Combat Form Feats [Archive] - Wizards Community

Combat Form Feats [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Northwest
12-06-06, 12:32 AM I like the idea of these feats, (especially vigor and stability) but not sure how good they would be in practice. Any of you guys tried them out?
Archangel62
12-06-06, 12:34 AM Combat vigor and stability are some of the best, especially for tank builds. Biggest problem is just that I wish there were more combat focus feats available that could be used and added to the chain.
VonRichthofen
12-06-06, 09:55 AM Stability is allright, very good once you bring it to +8.

Fast Healing 4 is also very nice, alltough most encounters don't last very long, there's no reason preventing you from keeping the focus to heal up to around 60 hp.

In my campaign, where clerical support is somewhat limited, fighters are well off with the Combat Focus feat chain.
For other classes, the investment might be too high to become a viable option - haven't tried it in-game as of yet.
Particle_Man
12-06-06, 01:28 PM Combat Focus is good for fighters, as they NEED will save bonuses to avoid getting charmed vs. their party.

Combat Stability is ok if your DM does a lot of "special maneuvers" opponents that frequently try to disarm, bull rush, grapple, overrun and trip you. In my campaign, there are some grapplers, so it is nice to have as a defence.

Combat defence is not that useful, IMHO. And it has a prerequisite. Frankly, if you are facing two opponents, and already have Dodge, Elusive Target looks way more attractive.

Combat Vigour is great! Fast Healing is never a bad thing.

Combat Awareness...not sure it is worth a feat, unless you are using a rogue build and want to use the blindsight to negate a blur spell. But at this high a level you should have other means of doing that. And it has an extra prerequisite!

Comabat Strike is absolutely not worth a feat. You lose ALL the other combat form benefits for a single round of having a maximum of +6 attack and damage (actually a single turn, so you don't even get it for Aoos between this turn and the next one). At 15th level minimum this is a joke.

So, since 3 feats is the magical 'upgrade' number, I would go for Combat Focus, Combat Stability and Combat Vigor, and forget about the rest, if you are a tank fighter. If you are taking Blind Fight anyway, you might go for Combat Awareness either in addition to or instead of Combat Stability.
Kusari_Gamer
12-06-06, 02:06 PM My Warblade is loving these feats, but they're only worth taking if you are going to synergize.

Combat Focus - +4 Will Save. Never a bad thing for a fighter

Combat Stability - +8 to resist most special attacks. This coupled with the Warblade's lvl 11 Battle Skill puts me at +29 to resist grapples, etc....and that's before I roll my d20.

Combat Defense - Just doesn't seem worth the feat to me. That, and I don't want to have to invest in Dodge.

Combat Vigor - Fast Healing 4. This and my damage reduction 5 from equipment allowed me to get the hell beaten out of me and still end up taking minimal damage.

Combat Awareness - Blindsight out to 5 feet=freaking useful. Learning the hit points of adjacent opponents=cheesy but even more freaking useful.

Combat Strike - No thanks
Midvalley
12-06-06, 02:23 PM I definately wish there were more feats in the chain, they give Fighters (those who can Afford the feats) a nice boost! For my current Elvin Fighter, I'm planning on taking the whole tree (next level I'm taking combat vigor, I'm 8th Level) Presently, I have Combat D too, and I think it is worth it (every bit of AC helps).

mid :)
Particle_Man
12-06-06, 08:05 PM You are going for Combat Strike at a level when you could be taking Defensive Sweep or Overwhelming Assault? Why? It will negate *all* of your other combat form feats and it is only good for one turn.
grendyltek
05-14-07, 11:25 AM Hello,

Wanting to revitalize this thread because we would like your take on the Combat Form feats now that they have been in use for a while.
With the positive aspects obvious, I would like to ask yall to critique some cons that we have wondered about before these feats are invested in.

1. In your experience, have they been readily activated? It appears that the combat forms would not apply to surprise rounds on us...

2. Has the duration been a problem? Thinking back for us at least, thankfully all our encounters have been skirmishes less than or equal to ten rounds.

Thanks for any takes!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Northwest 12-06-06, 12:32 AM	I like the idea of these feats, (especially vigor and stability) but not sure how good they would be in practice. Any of you guys tried them out?
Archangel62 12-06-06, 12:34 AM	Combat vigor and stability are some of the best, especially for tank builds. Biggest problem is just that I wish there were more combat focus feats available that could be used and added to the chain.
VonRichthofen 12-06-06, 09:55 AM	Stability is allright, very good once you bring it to +8. Fast Healing 4 is also very nice, alltough most encounters don't last very long, there's no reason preventing you from keeping the focus to heal up to around 60 hp. In my campaign, where clerical support is somewhat limited, fighters are well off with the Combat Focus feat chain. For other classes, the investment might be too high to become a viable option - haven't tried it in-game as of yet.
Particle_Man 12-06-06, 01:28 PM	Combat Focus is good for fighters, as they NEED will save bonuses to avoid getting charmed vs. their party. Combat Stability is ok if your DM does a lot of "special maneuvers" opponents that frequently try to disarm, bull rush, grapple, overrun and trip you. In my campaign, there are some grapplers, so it is nice to have as a defence. Combat defence is not that useful, IMHO. And it has a prerequisite. Frankly, if you are facing two opponents, and already have Dodge, Elusive Target looks way more attractive. Combat Vigour is great! Fast Healing is never a bad thing. Combat Awareness...not sure it is worth a feat, unless you are using a rogue build and want to use the blindsight to negate a blur spell. But at this high a level you should have other means of doing that. And it has an extra prerequisite! Comabat Strike is absolutely not worth a feat. You lose ALL the other combat form benefits for a single round of having a maximum of +6 attack and damage (actually a single turn, so you don't even get it for Aoos between this turn and the next one). At 15th level minimum this is a joke. So, since 3 feats is the magical 'upgrade' number, I would go for Combat Focus, Combat Stability and Combat Vigor, and forget about the rest, if you are a tank fighter. If you are taking Blind Fight anyway, you might go for Combat Awareness either in addition to or instead of Combat Stability.
Kusari_Gamer 12-06-06, 02:06 PM	My Warblade is loving these feats, but they're only worth taking if you are going to synergize. Combat Focus - +4 Will Save. Never a bad thing for a fighter Combat Stability - +8 to resist most special attacks. This coupled with the Warblade's lvl 11 Battle Skill puts me at +29 to resist grapples, etc....and that's before I roll my d20. Combat Defense - Just doesn't seem worth the feat to me. That, and I don't want to have to invest in Dodge. Combat Vigor - Fast Healing 4. This and my damage reduction 5 from equipment allowed me to get the hell beaten out of me and still end up taking minimal damage. Combat Awareness - Blindsight out to 5 feet=freaking useful. Learning the hit points of adjacent opponents=cheesy but even more freaking useful. Combat Strike - No thanks
Midvalley 12-06-06, 02:23 PM	I definately wish there were more feats in the chain, they give Fighters (those who can Afford the feats) a nice boost! For my current Elvin Fighter, I'm planning on taking the whole tree (next level I'm taking combat vigor, I'm 8th Level) Presently, I have Combat D too, and I think it is worth it (every bit of AC helps). mid :)
Particle_Man 12-06-06, 08:05 PM	You are going for Combat Strike at a level when you could be taking Defensive Sweep or Overwhelming Assault? Why? It will negate all of your other combat form feats and it is only good for one turn.
grendyltek 05-14-07, 11:25 AM	Hello, Wanting to revitalize this thread because we would like your take on the Combat Form feats now that they have been in use for a while. With the positive aspects obvious, I would like to ask yall to critique some cons that we have wondered about before these feats are invested in. 1. In your experience, have they been readily activated? It appears that the combat forms would not apply to surprise rounds on us... 2. Has the duration been a problem? Thinking back for us at least, thankfully all our encounters have been skirmishes less than or equal to ten rounds. Thanks for any takes!