Unlimited Doom

[Zathraas]

A player in our gaming group suggested the feat Daunting Presence from Libris Mortis but I think it is too powerful for the low prereqs. The feat grants the use a kind of intimidating ability that causes the target to become shaken (-2 on attacks, saves, ability checks).

Standard action to use
Range of 30’ (must have line of sight and target must have an Int score)
Save: Will DC 10 + half character level + cha mod
Duration: if the target fails its save it is shaken for 10 minutes (60 rounds)
Frequency: unlimited
Prerequisites: Cha 13, BAB+1

My problem is not that shaken is such a super powerful option, but that essentially, the feat provides the ability to create the effect of a Doom spell from a 10th level caster, at will, with a save that increases with the character (DC 10 + half char level + Cha mod) for only a BAB +1 and a 13 Cha.

 

[Ltheb Silverfrond]

This feat isn't all that good. It uses a standard action. At the levels it is 'overpowered', said character could be either hitting his foe with a great axe/great sword and kill them instantly, or cast some sort of spell that inflict conditions much worse than Shaken. Plus, the range isn't very good, so this isn't even an option for fighters who lack a ranged weapon. If the foe is within 30', move 30' and kill 'em.

Shaken is good. Combined with other conditions, it can cripple a foe. (Sickened, Blinded, Deafened, Stunned, Flanked, etc) On it's own, this condition rarely contributes any meaningful benefit unless the fight actually goes on for 60 rounds.

 

[Jondor_Battlehammer]

Add in that a successful save renders you immune for 24 hours, as many simmilar effects do. This should tone it down a bit, especially since it takes a standard action to use.

 

[Kunimatyu]

It's not broken at all, and is perhaps underpowered. Leave it alone.

 

[Zathraas]

I am not so much looking to fix the feat but to determine if the general opinion is that the cost for the benefit is unbalanced and to hear people’s reasons either way.

Range of 30’ is not great, but it is also not a range of touch, and 30’ is enough to stay out of combat. I see it as tempting more to non-fighters, especially characters that already have some points in their Cha such as sorcerers, bards or clerics. One round of Daunting could be beneficial for spells that have saves and the character would know they can use it any time because it won’t run out.

Once the enemy is shaken, everyone on the team receives the benefit, so if it is the bard who Daunts the enemy, the wizard and cleric still benefit from the save minus, and anyone in combat with the enemy from being hit less.

 

[DM_Matt]

I see it as tempting more to non-fighters, especially characters that already have some points in their Cha such as sorcerers, bards or clerics. One round of Daunting could be beneficial for spells that have saves and the character would know they can use it any time because it won’t run out.

While they are not available in every compaign, if they are, this characters is vastly better off with almost any reserve feat than this.

 

[sfedi]

It can get nasty if Cause Fear or Fear or Doom or Intimidate, or other feat effects come into play.

Remember that two shaken conditions "stack" into a Fear condition.

 

[moritheil]

Underpowered, if you do not allow it to stack with itself. Probably not overpowered even if you do allow that.*

*I build NPCs with very high saves. This may or may not hold true for "more normal" campaigns.

 

[Stalker0]

I think what we are trying to say is, this is an okay feat, doom is a crappy spell

 

[Zathraas]

At first look, having an at will ability seemed to be a lot for reqs that are not very limiting, but it seems clear that the effect of the ability doesn't have enough game oomph to cause problems.

Thanks for the input.