Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 wizardmon Jun 29, 2010 12:43:06	I am working on a feat for a character who is converting from 3.5 to 4e. I know, I know, conversion-don't-do-it, but I think this is something reasonable. He used the mechanic "skill trick" from 3.5's Complete Scoundrel, especially the one called Hidden Blade - he practicly based his character on it. Therefore, here you go: the 4e feat Hidden Blade! PEACH! Hidden Blade     Prerequisite: Quick Draw feat, trained in Thievery     Benefit: When you rest, make a Thievery check to hide on your person an off-hand light blade or a light thrown light blade. Creatures must make a Perception check vs. your Thievery result to notice your hidden weapon. When you draw and attack with a hidden weapon using Quick Draw's benefit, the target grants you combat advantage for that attack if it did not notice your hidden weapon. A creature can only grant combat advantage in this way once per encounter.      You can hide a number of weapons on your person equal to one-half your level. You may hide a single weapon during a short rest, and up to as many as you are able during an extended rest.      Note: It is recommended that you record your Thievery result for hidden weapons on your character sheet beside the weapon on your inventory list.
#2 mplindustries Jun 29, 2010 12:56:49	This applying to multiple weapons seems like a horrible plan unless you're using a Ki Focus.  And Ki Foci tend to be weak anyway. Considering how this will really work out, why not just make a feat whose benefit line is: "You gain combat advantage for the first attack you make during an encounter."
#3 wizardmon Jun 29, 2010 13:04:56	Well, for one, the character is a hybrid monk/assassin - a ki focus will be used. For two, if a rogue decided to take this feat, it would probably already have combat advantage agains tte first enemy it attacked. :/ Thirdly, it probably would not work out like that. -edit- Also, the "note" recomendation is exactly what my PC did when he used the character before; he certianly would not mind the bookkeeping.
#4 mplindustries Jun 29, 2010 13:22:18	Well, for one, the character is a hybrid monk/assassin - a ki focus will be used. Alright, then the feat is really: Prerequisites: Quick Draw, Trained in Thievery Benefit: If you use a Ki Focus, you can gain Combat advantage a number of times per day equal to (half your level + 1 per five minutes spent between combats) as long as the target isn't one of the super rare enemies that actually has a skill check that's worth a damn.  If you don't use a Ki Focus, then you suck and this feat doesn't really help you much, because even though it's supposed to represent a completely mundane ability to hide weapons really well, it requires the supernatural influence of a Ki Focus to actually do anything useful. Ok, ok, joking aside: This feat is completely useless for anyone without a Ki Focus after mid heroic.  With a Ki Focus, it's way too unbelievably good, because enemies have crap skill checks and you can optimize yours, thus practically guaranteeing that you'll always be able to draw more weapons as long as you having reached your extremely high limit of 1/2 your level. Oh, and unless you have machine gun encounters, you can always just take 5 more minutes to hide extra weapons.  There's no limit to the number of Short Rests you can take in a row. And honestly, this even stretches the bounds of my normally impervious suspension of disbelief.  "Surely, he can't have a 7th weapon tucked away in there--oh no, he does!  Why did I not properly defend myself for this repetitive eventuality!?  Well, it's ok, he won't have an 8th..."
#5 wizardmon Jun 29, 2010 13:28:40	LOL, good points! xD Though, I must offer in rebuttle that a character could have lower-enhancement bonused items on their person, especially if they were of higher level. Your "repetative eventuallity" example is really good though. My only defense to it is that the "one-half level" is essentially a daily limitation - that recharges 1 per rest (or REALLY long period of non-fighting...). Is there a good way of avoiding the "repetative eventuality" without limiting it to 1/encounter?
#6 Namagem Jun 29, 2010 15:00:44	You could do something like restrict it to cha mod, or half cha mod. Another way you would do it is making it once per encounter per target.
#7 wizardmon Jun 29, 2010 15:29:49	Another way you would do it is making it once per encounter per target. BRILLIANT!