[WoT] Woodsmen/Warders and Improved Init.

[WolverineJon]

I'm currently running a mostly by-the-book Wheel of Time campaign, set in the time period of The Fires of Heaven. One of my players, playing a Woodsman character planning on possibly multiclassing to Warder down the road, has asked me whether he can waive the Warder class prerequisite of the Improved Initiative feat, due to the Woodman class ability of Partial Improved Initative, provided that his character will never wear armor other than light armor. The player has suggested removing the Warder's Armor Compatibility requirement in exchange for this.

Does this sound balanced? I'm not sure about removing a feat requirement for the Warder class. I'm considering allowing a substitute prerequisite feat instead. Any suggestions? Lightning Reflexes, perhaps?

 

[drothgery]

By standard rules, he shouldn't have to sacrifice any special abilities. Just as the D&D Ranger's "virtual feats" can be substituted for the real thing for Feat and Prestige Class pre-req's, so can the WoT woodsman's.

Remember that Armor Compatibility is going to be much less useful for a Woodsman/Warder than the stereotypical armsman/warder, as it will only apply to his Warder levels.

 

[CD]

I agree. What he is trying is not at all out of game balance. Allow the virtual feat to count as well as having the actual one and don't penalize him other than that. The trade off is that his Improved Initiative is still tied to armor and if he wears heavier than medium he'll be the slowest Warder around.