Delaying Feat Selection [Archive] - Wizards Community

Delaying Feat Selection [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Torquil
05-10-07, 10:53 PM I'm flipping through the feats, planning to make my next 1st level character. The Whirlwind Attack feat would be cool with a spiked chain (due to the reach). To get this feat, one must have Combat Expertise, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack - a total of 5 feats (including Whirlwind).

Assuming my guy has INT 13 and DEX 13 (prerequisites for Combat Expertise, Whirlwind Attack and Dodge), a human fighter could obtain the Whirlwind feat by fourth level, since a +4 attack bonus is required for both Whirlwind and Spring Attack. But wait - I only get one new feat when I reach 4th level so I can't select both Spring Attack and Whirlwind Attack...so I select Spring Attack and wait until when I get a new feat at 6th level for Whirlwind Attack.

So, my question: can I "bank" the feat I earn at 3rd level, saving it for when I achieve 4th level. Then, at 4th level, I use my banked feat for Spring Attack, and use my 4th level bonus feat for Whirlwind Attack?

Of course, this all assumes my character lives that long....
jaelis
05-10-07, 10:55 PM Nope, you can't, the rules are pretty clear about it.

Banking feats would let you do as you want and get some advanced feats early. It would also let you into a few PrCs early too.
Torquil
05-10-07, 11:10 PM Wow - that was a fast reply!! Can you point me to where the rules indicate this? I must have skipped over it. Thanks!
jaelis
05-10-07, 11:17 PM The level advancement rules on pgs 58-59 in the PHB spell out exactly what happens and in what order when you advance a level. It says you get a feat every third level, with no allowance for delaying it. So that's what you have to do.

There's situations where I would let a player get away with it. But probably not to let a 4th level fighter get whirlwind attack, I'm afraid!
StevenO
05-10-07, 11:19 PM If it helps consider having to spend feats as you get them to be hidden prereqs for certain feats. If a feat requires you to cast 4th level spells the earliest most character could get it is 9th level inspite of meeting that prereq for the past two levels. Why do that? Because it would also allow a character with a slower spell progression to also gain the feat at the same time; it may be broken before that time but this allows more characters access to it when appropriate.

Getting WW attack at 4th level would be HUGE. You've suddenly taken a character who can normally make one attack and given them the ability to make many, at least at 6th level characters can generally start to make multiple attacks with the same weapon so those extra attacks aren't such a big percentage increase.
Torquil
05-10-07, 11:32 PM Thanks Jaelis - I thought I read that rule somewhere but couldn't find it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Torquil 05-10-07, 10:53 PM	I'm flipping through the feats, planning to make my next 1st level character. The Whirlwind Attack feat would be cool with a spiked chain (due to the reach). To get this feat, one must have Combat Expertise, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack - a total of 5 feats (including Whirlwind). Assuming my guy has INT 13 and DEX 13 (prerequisites for Combat Expertise, Whirlwind Attack and Dodge), a human fighter could obtain the Whirlwind feat by fourth level, since a +4 attack bonus is required for both Whirlwind and Spring Attack. But wait - I only get one new feat when I reach 4th level so I can't select both Spring Attack and Whirlwind Attack...so I select Spring Attack and wait until when I get a new feat at 6th level for Whirlwind Attack. So, my question: can I "bank" the feat I earn at 3rd level, saving it for when I achieve 4th level. Then, at 4th level, I use my banked feat for Spring Attack, and use my 4th level bonus feat for Whirlwind Attack? Of course, this all assumes my character lives that long....
jaelis 05-10-07, 10:55 PM	Nope, you can't, the rules are pretty clear about it. Banking feats would let you do as you want and get some advanced feats early. It would also let you into a few PrCs early too.
Torquil 05-10-07, 11:10 PM	Wow - that was a fast reply!! Can you point me to where the rules indicate this? I must have skipped over it. Thanks!
jaelis 05-10-07, 11:17 PM	The level advancement rules on pgs 58-59 in the PHB spell out exactly what happens and in what order when you advance a level. It says you get a feat every third level, with no allowance for delaying it. So that's what you have to do. There's situations where I would let a player get away with it. But probably not to let a 4th level fighter get whirlwind attack, I'm afraid!
StevenO 05-10-07, 11:19 PM	If it helps consider having to spend feats as you get them to be hidden prereqs for certain feats. If a feat requires you to cast 4th level spells the earliest most character could get it is 9th level inspite of meeting that prereq for the past two levels. Why do that? Because it would also allow a character with a slower spell progression to also gain the feat at the same time; it may be broken before that time but this allows more characters access to it when appropriate. Getting WW attack at 4th level would be HUGE. You've suddenly taken a character who can normally make one attack and given them the ability to make many, at least at 6th level characters can generally start to make multiple attacks with the same weapon so those extra attacks aren't such a big percentage increase.
Torquil 05-10-07, 11:32 PM	Thanks Jaelis - I thought I read that rule somewhere but couldn't find it.