Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

Since these feats don't seem to get much use, and people are complaining that martials fall behind compared to spell-users (not that this will actually change that), give the 4 'Combat' feats to martial classes as free bonus feats as they progress in level even if they do not meet the prerequisites. They're not over-powered and they're quite thematic. The feats are:

Combat Focus (WIS 13): Activate at will. For 10 rounds +1 round for each additional combat feat you possess (Awareness, Vigor, Strike), you gain +2 will saves (+4 if you've all the combat feats). Cooldown at 3,5 minutes.

Combat Vigor ( Combat Focus, BAB 9): While maintaining your Combat Focus, you gain +2 regeneration. If you've Combat Awareness, you gain +4 regeneration instead

Combat Awareness (Blind Fight, BAB 12, Combat Focus): While Combat Focus is activated, you can view the HP of all enemies within 30 feet.

Combat Strike (Combat Focus, Combat Vigor, Combat Awareness, BAB 15): You can choose to end your Combat focus at any time to gain +4 AB and +4 DMG for the amount of rounds remaining on your Combat Focus.

Give them to the martial base classes on a rate according to their role (heavy combat/intermediate).

Heavy, Fighter/Man-at-Arms, etc.:
2nd Level: Combat Focus
4th Level: Combat Vigor
6th Level: Combat Awareness
8th Level Combat Strike

Intermediate, Rogue/Monk, etc.:
3rd Level: Combat Focus
6th Level: Combat Vigor
9th Level: Combat Awareness
12th Level Combat Strike

On reflection, not 'gishes' such as Paladins, Bards, or Rangers, their spells already raise their utility.

Thoughts?

I'll just mention the problem I had with these feats when I tried to make a character that used them.

I found that the "cooldown timer bug" rendered it largely useless, you go through a transition and suddenly four feats worth of abilities stops working for the next three years or until you rest.
Of course if you had just rested or are in an event well... sucks to be you.

I do think it is a really good set of feats (not so much combat awareness although it is slightly entertaining) just that the bug lets them down.

I believe using the right click menu and charging fixes the cooldown bug.

I believe using the right click menu and charging fixes the cooldown bug.

It does and works just fine. Also using HASTE will reset it as well until the next transition. Which is what really happens it breaks on transition.

The main problem is that you need all of them to make it worthwhile and even Fighters can struggle with that if they also want PrCs; Barbarians, Swashbucklers and even Rangers have no chance.

Thorsson wrote:The main problem is that you need all of them to make it worthwhile and even Fighters can struggle with that if they also want PrCs; Barbarians, Swashbucklers and even Rangers have no chance.

This is the main issue. Its the same with all feat lines such as shield bash, charging. Feats are not spell that you can switch them out like spells.

Uranus wrote:

Thorsson wrote:The main problem is that you need all of them to make it worthwhile and even Fighters can struggle with that if they also want PrCs; Barbarians, Swashbucklers and even Rangers have no chance.

This is the main issue. Its the same with all feat lines such as shield bash, charging. Feats are not spell that you can switch them out like spells.

After the big update the Combat line of feats should fire automatically every so many minutes, once you enter combat. For free.

Rasael wrote:After the big update the Combat line of feats should fire automatically every so many minutes, once you enter combat. For free.

Again, the problem is not how the feats work, but that there are too many feats needed for feat starved builds. How many 13WIS builds can take those feats? Better yet, how many players use them and feel good about their choice?

Personally i was able to squeeze two combat feats in a Wisdom monk build, but thats it

Uranus wrote:

Rasael wrote:After the big update the Combat line of feats should fire automatically every so many minutes, once you enter combat. For free.

Again, the problem is not how the feats work, but that there are too many feats needed for feat starved builds. How many 13WIS builds can take those feats? Better yet, how many players use them and feel good about their choice?

Personally i was able to squeeze two combat feats in a Wisdom monk build, but thats it

This.

Thematicly they are an ideal choice, but there are so many needed to be viable that it's extremely sub-optimal to get them. Even if you do, there are better choices. If you get them you also delay qualifying for prestige classes.

So I suggest giving them to all martial classes for free, so long as the character has invested in those base classes. Less unbalanced/unpredictable than giving free-choice bonus feats too.

I do not think those feats should be given out for free.

Instead, how about looking at a random melee PRC, and then just cram those feats inside it. An example would be the Battlerager, that grants the epic 'Dire Charge' feat with the fifth level of the PRC. (And the preceding feats too, and it is actually a whole lot of fun to charge and do a full attack.)

So how about we head over here for a list of valid PRCs: http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/lists/prc (Search for warrior or what not... and try and find one you could cram those feats into.)

One such PRC could be the 'Knight Protector' from Complete Warrior, Page 55. (It is basically a ten level PRC reminiscent with Neverwinter Nine and Paladins that doesn't exactly carry much weight of its own.)

Heck, some of the more unused melee PRCs could also get some additional 'Combat' feats.

That would force characters down a specific path. I'm for doing the opposite: making existing options more viable, rather than making a select few obvious choices.

So... Every Rogue/Fighter/Frenzied Berserker/Weapon Master would get a free buff? You know that build has been the non-casting gold standard for melee builds ever since NWN2 came out... I have to ask, does it really need any help?

Or should people dare to try something new beyond their comfort zone of non-berserking 'zerkers?

This feast line would be a nice flavor line to add to man at arms, Perhaps...

The main thing melee pc's need is equipment...spell resistance to give some protection from magic.use per day items that grant things like death ward, free action or other useful spells... Not just 1/day, but 2-5/day. This way of you get hit with dispel/beach you might be able to get it back up before getting hit with that flesh to stone from the yuan ti queen, for instance.

Just my opinion, but having some use/day items available would go a long way it bringing non-casters up a bit.

Really they want more items that give them higher saves or immunities, but that's a different matter to what was being discussed here, before it just got railroaded...

chad878262 wrote:This feast line would be a nice flavor line to add to man at arms, Perhaps...

Level 3, Combat Focus
Level 13, Combat Vigor
Level 17, Combat Awareness
Level 18, Combat Strike

Man-at-Arms is a defensive class, which is why that Combat Strike at level 18 could give it a minor boost to its damage output, and make it more appealing.