Improved Power Attack or Improved Knockdown

[OXHawkXO]

The character is a human fighter 12, rouge 3 and WM 7. Will have a STR around 30 by level 30. Which of these two feat's would be best for this character and why.

[mrm3ntalist]

The character is a human fighter 12, rouge 3 and WM 7. Will have a STR around 30 by level 30. Which of these two feat's would be best for this character and why.

There is no "right" answer. I think the IPA will be of more use for you. The extra damage will be more effective for your WM.

[Karond]

Knockdown is better if you're using a shield.

[OXHawkXO]

Guess I should have added that he is using a great axe and has ICE, will use a tower shield only as a last resort. Seems the KD hits about 25% of the time when fighting minotaurs at level 20 and STR is at 24.

[grunts]

Since you have ICE and don't have frenzied berserker I would go imp knockdown all the way. Knockdown is almost a wasted feat without improved, esp in PvE where half the monsters are giant sized.

[OXHawkXO]

Knockdown is better if you're using a shield.

Can you elaborate on this Karond?

[Karond]

Knockdown is better if you're using a shield.

Can you elaborate on this Karond?

Sure. Power attack/Improved power attack is best used with twohanded weapons, since you gain twice the benefit. Just using the feats with one handed weapons is negliable, since you do more damage per hit but hit less (maybe you do less damage per round with it activated). You've to manage the damage output, and really if you face enemies where you can have imp power attack on one-handed and you hit 95% of the time anyway, then the feats aren't that useful. Just stay one more round in combat without the feats to kill the monster.

However, knockdown is always useful, even with your decent strength. Sure, it probably won't knock the big melee monsters down, but it's not that big of a loss to try it on your last attack in a round that was going to miss anyway. It's much more useful on spellcasters or other low STR targets, which can be problematic to face otherwise.

You should also consider that you can use knockdown with ICE, but not power/imp power with ICE.

Honestly though? I feel like there must be better choices than either available to you. Both feat lines are good, but they should be taken in pre-epic levels. You're already level 22. Surely there are some good epic feats to pick. Expose Weakness for example.