Column: Good Feats - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Column: Good Feats

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
BlackLibrary
Jan 22, 2009 19:42:15 Disturbing trends shall continue.

Good to see they are intentionally gimping 60% of the feats intentionally and giving racial feats that have some bite and kick to specific races that are "interesting!"

Whatever...

Its straight jacketing and it really, really sucks.

So the only feats they think are worth making are:
1. Stat improvements,
2. Situational
3. Race based powers
4. Minor mods to class, including, tada...more race specific crap.

Wow...thats REALLY boring.

The most exciting feats from 3.5 are tossed on their ear in 4.0 because...people liked them and used them???

Son for now...you must play a pigeon holed race/class combo...or get no love.
#2
dwolf
Jan 22, 2009 20:26:49 As far as the racial feats go, I think you read it wrong. The racial feats they were talking about were feats that might make a non-standard class work for a given race.

With all the optimizers out there, say, no one would want to play an Eladrin fighter since, after all their stat boosts are not optimal for fighters. But throw in a bunch of interesting eladrin fighter feats, and suddenly, it might be cool to play an Eladrin fighter that can teleport-charge.

I dont' think that's a bad thing at all. In fact I think it's a really good thing.
#3
renchard
Jan 23, 2009 7:52:05
The most exciting feats from 3.5 are tossed on their ear in 4.0 because...people liked them and used them???

Your QQ might have more bite if you mentioned what these feats are.
#4
BlackLibrary
Jan 23, 2009 17:51:30 "Everybody thinks of Spring Attack, but I count roughly two dozen feats in the 3E PH alone that either grant new powers (Whirlwind Attack, Rapid Shot) or turn an effectively unplayable option into a key tactic (Improved Trip, Two-Weapon Fighting). Over the lifespan of 3rd Edition, this category proved the most exciting one to mine for new ideas. "

Not sure if its allowed, but here is part of the article. They were discussion how they deliberately removed allowing these feats, and any other exciting ones, off the table for 4.0.

What they focused in on, initially, was simply bring the (imo, boring static feats) into 4.0. Then went to town creating all sorts of one off race class combos.

I mean, I found it fun that I could be a rogue, monk, ranger, or fighter and still build up and bring concepts into my build like Spring Attack. or you can be a wizard who duel wielded a sword and a staff...and fought like a banshee. You don't have to be pigeon holed by the class powers alone, you can build interesting concepts using the feats that made playing different types of characters fun.

With the core rules alone, you could build a myriad of different types of wizards and never play the same one twice. Was that so wrong???

Albeit...I understand the concept they were heading towards with 4.0. I understand the merits of it. But what I didn't like was the pathetic choice of feats left. IMO, they really gimped it, and left it relatively weak UNLESS you choose the race/class combos that is the flavor of the month for Andy or whoever.

I so deeply want to get my hopes up about PHBII, but from the article...it looks like more of the same snow is on the way.

My players group has 8 people in it. All of them are playing a martial character. Not one of them, after looking at it thoroughly at a bookstore decided to buy it. Its just not worth the cost. Nothing truly exciting or compelling, in our opinion.

I wish WOTC the best with the other books. They need to bring out stuff that leaps off the page and makes it worth while for characters that are currently in play, who bought early into 4.0.
#5
naxel
Jan 25, 2009 18:48:48 If you want to play a wizard that can use a sword and fight like a banshee, then play a wizard multi-classed as a fighter or even a swordmage, no?

I'll admit, though, I really loved 3.5's Tactical feats and I'm gonna miss those
#6
micahjrose
Feb 08, 2009 5:45:58 Blah blah blah. "I miss playing broken characters that didn't make any logical since with my broken 3.5 rules." In 3.5 the goal was to make a more broken character than your neighbor to get more table time. Now table time is relatively even, teamwork is rewarded, and characters don't all try to behave like something out of an anime.

Fourth edition is way more fun to play than 3rd or 3.5. Both were nightmares to play because there was no balance whatsoever. I suffered through them for 7 years and that is more than enough time. I played 2 before that. 4th combines the best out of 3rd and 2nd edition while moving in new directions. Third edition generation games were absolute hell to DM.

If you want to complain about it being harder to make "interesting" game breaker, show stealer characters, go back to 3.5. There are still plenty of books and players available.

I can build a character with the best of 'em. I've min-maxed through 2, 3, 3.5, and now into 4th. But to say that because I can't wield a staff and a sword--try and do it, makes no damn sense--that the game is no good now, is absolutely ridiculous.
#7
micahjrose
Feb 08, 2009 5:52:23 Also, Martial Power rocks my socks off. I'm playing a Warforged Battlerager right now with a Bloodclaw Executioner's Axe +2. I can throw down massive damage and keep a buffer of THP as long as I keep engaged in Melee. Because of the amount of damage I take, I've had to multiclass into Warlord to pick up some healing. I have done over 100 damage in a round with a 7th level character without a crit with an encounter power.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 BlackLibrary Jan 22, 2009 19:42:15	Disturbing trends shall continue. Good to see they are intentionally gimping 60% of the feats intentionally and giving racial feats that have some bite and kick to specific races that are "interesting!" Whatever... Its straight jacketing and it really, really sucks. So the only feats they think are worth making are: 1. Stat improvements, 2. Situational 3. Race based powers 4. Minor mods to class, including, tada...more race specific crap. Wow...thats REALLY boring. The most exciting feats from 3.5 are tossed on their ear in 4.0 because...people liked them and used them??? Son for now...you must play a pigeon holed race/class combo...or get no love.
#2 dwolf Jan 22, 2009 20:26:49	As far as the racial feats go, I think you read it wrong. The racial feats they were talking about were feats that might make a non-standard class work for a given race. With all the optimizers out there, say, no one would want to play an Eladrin fighter since, after all their stat boosts are not optimal for fighters. But throw in a bunch of interesting eladrin fighter feats, and suddenly, it might be cool to play an Eladrin fighter that can teleport-charge. I dont' think that's a bad thing at all. In fact I think it's a really good thing.
#3 renchard Jan 23, 2009 7:52:05	The most exciting feats from 3.5 are tossed on their ear in 4.0 because...people liked them and used them??? Your QQ might have more bite if you mentioned what these feats are.
#4 BlackLibrary Jan 23, 2009 17:51:30	"Everybody thinks of Spring Attack, but I count roughly two dozen feats in the 3E PH alone that either grant new powers (Whirlwind Attack, Rapid Shot) or turn an effectively unplayable option into a key tactic (Improved Trip, Two-Weapon Fighting). Over the lifespan of 3rd Edition, this category proved the most exciting one to mine for new ideas. " Not sure if its allowed, but here is part of the article. They were discussion how they deliberately removed allowing these feats, and any other exciting ones, off the table for 4.0. What they focused in on, initially, was simply bring the (imo, boring static feats) into 4.0. Then went to town creating all sorts of one off race class combos. I mean, I found it fun that I could be a rogue, monk, ranger, or fighter and still build up and bring concepts into my build like Spring Attack. or you can be a wizard who duel wielded a sword and a staff...and fought like a banshee. You don't have to be pigeon holed by the class powers alone, you can build interesting concepts using the feats that made playing different types of characters fun. With the core rules alone, you could build a myriad of different types of wizards and never play the same one twice. Was that so wrong??? Albeit...I understand the concept they were heading towards with 4.0. I understand the merits of it. But what I didn't like was the pathetic choice of feats left. IMO, they really gimped it, and left it relatively weak UNLESS you choose the race/class combos that is the flavor of the month for Andy or whoever. I so deeply want to get my hopes up about PHBII, but from the article...it looks like more of the same snow is on the way. My players group has 8 people in it. All of them are playing a martial character. Not one of them, after looking at it thoroughly at a bookstore decided to buy it. Its just not worth the cost. Nothing truly exciting or compelling, in our opinion. I wish WOTC the best with the other books. They need to bring out stuff that leaps off the page and makes it worth while for characters that are currently in play, who bought early into 4.0.
#5 naxel Jan 25, 2009 18:48:48	If you want to play a wizard that can use a sword and fight like a banshee, then play a wizard multi-classed as a fighter or even a swordmage, no? I'll admit, though, I really loved 3.5's Tactical feats and I'm gonna miss those
#6 micahjrose Feb 08, 2009 5:45:58	Blah blah blah. "I miss playing broken characters that didn't make any logical since with my broken 3.5 rules." In 3.5 the goal was to make a more broken character than your neighbor to get more table time. Now table time is relatively even, teamwork is rewarded, and characters don't all try to behave like something out of an anime. Fourth edition is way more fun to play than 3rd or 3.5. Both were nightmares to play because there was no balance whatsoever. I suffered through them for 7 years and that is more than enough time. I played 2 before that. 4th combines the best out of 3rd and 2nd edition while moving in new directions. Third edition generation games were absolute hell to DM. If you want to complain about it being harder to make "interesting" game breaker, show stealer characters, go back to 3.5. There are still plenty of books and players available. I can build a character with the best of 'em. I've min-maxed through 2, 3, 3.5, and now into 4th. But to say that because I can't wield a staff and a sword--try and do it, makes no damn sense--that the game is no good now, is absolutely ridiculous.
#7 micahjrose Feb 08, 2009 5:52:23	Also, Martial Power rocks my socks off. I'm playing a Warforged Battlerager right now with a Bloodclaw Executioner's Axe +2. I can throw down massive damage and keep a buffer of THP as long as I keep engaged in Melee. Because of the amount of damage I take, I've had to multiclass into Warlord to pick up some healing. I have done over 100 damage in a round with a 7th level character without a crit with an encounter power.