I recently reported an erratum to Gwendoyn Kestrel pointing out that many 1 HD animals have Weapon Finesse even though they don't have the prerequisite +1 BAB to qualify for it. The response was that they knew about the issue, and were probably going to make Weapon Finesse a bonus feat for those animals. I sent another mail suggesting that they could get rid of the prerequisite for Weapon Finesse, seeing as how it would not invalidate any pre-existing characters. Ms. Kestrel wrote back that she liked the idea and had already floated it, but that it was considered too much of a change at this point. I didn't point out that this discrepancy had also been in the 3.0 MM and that giving Weapon Finesse as a bonus feat to all those animals, many of whom are familiars, would mean also having to give them a new regular feat.
I personally don't see any reason why there should be prerequisite for Weapon Finesse. It hurts 1st and 2nd level bards and rogues, without helping anybody else. It doesn't affect 1 HD monsters since the authors of both the 3.0 and 3.5 MMs have ignored the prerequisite.
Weapon Finesse already has two virtual prerequisites:
1. The character's Dex bonus must be higher than +0, and
2. The character's Dex bonus must be higher than his Str bonus. Adding the +1 BAB bonus just adds another prereq.
Did the designers feel that access to this feat would give 1st level rogues too much offensive capability? Even with access to this feat, a 1st level rogue with a 16 Dex will still have a lower attack bonus than a 1st level fighter with a 16 Str, and will do much less damage. 1st level rogues also can't take Weapon Focus.
Rogue w/ short sword +0 BAB, +3 Dex = +3, 1d6.
Fighter w/focus in longsword +1 BAB, +3 Str, +1 WFo = +5, 1d8+3.
It seems strange that Weapon Finesse requires a +1 BAB, but Combat Expertise and Power Attack don't.
I believe we are going to house rule away the prereq in the game I'm in, at least so the familiars will be rules compliant.
Is this prereq justified? Or do you ignore it already?
I personally don't see any reason why there should be prerequisite for Weapon Finesse. It hurts 1st and 2nd level bards and rogues, without helping anybody else. It doesn't affect 1 HD monsters since the authors of both the 3.0 and 3.5 MMs have ignored the prerequisite.
Weapon Finesse already has two virtual prerequisites:
1. The character's Dex bonus must be higher than +0, and
2. The character's Dex bonus must be higher than his Str bonus. Adding the +1 BAB bonus just adds another prereq.
Did the designers feel that access to this feat would give 1st level rogues too much offensive capability? Even with access to this feat, a 1st level rogue with a 16 Dex will still have a lower attack bonus than a 1st level fighter with a 16 Str, and will do much less damage. 1st level rogues also can't take Weapon Focus.
Rogue w/ short sword +0 BAB, +3 Dex = +3, 1d6.
Fighter w/focus in longsword +1 BAB, +3 Str, +1 WFo = +5, 1d8+3.
It seems strange that Weapon Finesse requires a +1 BAB, but Combat Expertise and Power Attack don't.
I believe we are going to house rule away the prereq in the game I'm in, at least so the familiars will be rules compliant.
Is this prereq justified? Or do you ignore it already?
