A Handful of Feats [Archive] - Wizards Community

A Handful of Feats [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Ekko
12-21-07, 09:45 PM I have some feats I've been working on, and I thought I'd get some other opinions on them, before implementing them in my games. I'll add more later, but I'll start you off with 3.

Some that require Stormwrack to use properly:
Piercing Dive
You can dive into water for a powerful attack with a piercing weapon.
Prerequisites: Jump 8 ranks, Swim 4 ranks, Flying Fish Leap
Benefit: When you use your Flying Fish Leap feat, you can dive into the water at the peak of your jump (interrupting your movement halfway) to perform a piercing dive and make one free attack to a creature within reach who must be 10' or less underwater. This attack deals normal damage plus 1d8 damage.
Special: A fighter may select this as a bonus feat. You cannot attack during the same round you use this feat.

Stunning Dive
You can dive into water with such force that you can stun nearby creatures.
Prerequisites: Jump 8 ranks, Swim 4 ranks, Flying Fish Leap
Benefit: When you use your Flying Fish Leap feat, you can dive into the water at the peak of your jump (interrupting your movement halfway) to perform a stunning dive. All creatures in a 5-ft radius burst from the point where you land are stunned for 1d3+Con modifier rounds (Fortitude Save DC 10+Con modifier+1/2 BAB negates). Impacting the water like this deals 1d4 nonlethal damage to the user.
Special: A fighter may select this as a bonus feat. You cannot attack during the same round as you use this feat.

And one that doesn't:
Sidestep Arrows
You can move out of the way of incoming projectiles, including magical rays.
Prerequisites: Dex 15, Dodge
Benefit: Once per round when you would normally be hit with a ranged attack, you may sidestep it so that you take no damage from it. You must be aware of the attack and not flat-footed, and must suceed on a Reflex Save (DC = attack roll of sidestepped projectile) to use this feat. The sidestepped projectile continues on its path, striking any creature behing you in its line of fire.
Attempting to sidestep a ranged weapon doesn’t count as an action. Unusually massive ranged weapons and area spells such as lines or cones cannot be sidestepped.
Special: A monk may select Sidestep Arrows as a bonus feat at 2nd level, even if she does not meet the prerequisites.
A fighter may select Sidestep Arrows as one of his fighter bonus feats.
You can even sidestep spells that require a ranged attack roll, such as Scorching Ray.
Realms of Chaos
12-21-07, 10:55 PM Sidestep arrows is a very good idea for a feat, one that has been around for awhile in one form or another. I think that you worded and implemented it quite nicely.

In response to the first two feats, I have only three words to say:
Mad Merfolk Manuvers. :D
Obsidianjaerc
12-22-07, 12:37 AM Piercing Dive is rather underpowered due to it's extremely limited usage. The concept is not bad, and it would make an interesting magic item.

For stunning dive; well I can't honestly see the flavour ration behind the stunning mechanic. And self-damage is a big no-no.

Sidestep Arrow's is really just a reflavouring and depowering of Deflect Arrows, which one could choose to describe as dodging, anyway. I fail to see it's purpose.
Ekko
12-22-07, 11:47 AM The point of Sidestep Arrows rather than Deflect Arrows is this: the arrow keeps moving, and it works on rays. If there's a hobgoblin behind you, and his buddy casts Disintigrate, but you sidestep it, the hobgoblin behind you gets zapped.

For Stunning Dive, the flavor behind the stun (maybe it should be daze) is that you're impacting the water really hard and stunning the creatures around you. The self damage can be removed, and is supposed to represent that hitting the water that hard hurts. It's also nonlethal.

For Piercing Dive, how can I expand its usage? Should I make it anytime you dive into water?

Both of you, thanks for the feedback.
Obsidianjaerc
12-22-07, 09:36 PM Well regarding the versatility (or lack thereof of Piercing Dive); the flaw is not that it must be part of your Flying Fish Leap, but rather than in the course of play, the circumstances that one use it are quite uncommon. Even in a sea-based campaign, it is only useful during encounters that between air and water. Quite rare indeed. No matter how you play it, it's just not worth a feat.

Once again, I suggest you cannibalize the mechanics for a magic item.

Next:
It does not matter that it's nonlethal, a feat should never involve getting a 'negative', regardless of how flavorful it may be. (Occasionally you will see this rule broken in regards to feats that deal with planar associations or alignment, but they are an exception.) I feel that a dazing is more appropriate and (possible) than stunning.

The prerequisites should be changed to require (in part) Flying Fish Leap OR Large or bigger size. Make the dazing 1+Con modifier rounds. Make the Fortitude save (10+1/2HD+Con modifier+size modifier). Dazing Dive should be able to be used anytime you are diving into the water (ala your suggested fix of Piercing Dive).

I am debating whether Flying Fish Leap should even remain a part of the mechanics in order to make it viable... but that's your decision.

I must have read Sidestep Arrows, incorrectly at first. It does look quite nice at this point, though my intuition tells me that the Prereqs are slightly too low (despite their increase from Deflect Arrows).

:)
Ekko
12-23-07, 03:16 PM Okay...lets do this:
Piercing Dive
You can dive in water for a powerful attack with a piercing weapon.
Prerequisites: Jump 8 ranks, Swim 4 ranks, Flying Fish Leap
Benefit: As a standard action, you can dive up to 10ft. down into water and make perform a piercing dive The dive allows you to make a free attack against a foe within reach. This attack deals normal damage plus 1d8 damage.
Special: A fighter may select this as a bonus feat. You cannot attack during the same round you use this feat.

Stunning Dive
You can dive into water with such force that you can stun nearby creatures.
Prerequisites: Jump 8 ranks, Swim 4 ranks, Flying Fish Leap OR Large or larger size
Benefit: When you dive into water, you can perfrom a stunning dive. All creatures in a 5-ft radius burst from the point where you land are stunned for 1+Con modifier rounds (Fortitude Save DC 10+1/2 HD+Con Modifier+Size modifier negates).
Special: A fighter may select this as a bonus feat. You cannot attack during the same round as you use this feat.

If this fix to Piercing Dive doesn't work, I'll just salvage the idea for a magic item/weapon property. I'm going to leave Sidestep Arrows the way it is, but requiring Mobility might be an idea to ramp up Pre-Reqs.
CryoSilver
12-24-07, 03:22 PM 1+Con modifier is a really long time to stun an enemy; stunning is pretty potent.

I am actually thinking that if you powered down Stunning Dive and thought up one more diving maneuver, that the two feats and the new maneuver could all be rolled into one Tactical feat.
Ekko
12-24-07, 03:53 PM Whoops...I meant to change stun to daze in the last post... I've gone and fixed that now.

I'm not familiar with Tactical feats. What book(s) are they from?
CryoSilver
12-24-07, 04:36 PM Complete Warrior. Basically, a tactical feat is three combat maneuvers too weak to be feats in their own right, but too cool to exclude from the game.
Novacat
12-24-07, 11:30 PM Sidestep Arrows
You can move out of the way of incoming projectiles, including magical rays.
Prerequisites: Dex 15, Dodge
Benefit: Once per round when you would normally be hit with a ranged attack, you may sidestep it so that you take no damage from it. You must be aware of the attack and not flat-footed, and must suceed on a Reflex Save (DC = attack roll of sidestepped projectile) to use this feat. The sidestepped projectile continues on its path, striking any creature behing you in its line of fire.
Attempting to sidestep a ranged weapon doesn’t count as an action. Unusually massive ranged weapons and area spells such as lines or cones cannot be sidestepped.
Special: A monk may select Sidestep Arrows as a bonus feat at 2nd level, even if she does not meet the prerequisites.
A fighter may select Sidestep Arrows as one of his fighter bonus feats.
You can even sidestep spells that require a ranged attack roll, such as Scorching Ray.
Too powerful. For some classes, this almost becomes an immunity to one ranged attack per round, and too closely resembles a couple epic feats. Add a hefty BAB prerequisite, make it an immediate to use, and maybe you've got something. I can't comment on the other two, cause I don't have Stormwrack.
Obsidianjaerc
12-26-07, 03:58 PM Adding another Flying Fish Leap feat and making it Tactical is the only way to salvage Piercing Dive.

I think Dazing Dive is now good.

Contrary to Novacat: I say that Sidestep Arrows is a fine feat. But it definitely needs more prereqs. Mobility is one option, though it's not very thematic. I'd prefer Improved Dodge.
Ekko
12-26-07, 05:18 PM @Jaerc: Improved Dodge is from where? I've seen it, but don't know where I have.

@ Novacat: Deflect Arrows does a very similar thing with less prerequisites and a 100% sucess rate. I think the epic feats both resemble let you deflect an unlimited number of arrows, or reflect them, but those are far superior in power to Sidestep.

I'm not going to bother working with Piecing Dive. I don't have other FFL ideas nor Complete Warrior.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ekko 12-21-07, 09:45 PM	I have some feats I've been working on, and I thought I'd get some other opinions on them, before implementing them in my games. I'll add more later, but I'll start you off with 3. Some that require Stormwrack to use properly: Piercing Dive You can dive into water for a powerful attack with a piercing weapon. Prerequisites: Jump 8 ranks, Swim 4 ranks, Flying Fish Leap Benefit: When you use your Flying Fish Leap feat, you can dive into the water at the peak of your jump (interrupting your movement halfway) to perform a piercing dive and make one free attack to a creature within reach who must be 10' or less underwater. This attack deals normal damage plus 1d8 damage. Special: A fighter may select this as a bonus feat. You cannot attack during the same round you use this feat. Stunning Dive You can dive into water with such force that you can stun nearby creatures. Prerequisites: Jump 8 ranks, Swim 4 ranks, Flying Fish Leap Benefit: When you use your Flying Fish Leap feat, you can dive into the water at the peak of your jump (interrupting your movement halfway) to perform a stunning dive. All creatures in a 5-ft radius burst from the point where you land are stunned for 1d3+Con modifier rounds (Fortitude Save DC 10+Con modifier+1/2 BAB negates). Impacting the water like this deals 1d4 nonlethal damage to the user. Special: A fighter may select this as a bonus feat. You cannot attack during the same round as you use this feat. And one that doesn't: Sidestep Arrows You can move out of the way of incoming projectiles, including magical rays. Prerequisites: Dex 15, Dodge Benefit: Once per round when you would normally be hit with a ranged attack, you may sidestep it so that you take no damage from it. You must be aware of the attack and not flat-footed, and must suceed on a Reflex Save (DC = attack roll of sidestepped projectile) to use this feat. The sidestepped projectile continues on its path, striking any creature behing you in its line of fire. Attempting to sidestep a ranged weapon doesn’t count as an action. Unusually massive ranged weapons and area spells such as lines or cones cannot be sidestepped. Special: A monk may select Sidestep Arrows as a bonus feat at 2nd level, even if she does not meet the prerequisites. A fighter may select Sidestep Arrows as one of his fighter bonus feats. You can even sidestep spells that require a ranged attack roll, such as Scorching Ray.
Realms of Chaos 12-21-07, 10:55 PM	Sidestep arrows is a very good idea for a feat, one that has been around for awhile in one form or another. I think that you worded and implemented it quite nicely. In response to the first two feats, I have only three words to say: Mad Merfolk Manuvers. :D
Obsidianjaerc 12-22-07, 12:37 AM	Piercing Dive is rather underpowered due to it's extremely limited usage. The concept is not bad, and it would make an interesting magic item. For stunning dive; well I can't honestly see the flavour ration behind the stunning mechanic. And self-damage is a big no-no. Sidestep Arrow's is really just a reflavouring and depowering of Deflect Arrows, which one could choose to describe as dodging, anyway. I fail to see it's purpose.
Ekko 12-22-07, 11:47 AM	The point of Sidestep Arrows rather than Deflect Arrows is this: the arrow keeps moving, and it works on rays. If there's a hobgoblin behind you, and his buddy casts Disintigrate, but you sidestep it, the hobgoblin behind you gets zapped. For Stunning Dive, the flavor behind the stun (maybe it should be daze) is that you're impacting the water really hard and stunning the creatures around you. The self damage can be removed, and is supposed to represent that hitting the water that hard hurts. It's also nonlethal. For Piercing Dive, how can I expand its usage? Should I make it anytime you dive into water? Both of you, thanks for the feedback.
Obsidianjaerc 12-22-07, 09:36 PM	Well regarding the versatility (or lack thereof of Piercing Dive); the flaw is not that it must be part of your Flying Fish Leap, but rather than in the course of play, the circumstances that one use it are quite uncommon. Even in a sea-based campaign, it is only useful during encounters that between air and water. Quite rare indeed. No matter how you play it, it's just not worth a feat. Once again, I suggest you cannibalize the mechanics for a magic item. Next: It does not matter that it's nonlethal, a feat should never involve getting a 'negative', regardless of how flavorful it may be. (Occasionally you will see this rule broken in regards to feats that deal with planar associations or alignment, but they are an exception.) I feel that a dazing is more appropriate and (possible) than stunning. The prerequisites should be changed to require (in part) Flying Fish Leap OR Large or bigger size. Make the dazing 1+Con modifier rounds. Make the Fortitude save (10+1/2HD+Con modifier+size modifier). Dazing Dive should be able to be used anytime you are diving into the water (ala your suggested fix of Piercing Dive). I am debating whether Flying Fish Leap should even remain a part of the mechanics in order to make it viable... but that's your decision. I must have read Sidestep Arrows, incorrectly at first. It does look quite nice at this point, though my intuition tells me that the Prereqs are slightly too low (despite their increase from Deflect Arrows). :)
Ekko 12-23-07, 03:16 PM	Okay...lets do this: Piercing Dive You can dive in water for a powerful attack with a piercing weapon. Prerequisites: Jump 8 ranks, Swim 4 ranks, Flying Fish Leap Benefit: As a standard action, you can dive up to 10ft. down into water and make perform a piercing dive The dive allows you to make a free attack against a foe within reach. This attack deals normal damage plus 1d8 damage. Special: A fighter may select this as a bonus feat. You cannot attack during the same round you use this feat. Stunning Dive You can dive into water with such force that you can stun nearby creatures. Prerequisites: Jump 8 ranks, Swim 4 ranks, Flying Fish Leap OR Large or larger size Benefit: When you dive into water, you can perfrom a stunning dive. All creatures in a 5-ft radius burst from the point where you land are stunned for 1+Con modifier rounds (Fortitude Save DC 10+1/2 HD+Con Modifier+Size modifier negates). Special: A fighter may select this as a bonus feat. You cannot attack during the same round as you use this feat. If this fix to Piercing Dive doesn't work, I'll just salvage the idea for a magic item/weapon property. I'm going to leave Sidestep Arrows the way it is, but requiring Mobility might be an idea to ramp up Pre-Reqs.
CryoSilver 12-24-07, 03:22 PM	1+Con modifier is a really long time to stun an enemy; stunning is pretty potent. I am actually thinking that if you powered down Stunning Dive and thought up one more diving maneuver, that the two feats and the new maneuver could all be rolled into one Tactical feat.
Ekko 12-24-07, 03:53 PM	Whoops...I meant to change stun to daze in the last post... I've gone and fixed that now. I'm not familiar with Tactical feats. What book(s) are they from?
CryoSilver 12-24-07, 04:36 PM	Complete Warrior. Basically, a tactical feat is three combat maneuvers too weak to be feats in their own right, but too cool to exclude from the game.
Novacat 12-24-07, 11:30 PM	Sidestep Arrows You can move out of the way of incoming projectiles, including magical rays. Prerequisites: Dex 15, Dodge Benefit: Once per round when you would normally be hit with a ranged attack, you may sidestep it so that you take no damage from it. You must be aware of the attack and not flat-footed, and must suceed on a Reflex Save (DC = attack roll of sidestepped projectile) to use this feat. The sidestepped projectile continues on its path, striking any creature behing you in its line of fire. Attempting to sidestep a ranged weapon doesn’t count as an action. Unusually massive ranged weapons and area spells such as lines or cones cannot be sidestepped. Special: A monk may select Sidestep Arrows as a bonus feat at 2nd level, even if she does not meet the prerequisites. A fighter may select Sidestep Arrows as one of his fighter bonus feats. You can even sidestep spells that require a ranged attack roll, such as Scorching Ray. Too powerful. For some classes, this almost becomes an immunity to one ranged attack per round, and too closely resembles a couple epic feats. Add a hefty BAB prerequisite, make it an immediate to use, and maybe you've got something. I can't comment on the other two, cause I don't have Stormwrack.
Obsidianjaerc 12-26-07, 03:58 PM	Adding another Flying Fish Leap feat and making it Tactical is the only way to salvage Piercing Dive. I think Dazing Dive is now good. Contrary to Novacat: I say that Sidestep Arrows is a fine feat. But it definitely needs more prereqs. Mobility is one option, though it's not very thematic. I'd prefer Improved Dodge.
Ekko 12-26-07, 05:18 PM	@Jaerc: Improved Dodge is from where? I've seen it, but don't know where I have. @ Novacat: Deflect Arrows does a very similar thing with less prerequisites and a 100% sucess rate. I think the epic feats both resemble let you deflect an unlimited number of arrows, or reflect them, but those are far superior in power to Sidestep. I'm not going to bother working with Piecing Dive. I don't have other FFL ideas nor Complete Warrior.