Questions about Combat Intincts [Archive] - Wizards Community

Questions about Combat Intincts [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Verinus
07-15-07, 10:47 AM I found the feat Combat Instincts the other day in a tome of feats. It reads "If you are not flat-footed when an adjacent opponent's melee attack bonus + your Dexterity bonus, you may immediately take an attack of opportunity against that opponent."

My concern is, I'm not sure I understand this feat. For example, let's say my BaB is 10 and my Dex bonus is 3. Totaling 13. When would I make my AoO?

When an opponent misses by less than thirteen? More than thirteen? Exactly thirteen?

Also, would this effect stack with Combat Reflexes? Allowing me to make an AoO against any opponent missing me that round?
Esponer
07-15-07, 12:30 PM As written, that feat has no meaning. Furthermore, the meaning that you are interpreting it as having is not at all sensible — as your Dexterity increases, a foe must miss by a greater extent for you to take an attack of opportunity. The feat is also, and this point is tangential, somewhat overpowered.

While searching online for this feat I found something by the same name that is similar, and makes sense.

COMBAT INSTINCTS
Benefit: If you are not flat-footed when an adjacent opponent's mêlée attack misses you by more than 5, you may immediately make a free attack on that opponent. You can do this up to your Dex modifier times per round.
Rasmus Wagner
07-15-07, 07:19 PM As written, that feat has no meaning. Furthermore, the meaning that you are interpreting it as having is not at all sensible — as your Dexterity increases, a foe must miss by a greater extent for you to take an attack of opportunity. The feat is also, and this point is tangential, somewhat overpowered.

While searching online for this feat I found something by the same name that is similar, and makes sense.

COMBAT INSTINCTS
Benefit: If you are not flat-footed when an adjacent opponent's mêlée attack misses you by more than 5, you may immediately make a free attack on that opponent. You can do this up to your Dex modifier times per round.

Legible, meaningful, overpowered and mechanically odd.

First of all, you would expect it to be an attack of opportunity. Second, whenever an opponent misses by 5 or more? That's pretty damn often, and it's an annoying game mechanic to boot.
Verinus
07-15-07, 07:30 PM I came to the same conclusion when it came to logistics. After all, why would it the benefits decrease as the character improves?

Taking an AoO after each miss sounds more like it. Still, this does seem to be a bit over powering. Especially when combined with other feats like Combat Reflexes and Riposte.

For the time being, I'll stick with Esponer's version of this feat since it seems to make more sense. However, I'm sure it's up to the DM's discretion whether or not it's allowed though it seems to be an official feat.

(I did notice that I misspelled the name of the feat.)
tarkin
07-16-07, 10:48 AM Thus you tell the difference between a feat written by WOTC and something written by any old person that likes the game.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Verinus 07-15-07, 10:47 AM	I found the feat Combat Instincts the other day in a tome of feats. It reads "If you are not flat-footed when an adjacent opponent's melee attack bonus + your Dexterity bonus, you may immediately take an attack of opportunity against that opponent." My concern is, I'm not sure I understand this feat. For example, let's say my BaB is 10 and my Dex bonus is 3. Totaling 13. When would I make my AoO? When an opponent misses by less than thirteen? More than thirteen? Exactly thirteen? Also, would this effect stack with Combat Reflexes? Allowing me to make an AoO against any opponent missing me that round?
Esponer 07-15-07, 12:30 PM	As written, that feat has no meaning. Furthermore, the meaning that you are interpreting it as having is not at all sensible — as your Dexterity increases, a foe must miss by a greater extent for you to take an attack of opportunity. The feat is also, and this point is tangential, somewhat overpowered. While searching online for this feat I found something by the same name that is similar, and makes sense. COMBAT INSTINCTS Benefit: If you are not flat-footed when an adjacent opponent's mêlée attack misses you by more than 5, you may immediately make a free attack on that opponent. You can do this up to your Dex modifier times per round.
Rasmus Wagner 07-15-07, 07:19 PM	As written, that feat has no meaning. Furthermore, the meaning that you are interpreting it as having is not at all sensible — as your Dexterity increases, a foe must miss by a greater extent for you to take an attack of opportunity. The feat is also, and this point is tangential, somewhat overpowered. While searching online for this feat I found something by the same name that is similar, and makes sense. COMBAT INSTINCTS Benefit: If you are not flat-footed when an adjacent opponent's mêlée attack misses you by more than 5, you may immediately make a free attack on that opponent. You can do this up to your Dex modifier times per round. Legible, meaningful, overpowered and mechanically odd. First of all, you would expect it to be an attack of opportunity. Second, whenever an opponent misses by 5 or more? That's pretty damn often, and it's an annoying game mechanic to boot.
Verinus 07-15-07, 07:30 PM	I came to the same conclusion when it came to logistics. After all, why would it the benefits decrease as the character improves? Taking an AoO after each miss sounds more like it. Still, this does seem to be a bit over powering. Especially when combined with other feats like Combat Reflexes and Riposte. For the time being, I'll stick with Esponer's version of this feat since it seems to make more sense. However, I'm sure it's up to the DM's discretion whether or not it's allowed though it seems to be an official feat. (I did notice that I misspelled the name of the feat.)
tarkin 07-16-07, 10:48 AM	Thus you tell the difference between a feat written by WOTC and something written by any old person that likes the game.