Another look at Feats

[Starshadow]

Feats

Many players have a hard time choosing feats. You get so few of them, yet they impact heavily upon your characters future. I have decided to talk about the art of feat choosing, mostly for the newer folks, though you veterans may find this helpful too. I have broken down the choosing process into different categories.


Will it benefit me now?


Many of the feats are meant for high level play. They may seem appealing when you take them, and then you find you have gone 4 levels without ever making use of it. Metamagic feats, which enhance spells, but must use higher spell slots, are great examples, because at low level, you just don?t have those slots available yet. If you don?t think you can use it right away, choose something you can use. There is of course an exception?


Is it a prerequisite to something better?


Power Attack, in my opinion, is a horrible low level feat. It is virtually worthless to a first level character. But most fighters take this early on in their careers. Why? Because it is the prerequisite to just about every other great feat (CLEAVE!). If you want your fighter to be able to dole out the damage heavily later on, it means taking a worthless feat at 1st level.


Will it help my future career?


Some players make their characters for the here and now and let fate hand them what it may. Others are far sighted, and have already selected a Prestige Class or other specialty goal before those first stats are generated. Choosing a feat that is not required for those goals will seriously hamper your ability to get there on schedule. At high levels, the progression is just far too slow to risk missing your opportunity to reach your goal by a good 6 months, just because you took the wrong feat early on.


Is it too limiting?


Many feats are very weak compared to others, and are made weaker in the wrong hands. Is alertness useful to the typical brutish fighter? Are those extra 3 points from Toughness going to be worth it to a barbarian, as opposed to a mage who can be killed with a single dagger thrust? You don?t get that many, so choose wisely.


Which one is right for me?


Every character has different needs and goals. Above I have listed some hints, but it all comes down to fleshing out your character. Warriors typically take the Power Attack, Point Blank Shot or Mounted Combat ?Trees?, while Rogues take the Dodge ?Tree?. There are various spell feats for mages and clerics and Extra Turning for Clerics as well. But there is no reason a unique character can?t cross over and broaden its spectrum. A rogue with Track, an elven mage with archery feats, a ranger who brews potions are all untypical but highly useful. If your character has no predestined direction, there are feats that are useful always. No one ever fails to benefit from Improved Initiative, feats that add +2 to Saving Throws (Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Great Fortitude) or weapon focus.


Wow.. I never noticed that one before

Page 79 of The Players Handbook lists all of the basic feats and groups them according to their "Progression Trees". A view of this page can be helpful to se what is out there, while the following pages lists them in detail. For eTools users, the help files give you the details of every feat as well. I am still amazed to come across feats I had previously overlooked. It is possible to conceive of an entire character concept just by viewing that page (..if my fighter who was once a swordsmith multiclasses in wizard, he can take Craft Magic Arms and become a magical sword crafter!)

While it is true that the role playing is what truly defines your characters, their capabilities cannot be dismissed, and the feats you choose can help separate a character who is fun to play from one who is fun, vital, efficient and helpful to the group and its goals.

[MaryCarly]

Do not give up on this. I had the same thing happen to me and UPS said that they delivered it at a certain time. The next day, the package was delivered. I called UPS and reported the driver since the day before he had sworn the he delivered it. They could have cared less, but the people at AG were very ****ed off and took a report. I have had other people tell me that UPS drivers lie so that they can go home early or not get in trouble for delivering late.

We had the same thing happen with our mortgage papers. They were guaranteed by 5 PM for us to close on our house. The mortgage rep and my husband went up and down our street and to other streets with houses with the same number as ours. They walked up and down for hours trying to find the papers that the delivery service swore they had already delivered. The driver actually arrived with our paperwork three hours later even though he had already logged that they were delivered on time.

They lie. You need to demand another outfit or at least get your money back.

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ February 07, 2005 09:38 PM: Message edited by: MaryCarly ]</font>

[Aunt Cornelia]

That's terrible, Ria.

UPS has been doing some weird stuff lately. The UPS site said that two of my boxes had been in a train wreck ( [img]eek.gif[/img] ) and that was why they were delayed and another had been "left in a UPS facility." That one took an extra 4 or 5 days to get here. I kept thinking, well why don't they go back and get it??? And one of my winter wonderland outfits was crushed completely...you wouldn't believe what they did to my box...they actually had to totally retape it together...it must have been flat!! And that day, my UPS man (who thinks he's funny) says, "So, do you have *every* AG doll?" I was ready for him this time and said casually, "Yep. I think we do." with a smile.

Good luck with your package. I think AG holds the responsibility since it says on the box that UPS can leave the package at the door.