Does anyone have experience with the One-Hander feat?

[Rudolph]

I was wondering if you guys know the answers to the following questions. I posted them in another thread as well but they might have seemed a little off-topic there - in which case, I apologize:

1) Are the Tumble check effects mentioned in the wiki random or selected? +1 AC is always nice, of course, but since my toon has neither Bluff nor Parry, this would still feel like a waste.

2) How often is the secret Tumble check made? Only at the start of combat or in every round? Or at a different interval? Do the effects, if they are random, depend on the result?

3) Can One Hander be active simultaneously with Flurry and/or Combat Focus (oh, and re. the latter: what is the actual cooldown of Combat Focus? The wiki says both 5 and 3.5 min)?

[Storm Munin]

1) Having bluff and parry on my Onehander build I mostly get the parry fueled effect (+6 AC, yay).
However that might be caused by not using feint much, which would be what triggers the bluff effects (offhand swap etc).

[Theodore01]

1) Having bluff and parry on my Onehander build I mostly get the parry fueled effect (+6 AC, yay).

What the ..... ? +6ac for one feat and not even an epic feat.

[Storm Munin]

You forgot the sacrifice of using anything in the offhand, +6 AC assuming a lot of parry and tumble ranks (read epic ranks) and that you are not caught flatfooted (then it would be zero depending on the effect in question).
Also it triggers after the first flurries in a round, most effects lasting 1-2 rounds.

Not so epic now is it?

[Thorsson]

It seems pretty nice if you're using a 1H weapon in 2H though.

[Rudolph]

Isn't the Parry effect deflection which doesn't stack with items? That would reduce the effect to 2 if you have a +4 item even at 50+ Parry, no?

[Storm Munin]

Nice indeed, but not close to as nice as the DPS output of wielding two weapons or the AC of a shield.

It is a tradeoff feat, you gain some but overall you more likely loose.

DPS are of course somewhat improved with a swashbuckler (5) but for a gish that mean trading away casterlevels and for everyone to be stuck with some poker kind of weaponry.

Then there is the above mentioned deflection nonstacking effect AFAIK.

[Rasael]

It represents a specialized style of fighting emphasizing feints with fluidity and mobility.

Its not like regular feats which improve a particular stat permanently (+1 abc). Or which can be activated with a fully predictable result (+1 xyz for 10 rounds).

How well you use it depends on your skill(s), and on the situation you put yourself in.
It has maneuvers for both deflection AC and for dodge AC. Also for an attack bonus.

The precise effect is chosen randomly. It takes into account your situation. Like how many enemies you are fighting, where they are relative to you (front, surrounded, flanked etc..), and other such variables.

[Rudolph]

Ah - it's situational! Does it also take into account whether you have any Bluff or Parry in the first place?

From the description it seems at least the +1 Dodge AC is permanent (while the mode is switched on).

[Storm Munin]

Rasael, that cannot have been easy to put into code.

As far as I have been able to thoroughly enjoy the feat on the server I must say I believe whatever ungodly hours you placed into it were worth it for every one of us players who fancies not using two weapons, a twohander or a shield.

As were put in another thread, kudos to you.

Edit: No permanent AC bonus that ive detected yet.

[Rudolph]

I read the description again and it says the +1 dodge AC is there 'in combat', so not quite permanently, but when it matters!?

Such a situational feat is indeed a great thing! Very atmospheric and fun to see in action, I'm sure. And kudos galore to the programmer. A real asset of BGTSCC.

My questions are not meant to detract from it, of course, just to glean some more details that help me to decide which builds to give it to and whether I should heavily invest in the skills mentioned or can benefit without them, too.

[Storm Munin]

Id recommend heavy investment in parry and tumble if you go with the feat.

From what ive played with/tested the feint feat and bluff skill offer more but are in essence optional.
Depending on your playstyle.

YMMV

Edit:
In combat means when the feat are in effect btw, I have yet to see it fire in the first flurry.

[Thorsson]

Question. If you have no Feint/Bluff is there a chance that you can get a "blank" in the random effects?

[Flasmix]

Hahaha, Oh yeah, I have "lots" of practice with the one-hander feat.

[Rudolph]

Hahaha, Flasmix. While dreaming of the low blow and deadeye shot, I'm sure.