested in the other feats in the chain or trying very hard to max out my AC. Compared to Point Blank Shot, Power Attack and many of the other attack feats it just seems weak to me. At least with the flat +1 to AC it isn't a pain to use in addition to being weak IMHO.

 

[Kalshane]

Comparing Dodge to Inertial Armour or similar feats is a bit weak since Dodge helps against touch attacks too... Only dex and deflection bonuses do that.

On the other hand, you lose the bonus anytime you lose your Dex bonus, so it's hardly the uber-defense.

 

[Henry]

My personal favorite was what d20 Modern did to it. They kept dodge as-is, but added agile riposte as another feat. If your designated dodge opponent misses you, you get an op-attack against them.

 

[Iron_Chef]

Spycraft's version is what we use: They changed Dodge to "Sidestep" and it gives you a +1 dodge bonus vs. all opponnts or a +2 dodge bonus vs. a single opponent. Much better. Most everybody gets the feat now. It rocks!

 

[coyote6]

a varient dodge I saw in some d20 book maybe spycraft? Was +2 to ac vs a single foe or +1 to ac vs everyone.

The Mutants & Masterminds version of Dodge is like that. Very useful.

 

[Sejs]

the Master Class: Assassins book by Green Ronin (I think it was Green Ronin) also had an Improved Dodge feat. Required Dex 15+, Dodge, Lightning Reflexes. Gave +3 dodge bonus to Ac against one target, and you could change the dodge opponent on any action, but still only once per round.

 

[dren]

Spycraft's version is what we use: They changed Dodge to "Sidestep" and it gives you a +1 dodge bonus vs. all opponnts or a +2 dodge bonus vs. a single opponent.

The house rule I use adds one more thing to the above, if designated vs one foe, it also negates AoO.

 

[Coredump]

. Much better. Most everybody gets the feat now. It rocks!

I consider this almost an oxymoron.

If "everybody gets" it, than it is not "better" it is "overpowered".

Feats/spells/etc should not be a 'no-brainer', but rather one of many options. If something is so good that everyone gets it, especially regardless of class, than it seems pretty obvioulsy overpowered.


Please note, I am not saying this variant is overpowered, rather commenting on the fact that if everyone gets it, it probably is.

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[Dr_Rictus]

But, dodge bonuses stack with everything,

This is important. Inertial Armor doesn't get you anything you can't get out of masterwork studded leather armor, without spending a feat. It's only worth it if you have very low strength, as a prerequisite to Improved Inertial Armor (if allowed), or if you have other restrictions against wearing armor (say, you're an arcane caster or a monk).

 

[Spatzimaus]

It's only worth it if you have very low strength, as a prerequisite to Improved Inertial Armor (if allowed), or if you have other restrictions against wearing armor (say, you're an arcane caster or a monk).

Well, it's also a force effect (works against incorporeal attacks), can't be destroyed, isn't visible unless you want it to be, doesn't have a Max DEX limit, and stays with you even when polymorphed into a form that doesn't allow equipment. Depending on your character, these can be important considerations. I have a high-DEX Psychic Warrior who took the Feat.
The downsides? Well, you can't put enchantments on it, and you're spending Feats. So in general I'd agree, for most characters it's not worth it.

But like Coredump said above, if everyone wanted it, it'd be broken, not balanced.