hey there,
Dragon # 340 (february 2006) has a bunch of feats designed for the "opportunists", i.e. characters who want to focus on Attacks of Opportunity...
The various feats allow such characters to increase the frequency of the AoO (by granting you one on actions that usually don't), to deal a big lot of damage on a successful one (making an AoO a sneak attack), and so on...
While these feats are really well thought IMHO, I'm affraid they're a bit (well, ok, a lot !) overpowered...
For those who've read these feats (and of course those who show interest in this thread !), what do you think of them ? are they unbalanced ?
thanx
Well, let's see...
Backstab can be taken by a 1st level human. It seems to me that this feat would be pratically useless against foes with limited understanding of tactics. However, against faceless hordes and small-minded giants, it can be devastatingly effective. So it's all in, well, the opportunity.
Canny Opportunist can also be taken by a 1st level human, as long as he has at least two decent ability scores. This feat seems a bit overpowered to me - on the same lines as the 3.5 redux of Deflect Arrows (here's a situation: an epic level archer uses hail of arrows to decimate the mewling, pitiful minions of good who are trying to attack him. All of them fall to his rain of arrows, even the 4th level Dwarven Barbarian - all except the 1st level commoner, who took Improved Unarmed Strike and Deflect Arrows as his feats. He stands there, blinking, then asks in an innocent voice, "What?"). I'd add Quick Draw and Dex 15 to the requirements. Even then I'd be wary.
Defensive Opportunist cannot be taken at 1st level (requiring 5 ranks in Tumble), and doesn't seem to be that bad of a feat. I might take it, but then again I might not. It can, however, be taken by a 2nd level Fighter.
Exploit Adjustment, which can be taken by a 2nd level human Fighter or a 3rd level human Rogue, is sickeningly game-breaking, IMO. I'd add Improved Feint, Improved Initiative, Quick Draw, 17 ranks in Tumble and Int 19 to the requirements.
Occult Opportunist doesn't seem so bad - it might even be a bit underpowered. I'd reduce the skill requirements to 4 each.
Opportunistic Tactician can be taken by a 3rd level human Fighter. Seems too soon for me. I'd add Spring Attack to the prerequisites. That makes it 6th level minimum.
Sneak Attack of Opportunity is again a bit overpowered. I'd add Improved Initiative and Combat Expertise to the prerequisites.
Two-Weapon Attack of Opportunity doesn't seem that bad.
thank you fot this feat by feat analysis :-)
i think i'll use some of your adjustments...
To me, these feats are OK overall.
Backstab Super nice for a rogue, who'll likely be trying to get into flanking position anyway. In games where I'm both a player or a DM, though, opponents attack those causing the most damage. So this is just going to open the rogue up to even more attacks. This feat seems OK to me, from a balance perspective.
Canny Opportunist I'm OK here, too. Certainly a first level human could take this feat, assuming the two 13s in the stats. I consider Combat Expertise to be a bad feat, so unless this character has plans on the feats after CE (Disarm, Trip, etc). So I think the opportunity cost to acquire this feat balances it out nicely.
Defensive Opportunist Frankly, this feat fills such a small niche I can't see how anybody would think it's overpowered.
Exploit Adjustment This feat, I agree, is overpowered. I'd like to see some stiffer pre-reqs on a feat that allows you to make an AoO for a 5' step.
Occult Opportunist This seems OK to me. The opportunity cost seems to be a good balancing act on this one.
Opportunistic Tactician I'm OK here, too. All this feat does is change when you can take your 5' step. It doesn't grant an extra one. *shrug* If anything, the pre-reqs might make this one underpowered. I certainly can't see taking it...
Sneak Attack of Opportunity The feat itself is OK, but as was pointed out in another thread, the name coincides with an Epic feat. The suggestion there is to alter the epic feat's name to Epic Sneak Attack of Opportunity. The power of this feat is certainly less than the power of the epic one, so it makes a nice upgrade.
Two-Weapon Attack of Opportunity I'm OK here, as well. Rogues will be eating up this feat (just like a lot of the others). But that's OK - for every one of these feats they select, it means they can't select other feats. This one might need one more pre-req to help it out, but I'd be willing to try it out in my campaigns as is first.
Sneak Attack of Opportunity The feat itself is OK, but as was pointed out in another thread, the name coincides with an Epic feat. The suggestion there is to alter the epic feat's name to Epic Sneak Attack of Opportunity. The power of this feat is certainly less than the power of the epic one, so it makes a nice upgrade.
Yeppers, that would be me. :D
Two-Weapon Attack of Opportunity I'm OK here, as well. Rogues will be eating up this feat (just like a lot of the others). But that's OK - for every one of these feats they select, it means they can't select other feats. This one might need one more pre-req to help it out, but I'd be willing to try it out in my campaigns as is...
Double Hit from Miniature's Handbook does exactly what that feat does, so it's presence in the article was moot. Even the editor said had he known about Double Hit then Two-Weapon AoO would've been changed.
The biggest difference is TWAoO has easier prerequisites than Double Hit, but Double Hit doesn't use 2 AoO, it uses one for attacking with both weapons.
Opportunistic Tactician I'm OK here, too. All this feat does is change when you can take your 5' step. It doesn't grant an extra one. *shrug* If anything, the pre-reqs might make this one underpowered. I certainly can't see taking it...
I interpreted it to mean you did get an extra five-foot step, as long as you could actually move (i.e., not grappled, entagled, held, paralyzed, etc.).
I'd need to read it again, and my magazine isn't here. But doesn't it say something along the lines of, "you can take a 5' step if you qualify?"
"You may make a free 5-foot step after making an attack of opportunity (as long as you can actually make a 5-foot step)."
(I almost always keep the current issue of Dragon in my briefcase.)
"...(as long as you can actually make a 5-foot step)"
One of the conditions for being able to take a 5-foot step is not having done so already that round.
At least, that was my rationale for my earlier comment. ;)
Director of Games
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It should be noted that for exploit adjustment to trigger, the opponent must move from an adjacent square to another adjacent square. Unless this is a 5 foot step, it provokes anyway. It does not apply to opponents who take a step back to cast a spell, use a ranged attack, etc. In truth, it is really only devestating to other rogues, who need to move around for a flank, but since they have Tumble, they can avoid this once they are aware.
Just thought I would share some insights.
Jason Bulmahn
Managing Editor of Dragon
But, what about Opportunistic Tactician? Is the 5-foot step an extra ("free") 5-foot step (which is what I think), or does the feat just allow you to take your normal 5-foot step at a time when you'd normally not be able to take it (which is what others seem to think)?
But, what about Opportunistic Tactician? Is the 5-foot step an extra ("free") 5-foot step (which is what I think), or does the feat just allow you to take your normal 5-foot step at a time when you'd normally not be able to take it (which is what others seem to think)?
As the author of the article, I can tell you that my *intent* was NOT to give a character with the feat an extra/free 5-foot step. If you have not taken a 5-foot step yet (or any movement for that matter) during your turn, you may take a 5-foot step as part of one attack of opportunity.
That was just my intent, however. I can't give you an official ruling.
Galen