Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lord_Ao 08-01-07, 03:48 AM	STIFLE BLOW [GENERAL] Prerequisite: Int 15, Combat Expertise, Dodge Benefit: This feat is activated in any round that you take advantage of the extra AC bonus granted by the Combat Expertise feat, and lasts until the beginning of your next round. Whenever somebody successfully hits you with an attack during a round when this feat is active, you ignore an amount of damage equal to the amount of attack bonus sacrificed for AC multiplied by 2. Special: A fighter may select Stifle Blow as one of his fighter bonus feats
Traverse 08-01-07, 04:17 AM	STIFLE BLOW [GENERAL] ... ... Special: ... Combat Expertise ... Whosawhatsits? Perhaps those should read Superb Dodge? Anywhoos, this seems a bit powerful. A level 2 fighter could just sit around for any number of rounds in a low level fight, waiting for his -5 to hit blows to land. At least have this only apply to the opponent the character has Dodge applied to, as you are using Dodge to start this feat combo. One should never be ignorant of damage. One might be a leper. :P Edit: Ah, yes. Dazzer has it. I'll stick to my single, meager gun for the dodge target only.
Dazzer 08-01-07, 05:02 AM	It's mostly balanced, in considerations to the fighter types (full base) Reasoning: The above arguement is flawed. At level 2 a fighter can only sacrifice his +2 base attack for -2 to hit, and therefore be gaining DR 4/- (which is essentially what the feat gives). Overpowering? Not really. A warforged can have DR 4/adamantine by then...same thing when you consider the level, except a warforged takes no penalty. At higher levels, it caps out at a whopping DR 10/-, which btw, wouldn't stack with adamantine armour, augment crystals, and dwarven defender etc.... bonuses. Additionally. It requires two feats (Dodge, and Combat Expertise). This means your fighter MUST have 15 int, and 13 dex, as well as two pre-req feats. Given a standard 25 point by character 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8. 15 int, 13 dex. That leaves a 14, 12 and 10 for the normal major fighter stats (strength, con, wis, in that order). A swashbuckler gets 7 feats (8 for human) during his career, but will likely have combat expertise anyway (maybe not dodge). A fighter with 15 int on those stats (the standard PB, or average rolled in theory!) Has nothing else he can do with that int other than have more ranks in handle animal....or...jump....or...climb? That's it. The INT is essentially useless. Barbarian, more skills, less strength? For Rogues, this could be godly, but they don't get 5 base attack until 7th level, and don't have much base to sacrifice in any case (-5 to hit for rogues usually means no more hitting). Albeit now he doesn't take damage as much. A good thing to put on this feat perhaps, is a stipulation however. Improved Combat Expertise doesn't work (maximum DR 10/- would be a good wording to place in there). Perhaps a base attack requirement, in the manner of +8, or +12, would be required, making this feat a mid-level fighter/high level 3/4 base, or high level fighter/very high level 3/4 base, and essentially barring it from wizards/sorcs/psions etc.. Without a base requirement, perhaps it does only work against the target of his dodge feat. Personally, I like it as is, and it works for me. (with augment crystals, armour spec, and armour of adamantine...all of which stack (they specifically state in their descriptions that they do)....I've seen DR 10/- for the first 50 damage, and DR 5/- for the rest of the day. All day long, no penalties. This is in consideration to a defensive 9th level character, with appropriate gear.
jaelis 08-01-07, 08:18 AM	Seems a little strong to me. I always figured DR x is about worth AC +x (based on the 2:1 damage/attack from power attack). So this feat is more or less doubling the benefit of Combat Expertise, which just seems like too much. I think getting DR equal to your CE penalty would be good enough to make it attractive. Also, you should note how it interacts with Imp. Combat Expertise. (I see Dazzer caught that too.)
wexer9 08-01-07, 09:18 AM	Why the heck is the topic named Superb Dodge when the actual feat is named Stifle Blow? Anyway, overpowered for the reason stated by Traverse.
Man-Rata 08-01-07, 11:01 AM	As it is, because of the requirements, I think it's perfectly balanced. Would lower the int requirement to 13 and make it only work against the dodge target, and cap it out at 10/-. DR 10/- sounds like a lot, but in my experience, damage tends to come in at 20-30 or higher per hit when you get a bit up in level, so taking -5 to-hit to get +6 AC and 10/- to tank a bit isn't that overpowered, it costs 3 feats and require a non-fighter stat.
jaelis 08-01-07, 11:12 AM	Note that an Int 13 fighter can purchase a 15 Int for just 4000 gp. That's an impediment at low levels, but not much of one at level 10+.
Tacoghandi 09-14-07, 03:26 PM	Note that an Int 13 fighter can purchase a 15 Int for just 4000 gp. That's an impediment at low levels, but not much of one at level 10+. How does a low level fighter get Int 15 for 4000? I assume you're talking about magic items, which do not count for meeting the prereq's for feats.
EjoThims 09-14-07, 04:27 PM	I assume you're talking about magic items, which do not count for meeting the prereq's for feats. Wrong. Though if you lose the item and no longer meet the prereqs you no longer get the benefits of the feat.