How to improve Attack bonus? [Archive] - Wizards Community

How to improve Attack bonus? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
metaridley18
07-12-07, 01:32 PM Okay, so I'm building a character who's built entirely around hitting his opponent no matter what. I've got the class and all that, I'm just looking for feats that specifically improve the attack bonus.

So far, I've got Weapon Focus, which is a given, of course, and Reckless Offense from XPH. (-4 to AC, +2 to hit). I'm looking for anything that will improve the attack bonus, no matter what it is.

This is for an NPC I'm making, and it's unlikely that the PC's will ever fight him, but I think that game mechanics help flavor an NPC a lot. Basically, this guy will sacrifice anything to hit his enemy.

I'm hoping there's something out there that's like Power Attack in reverse. Thanks for the help.
tarkin
07-12-07, 01:58 PM There really isn't an anti-power attack.

Mainly because if they did it, it would have to be -3 to damage, +1 to hit, if you don't do damage, you don't count as hitting. Anything else is not fair.

--------

There is of course Greater Weapon Focus (increases it to +2)

That said, some questions about your character.

1. Is his dex higher than his strength? If so Weapon Finesse.

2. Are you an archer type? Greater Bracers of Archery are really good.

3. Are you OK with decreasing damage? anything that makes you smaller increases your ac and grants you a size bonus to hit, at the cost of damage. Reduce Person or start him off as small.

4. I believe their are Combat Focus stuff from the Book of Nine that also helps, but I forgot which.
metaridley18
07-12-07, 02:01 PM That makes sense about reverse power attack.

This is going to be a sword and board fighter type, weighed down with full plate and all the like. Dex is minimum, so weapon finesse is out. I'll look into size reduction, that's not a bad idea. Thanks for the tip, I didn't think to check Nine Swords.

Any other suggestions?
Malchius
07-12-07, 02:07 PM Go for the standard bonus' on his weapon (eg. +2) instead of flaming or what notm this will definately make his plus to hit higher than usual. How about something that makes the enemie's AC lower, like that feat out of complete adventurer that bypasses armour after a couple of rounds, or Improved Init so he has a chance to go first and catch people off-guard.
Majick
07-12-07, 03:13 PM All the Weapon Focus feats is an obvious one, nothing but generic +5 enchantment to weapon is the next most obvious

Also, some people use two handed weapons as (1.5 X strength to damage) and others use them as (1.5 X strength) - the main difference being that the second gives you a bonus to hit as well as damage, so check which one you guys use

Also, find some way to flank if you can and take EVERY flanking feat that get's you bonuses to hit, even if you have to get some sort of summon or semi-corporeal creature to HELP him flank, you can get something like +6 to hit from a few feats in the PHB2

Also, hitting no matter what is good, but think situational: if they are prone or grappled you get the lay smack down that little bit easier, so find ways, or allies, to help your NPC with this (perhaps his flanking buddy again?)
arjomanes
07-12-07, 03:39 PM If he has good ranks in balance and he can set up where the encounter happens, he can make sure they're balancing, which denies his opponents dexterity bonuses.

Also other conditional bonuses, such as high ground, making sure there isn't cover or concealment, and other ways of controlling the battlefield to put him at an advantage will help his attacks. A warblade would be a fitting class for this kind of martial character.
Eerongal
07-12-07, 03:52 PM pending on what this guy is going to be fighting, a brilliant energy weapon could really help.
Malchius
07-12-07, 04:17 PM Also if he's going to be fighting a lot of creatures with Damage Reduction Sure Striking is good or baneblind for people he hates ctach people of guard or have an uber bonus on your weapon:D
CainJustice
07-19-07, 09:33 AM even though it's temporary, find some magic that imbues your character with the true strike ability.
zelf_gale
07-19-07, 10:41 AM Skill Focus (Bluff), Persuasive, Improved Feint, Improved Trip, Gauntlets of Ogre Strength/Belt of Giant Strength, Improved Sunder (for use on shields)
Hsien
07-19-07, 11:29 AM Imp Melee Mastery gives +2 hit/+2 damage which stacks with focus/spec.

If you specialized weapon is peircing, take Melee Mastery ( Peircing ) and you will get the Peircing Mastery bonus of +2hit/+2damage on Sheild Spike attack, since it is a Peircing attack...don't forget Imp Sheild Bash though.

Also works with Armor spikes.
Someone
07-19-07, 01:06 PM This might sound dumb and/or sarcastic, but try leveling up. So long as you stick to "good" BAB classes like the fighter, your attack bonus will go up with levels. Also, it takes levels in fighter to qualify for stuff like greater weapon focus.

On a more helpful topic, combat maneuvers can be a place to look. Improved Trip, for example, is a touch attack (which usually hit often), and thwacking somebody on the ground gets a +4.
1hitparry
07-19-07, 03:36 PM Do they make potions of true strike? That might work. If your character happens to be a fighter/caster, extended wraith strike will work (though is more on the broken side).
VonRichthofen
07-25-07, 12:29 PM Also, some people use two handed weapons as (1.5 X strength to damage) and others use them as (1.5 X strength) - the main difference being that the second gives you a bonus to hit as well as damage, so check which one you guys use

Gordon Bennett! What kind of people are you playing with? That latter reading is totally whacky and has nothing to do with D&D rules. Just plain rules-breaking uber-munchkinism.

I can't believe there are many people who deliberately read the rules THAT wrong AND get to pass them by their DM.
DrRufio
07-25-07, 02:59 PM You can always just find ways to buff up his strength, like taking a level in barbarian and getting the str bonuses for raging, and possibly taking the reckless rage feat that gives you more str bonuses at an increased AC penalty while raging. Also grab some str increasing magic items. The added bonus to this is on top of getting a lot of attack bonus increases, it also increases damage.
Rolof
07-26-07, 09:12 AM There are many to-hit bonus feats, other than the weapon focus tree, you
might have to be willing to select a theme:

Flanking: There are many +hit flanking feats, you might consider having the
enemy you conceived actually be two enemies who fight in tandem, with the
vexing flanker (+4 instead of +2) feat and others. For added fun, maybe have
them be like the GI Joe twin characters; who took each other's damage, not
the damage that should have been theirs. There's probably a feat that does
something like that anyway, I just don't know it if there is.

Ranged: Halflings get +hit with thrown weapons AND +hit against their foes
larger than they are. There are many ranged weapon feats too, such as the
point blank shot (+1/+1 within 30ft) bowslinger (+2 against flatfooted target
with ranged weapon) able sniper (another +2 against flatfooted, it will help of
course to be initiative focused for both of these) and woodland archer feats
(allows use of the 'adjust for range' tactical maneuver, which grants a +4 to
remaining shots in a round in which you miss an attack).

Attacks of Opportunity: Lots of these as well, if you like reckless offense, I'm
betting you'd love Robilar's gambit, and there's also deft opportunist, etc for a
nice combo effect. Expert tactician can come into play too.

Small Size: Lots of benefits to being small size, and many feats that capitalize
on it; there's giantbane, confound the big folk, low blow...heh, can't resist a
bad joke; Lorena Bobbit the Hobbit. Oh yeah, don't forget swarm fighting.

Religious: Pious Soul (add +1d6 to attack or other roll once a day, or more if
you have more 'faith points' to use) Lolth's meat (kill a weak character to add
+1/+1), probably others I don't know plus spells and domain stuff too.

Tactical: Raptor school (hawkeye maneuver; study opponent up to 3 rounds
and do nothing else, at the end of studying rounds, gain 2x rounds studied
as a bonus to hit/damage max of +6/+6), sense weakness, deft strike, etc.

Leader/army:
If your baddy is gonna be the boss of a bunch of other creatures, the great
captain feat allows a character to use aid another to provide +hit with aid
another to all his allies on his ship. Think there's another feat or ability that
increases aid another from +2 to +4...that quickly becomes quite an army if
combined. If you're a dread pirate, you can "rally the crew" and give yourself
and allies +2/+2, these can be added together for +6/+2.

Luck: Lots of these now, but I don't have the Scoundrel book where I hear
most of them are. From what I do know, there's one that can make a rolled
1 into a natural 20 on an attack roll...in effect making critical better too.

Magic: True strike, Hunter's Mercy (one attack auto-hits, and is considered
a crit, but must be confirmed), wraithstrike (considered cheesy) etc. Then
there's weapon properties like brilliant energy or force (projectile weapon that
overcomes damage reduction and hits incorporeal).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
metaridley18 07-12-07, 01:32 PM	Okay, so I'm building a character who's built entirely around hitting his opponent no matter what. I've got the class and all that, I'm just looking for feats that specifically improve the attack bonus. So far, I've got Weapon Focus, which is a given, of course, and Reckless Offense from XPH. (-4 to AC, +2 to hit). I'm looking for anything that will improve the attack bonus, no matter what it is. This is for an NPC I'm making, and it's unlikely that the PC's will ever fight him, but I think that game mechanics help flavor an NPC a lot. Basically, this guy will sacrifice anything to hit his enemy. I'm hoping there's something out there that's like Power Attack in reverse. Thanks for the help.
tarkin 07-12-07, 01:58 PM	There really isn't an anti-power attack. Mainly because if they did it, it would have to be -3 to damage, +1 to hit, if you don't do damage, you don't count as hitting. Anything else is not fair. -------- There is of course Greater Weapon Focus (increases it to +2) That said, some questions about your character. 1. Is his dex higher than his strength? If so Weapon Finesse. 2. Are you an archer type? Greater Bracers of Archery are really good. 3. Are you OK with decreasing damage? anything that makes you smaller increases your ac and grants you a size bonus to hit, at the cost of damage. Reduce Person or start him off as small. 4. I believe their are Combat Focus stuff from the Book of Nine that also helps, but I forgot which.
metaridley18 07-12-07, 02:01 PM	That makes sense about reverse power attack. This is going to be a sword and board fighter type, weighed down with full plate and all the like. Dex is minimum, so weapon finesse is out. I'll look into size reduction, that's not a bad idea. Thanks for the tip, I didn't think to check Nine Swords. Any other suggestions?
Malchius 07-12-07, 02:07 PM	Go for the standard bonus' on his weapon (eg. +2) instead of flaming or what notm this will definately make his plus to hit higher than usual. How about something that makes the enemie's AC lower, like that feat out of complete adventurer that bypasses armour after a couple of rounds, or Improved Init so he has a chance to go first and catch people off-guard.
Majick 07-12-07, 03:13 PM	All the Weapon Focus feats is an obvious one, nothing but generic +5 enchantment to weapon is the next most obvious Also, some people use two handed weapons as (1.5 X strength to damage) and others use them as (1.5 X strength) - the main difference being that the second gives you a bonus to hit as well as damage, so check which one you guys use Also, find some way to flank if you can and take EVERY flanking feat that get's you bonuses to hit, even if you have to get some sort of summon or semi-corporeal creature to HELP him flank, you can get something like +6 to hit from a few feats in the PHB2 Also, hitting no matter what is good, but think situational: if they are prone or grappled you get the lay smack down that little bit easier, so find ways, or allies, to help your NPC with this (perhaps his flanking buddy again?)
arjomanes 07-12-07, 03:39 PM	If he has good ranks in balance and he can set up where the encounter happens, he can make sure they're balancing, which denies his opponents dexterity bonuses. Also other conditional bonuses, such as high ground, making sure there isn't cover or concealment, and other ways of controlling the battlefield to put him at an advantage will help his attacks. A warblade would be a fitting class for this kind of martial character.
Eerongal 07-12-07, 03:52 PM	pending on what this guy is going to be fighting, a brilliant energy weapon could really help.
Malchius 07-12-07, 04:17 PM	Also if he's going to be fighting a lot of creatures with Damage Reduction Sure Striking is good or baneblind for people he hates ctach people of guard or have an uber bonus on your weapon:D
CainJustice 07-19-07, 09:33 AM	even though it's temporary, find some magic that imbues your character with the true strike ability.
zelf_gale 07-19-07, 10:41 AM	Skill Focus (Bluff), Persuasive, Improved Feint, Improved Trip, Gauntlets of Ogre Strength/Belt of Giant Strength, Improved Sunder (for use on shields)
Hsien 07-19-07, 11:29 AM	Imp Melee Mastery gives +2 hit/+2 damage which stacks with focus/spec. If you specialized weapon is peircing, take Melee Mastery ( Peircing ) and you will get the Peircing Mastery bonus of +2hit/+2damage on Sheild Spike attack, since it is a Peircing attack...don't forget Imp Sheild Bash though. Also works with Armor spikes.
Someone 07-19-07, 01:06 PM	This might sound dumb and/or sarcastic, but try leveling up. So long as you stick to "good" BAB classes like the fighter, your attack bonus will go up with levels. Also, it takes levels in fighter to qualify for stuff like greater weapon focus. On a more helpful topic, combat maneuvers can be a place to look. Improved Trip, for example, is a touch attack (which usually hit often), and thwacking somebody on the ground gets a +4.
1hitparry 07-19-07, 03:36 PM	Do they make potions of true strike? That might work. If your character happens to be a fighter/caster, extended wraith strike will work (though is more on the broken side).
VonRichthofen 07-25-07, 12:29 PM	Also, some people use two handed weapons as (1.5 X strength to damage) and others use them as (1.5 X strength) - the main difference being that the second gives you a bonus to hit as well as damage, so check which one you guys use Gordon Bennett! What kind of people are you playing with? That latter reading is totally whacky and has nothing to do with D&D rules. Just plain rules-breaking uber-munchkinism. I can't believe there are many people who deliberately read the rules THAT wrong AND get to pass them by their DM.
DrRufio 07-25-07, 02:59 PM	You can always just find ways to buff up his strength, like taking a level in barbarian and getting the str bonuses for raging, and possibly taking the reckless rage feat that gives you more str bonuses at an increased AC penalty while raging. Also grab some str increasing magic items. The added bonus to this is on top of getting a lot of attack bonus increases, it also increases damage.
Rolof 07-26-07, 09:12 AM	There are many to-hit bonus feats, other than the weapon focus tree, you might have to be willing to select a theme: Flanking: There are many +hit flanking feats, you might consider having the enemy you conceived actually be two enemies who fight in tandem, with the vexing flanker (+4 instead of +2) feat and others. For added fun, maybe have them be like the GI Joe twin characters; who took each other's damage, not the damage that should have been theirs. There's probably a feat that does something like that anyway, I just don't know it if there is. Ranged: Halflings get +hit with thrown weapons AND +hit against their foes larger than they are. There are many ranged weapon feats too, such as the point blank shot (+1/+1 within 30ft) bowslinger (+2 against flatfooted target with ranged weapon) able sniper (another +2 against flatfooted, it will help of course to be initiative focused for both of these) and woodland archer feats (allows use of the 'adjust for range' tactical maneuver, which grants a +4 to remaining shots in a round in which you miss an attack). Attacks of Opportunity: Lots of these as well, if you like reckless offense, I'm betting you'd love Robilar's gambit, and there's also deft opportunist, etc for a nice combo effect. Expert tactician can come into play too. Small Size: Lots of benefits to being small size, and many feats that capitalize on it; there's giantbane, confound the big folk, low blow...heh, can't resist a bad joke; Lorena Bobbit the Hobbit. Oh yeah, don't forget swarm fighting. Religious: Pious Soul (add +1d6 to attack or other roll once a day, or more if you have more 'faith points' to use) Lolth's meat (kill a weak character to add +1/+1), probably others I don't know plus spells and domain stuff too. Tactical: Raptor school (hawkeye maneuver; study opponent up to 3 rounds and do nothing else, at the end of studying rounds, gain 2x rounds studied as a bonus to hit/damage max of +6/+6), sense weakness, deft strike, etc. Leader/army: If your baddy is gonna be the boss of a bunch of other creatures, the great captain feat allows a character to use aid another to provide +hit with aid another to all his allies on his ship. Think there's another feat or ability that increases aid another from +2 to +4...that quickly becomes quite an army if combined. If you're a dread pirate, you can "rally the crew" and give yourself and allies +2/+2, these can be added together for +6/+2. Luck: Lots of these now, but I don't have the Scoundrel book where I hear most of them are. From what I do know, there's one that can make a rolled 1 into a natural 20 on an attack roll...in effect making critical better too. Magic: True strike, Hunter's Mercy (one attack auto-hits, and is considered a crit, but must be confirmed), wraithstrike (considered cheesy) etc. Then there's weapon properties like brilliant energy or force (projectile weapon that overcomes damage reduction and hits incorporeal).