Reserve feats are awesome...

[V'rass]

Im loving the reserve feats... unlimited reliable damage even if it is relatively low is still a very good capability to have once you run out of spells. 30-40 damage is not weak so I don't know why people claim it is. Most mobs now don't even require me to use my spells... the reserve feat kills them in one or two hits easily. Why people have such hate for them is a mystery to me as they are eminently useful. I chose the sonic and fire feats as those seem to be the best of them. I would encourage all casters to take a few... they really do help a lot. Been great fun so far.

[metaquad4]

As you transition into the 20+ areas, they fall flat real quick. That, is why people say they suck. The most reliable one (invisible needle, due to elemental resistances and no save attatched to it (plenty of mobs have higher fort/reflex. Nearly all the nagas and some of the yuan-ti have evasion as well. Not to mention the more combat-challenging events.) is 9d4 at the end.

But, lets examine fiery burst, since it does more damage (9d6 max).

Minimum is 9.
Average is 31.5 (average is the midpoint on the dice+0.5).
Maximum is 54.

The damage is subpar at best. Especially considering when you party up (which, if you are looking to level in a timely manner or conduct adventure RP, you will do as a wizard/sorcerer/shaman none gish (For adventure RP, any character normally will group up too)), your allies will be killing enemies in a manner that makes reserve feats utterly insignificant. For none-spellslingers, you have options like hitting people (clerics, FvS, and druids)

You are of better use to your allies buffing allies/killing big mobs that your allies struggle with (as a wizard/sorcerer or a shaman) or buffing allies and helping smack mobs (as a cleric/FvS, a gish wizard/sorcerer/shaman, or a druid) than spending time on a feat that is, at best, going to become obselete in a few levels.

The only MAJOR mechanical use I have ever found for them is in assassin/arcane trickster builds, and even with those, grinding with invisible needle is a tedious chore.

Of course, they may have their use in RP (depending on the character, ofc). But, anything can have its use in RP.

If you have fun with it, more power to you. But, I wouldn't recommend it to a character builder who is trying to nab up any sort of mechanically sound choices. I wouldn't in good concience recommend casters take reserve feats. Let alone multiple reserve feats (which becomes a complete redundancy).

[Rhifox]

If they scaled into epic levels they'd be fine. As said above, the problem is they cap out at 20. Reserve feats are great in the pre-20 levels for the reasons you said, but they lose their effectiveness quickly. They cap out on damage and start getting successfully saved against constantly.

I really wish they'd scale. The pnp versions that have been implemented were not designed for a full 30 levels, they were designed for the standard 20 cap that most dnd games have.

[metaquad4]

Maybe the inclusion of an epic feat, that gives it an additional +1dX per 1/2 levels beyond level 20 (or perhaps an "empowered reserve feat" feat, which would empower (*1.5) the feats).

This is going into the realms of the suggestions board, but, I think that would be ok. Its difficult to balance. Too low, and any boost is negligible. Too high, and you are stepping on warlock's toes and removing what they give to the party (by giving it to all other casters). I think this would be an ok compromise, myself.

[Rhifox]

I dislike the idea of needing a second feat just to improve your reserve feat, though. If it's going to take a whole other feat to make it scale then it better be a pretty damn potent feat.

Otherwise, I'd just give it a base 1d4 or 1d6 per CL damage die which then uses your spell slots as an addition to the damage. The main problem with reserve feats is that they scale by spell levels but spell levels stop before epics. So if you just add a secondary damage component (and save DC) that scales by CL that would fix the problems IMO.

I'd probably do something like giving it a base 1d4/d6 per 4 or 5 caster levels. The lower damage and the reflex saves means it shouldn't really ever compare with Eldritch Blasts.

[mrm3ntalist]

Do wizards need the reserve feat damage boost? And for what?

[Rhifox]

Of course they don't need it. No caster needs a reserve feat. But for those of us who have decided to waste feat slots on them, it'd be nice if they didn't stop being useful after level 16, on a server with a level 30 cap.

It'd also be nice if the Rune feats could actually be picked (since you can't, on spirit shaman at least).

[metaquad4]

Do wizards need the reserve feat damage boost? And for what?

No idea. Just kinda sucks that the reserve feats are there like a honey-trap. Finding out the feat you thought was good pre-20 and found out sucked post-20 is never a fun experience. But, I suppose we all learn some lessons in hard way. I'd be nice if it could at least have some use post 20.

Maybe a secondary effect, or something instead of more damage, since that a) steps on the warlock's toes (if its truly effective) and b) is generally covered by the rest of the party (and when it isn't, a reserve feat usually isn't going to help much).

[Lanzlo]

OK, doing a little digging, I think I may have a suggestion.

Epic Reserve Mastery
Prerequisite: Empower Spell, Spellcraft 25

All reserve feats are automatically empowered (x1.5 damage) With Spellcraft 30, all reserve feats do double damage.

Yes, this involves taking another feat. That should be a minor price to pay for the utility of having the reserves scale.

[Lockonnow]

I say we change all the reseve feat to a ray couse as for what they are now you can hit many on the same time but a ray can only hit one

the reserve feat kills them in one or two hits easily.

[joleda]

After watching many Drow Wizards struggle at level 1, it would be a little neat if they got a reserve feat for free to use when they're useful. Maybe the free feat is only given out when the character's first level is Wizard or Sorcerer?

[mrm3ntalist]

After watching many Drow Wizards struggle at level 1, it would be a little neat if they got a reserve feat for free to use when they're useful. Maybe the free feat is only given out when the character's first level is Wizard or Sorcerer?

They can use summons from scroll and not struggle at all.