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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lord Ernie" data-source="post: 5454835" data-attributes="member: 58517">In my campaign, I've handed out a set of free feats for the following reasons:<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Even out the combat math. Players with good attacks at level 1, who increase their attack stat at every turn, should have just about the same chance to hit and get hit by an even level monster all the way to level 30 (note that this isn't opinion, it's part of 4E design). This is not true, however, because you need some feats like "Improved Defenses" and the Expertise feats for this to work out. This is the classic definition of 'feat tax'.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Even out the playing ground between PC's, to a degree. It's fine for an optimizer to be somewhat ahead of the rest of the party, but when at higher levels, the difference can become overwhelming (like a +3 difference in attack due to expertise feats), this becomes a problem. Note that I'm pretty much the biggest optimizer in my group when I play (I switch between player and DM state every few sessions).</li> </ol>To all those saying that feat taxes don't exist, because ths system runs fine without it: this is true, to a certain extent. Good use of tactics and smart use of the right powers, or simply a certain attitude towards combat/the rules in general can make this issue seem unimportant. However, as I said before, a mostly stable chance to hit/get hit is part of 4E design (e.g. it's part of the reason AC and NADs increase at the same rate by level, for everyone).So, for the above-mentioned reasons, I've implemented the following houserules in my campaign:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Expertise feats do not take up feat slots. This allows any character to have the appropriate expertise feats avaiable, whether they use a simgle or multiple weapon/implement types.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">At level 11, everyone gets Paragon defenses for free. At level 21, everyone gets Epic Defenses for free. Improved defenses is still open for those who want a +1 on top of that, and the Superior Fort/Ref/Will feats are open for those who want specialized bonuses.</li> </ul>This does not get rid of all the feat taxes (melee training, for non-strength based melee classes, for example), but it does so for the most part.</blockquote>

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