Maybe a Dumb Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Maybe a Dumb Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Kaladon7779
08-16-07, 09:14 AM when you gain a level and you get your bonus feat for that level, do you have to spend that feat? or can feats be banked for future use?
Mindolin
08-16-07, 09:21 AM From everything I've seen, they cannot be saved. You must use them as you gain them, though I might allow them to be saved as a houserule.
tarkin
08-16-07, 10:21 AM 1. The core rules explictedly state that no, you can not save them. You must use them immediately.

2. If you allow people to 'bank' them, then certain prestige classes become takeable MUCH earlier than without, particularly for single class characters.

3. Everything that lets you change the feats you already have (that I know of), currently requires you to replace existing feats only with something that you could have taken when you originally got the feat.
Kaladon7779
08-16-07, 11:37 AM That's how I thought it worked. But my GM in my group is allowing me to bank one of my feats for something specific that i don't qualify for until next level, so basically I got the bonus feat at 4th level, but qualification is 5th level. He's basically asking me to specificaly take this feat for roleplaying purposes.
jaelis
08-16-07, 12:06 PM You can always do something if your DM says you can, nothing wrong with that at all. And it doesn't sound like anyone is trying to abuse the system here.
Illithid_Tentacles
08-17-07, 01:52 AM Why in God's name is this asked every week?
Tedronai
08-17-07, 06:40 PM Because a surprising number of feats have stupid prerequisites that mean you first qualify for that feat (for most characters, at least) just before or just after gaining a feat, rather than at a level where you could actually take it.
Things like BAB of +5, or 8 ranks in a skill.
That instills the wish in people that they COULD just save that feat for a level or two before spending it, and then they ask whether or not they can.

And if it's done mid-campaign, I would be inclined to allow it. After all, they will have to survive for those few levels short a feat in order to gain that benefit, and that would make their life all the more difficult in the meantime.
If allowed for starting characters, however, it would be patently broken. If you need an example, just think of a character who took all their feats at epic levels, and tell me that doesn't scare you.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kaladon7779 08-16-07, 09:14 AM	when you gain a level and you get your bonus feat for that level, do you have to spend that feat? or can feats be banked for future use?
Mindolin 08-16-07, 09:21 AM	From everything I've seen, they cannot be saved. You must use them as you gain them, though I might allow them to be saved as a houserule.
tarkin 08-16-07, 10:21 AM	1. The core rules explictedly state that no, you can not save them. You must use them immediately. 2. If you allow people to 'bank' them, then certain prestige classes become takeable MUCH earlier than without, particularly for single class characters. 3. Everything that lets you change the feats you already have (that I know of), currently requires you to replace existing feats only with something that you could have taken when you originally got the feat.
Kaladon7779 08-16-07, 11:37 AM	That's how I thought it worked. But my GM in my group is allowing me to bank one of my feats for something specific that i don't qualify for until next level, so basically I got the bonus feat at 4th level, but qualification is 5th level. He's basically asking me to specificaly take this feat for roleplaying purposes.
jaelis 08-16-07, 12:06 PM	You can always do something if your DM says you can, nothing wrong with that at all. And it doesn't sound like anyone is trying to abuse the system here.
Illithid_Tentacles 08-17-07, 01:52 AM	Why in God's name is this asked every week?
Tedronai 08-17-07, 06:40 PM	Because a surprising number of feats have stupid prerequisites that mean you first qualify for that feat (for most characters, at least) just before or just after gaining a feat, rather than at a level where you could actually take it. Things like BAB of +5, or 8 ranks in a skill. That instills the wish in people that they COULD just save that feat for a level or two before spending it, and then they ask whether or not they can. And if it's done mid-campaign, I would be inclined to allow it. After all, they will have to survive for those few levels short a feat in order to gain that benefit, and that would make their life all the more difficult in the meantime. If allowed for starting characters, however, it would be patently broken. If you need an example, just think of a character who took all their feats at epic levels, and tell me that doesn't scare you.