Frontline Archer Feat

blacksoft · Unread post by **blacksoft** » Mon Mar 11, 2019 9:33 am

First off, this is a cool thematic feat. Tactical archers, I like it.

But, how popular is this feat really? Are archers actually making use of this in their builds?

An archer is generally limited in feat choice and this feat is gated by a very unnecessary feat in lightening reflexes. Is not the opportunity cost of taking this feat enough to merit its mechanical use? Archers generally do not want to stay in melee range and this is more of an emergency use than anything else. Most Archers are going to want to put their feat options elsewhere.

I propose to get rid of the feat tax that is lightening reflexes. IMO, I think this would enable more freedom of choice for archers for this feat. If you truly want another feat, I would suggest point blank shot as Ranger would not normally take this one.

Also, currently, Improved knockdown does nothing for this feat as it already receives +4 to its DC. Per return on investment, I propose that the improved knockdown feat provide +2 DC so that a character that has frontline archer and improved knockdown receives +6 to the trip DC. (Also, how many of the current popular archer builds actually have open feats for CE, knockdown, improved knockdown, insightful reflexes, and Frontline archer?! A build has to specifically build for both and may possibly be subpar for doing so.)

Also, I was looking at the trip wiki description:

Tripped characters are considered stunned, flat-footed and prone, and cannot move, attack, cast a spell or do any other action. Furthermore, melee attackers have a +4 bonus to attack rolls against prone characters and ranged attacks have a -4 penalty to attack rolls against prone characters.

Wait! so Archers really do not want to take frontline archer because they receive a -4 penalty to attack rolls against tripped enemies...or does this not matter since, "Tripped characters are considered stunned, flat-footed and prone" which means that the attack penalty does not matter since tripped characters received major blow to their AC?