[Feat] Deflect Arrows

[Ask a Shoanti]

If I am right, the feat Deflect Arrows hasn’t gotten a significant treatment yet. Has this been discussed anywhere already? If so, link love appreciated. (If so, apologies for duplication guys.)

Deflect Arrows in its current incarnation remains a good feat, but for me, it’s not yet entirely satisfying.

1. I still have trouble that it’s an auto success. For example, a 1st level monk automatically blocks the first shot of a 20th level ranger as long, as the monk is not flat-footed.

2. The one arrow per round limit is well balanced, but it excludes the flavorful opportunity for the classic scene of the monk who blocks a whole bunch of arrows. I’d prefer it if it were hard to do, but not impossible.

It isn’t lost on me that this suggests the rejected Reflex save mechanic from 3.0. . .

Anybody got an idea for a better way? Here’s my thoughts:

What if you could deflect a number of missiles up to your dexterity bonus? Similar to the number of attacks of opportunity granted by Combat Reflexes.

But to actually succeed, you have to make an opposed attack roll. (Yeah, I know we’re not supposed to like those anymore. I’m just brainstorming here.)

Alternatively, we could go with another CMB roll and leverage that mechanic some more. The blocker rolls a d20 and adds their CMB to see if they can beat a 15 + the shooter’s CMB. This has the added bonus that the monk’s maneuver training ability which is gained at 3rd level can factor into the blocker’s roll. If we went this route, perhaps add that the Deflect Arrows feat provides a +2 bonus to the blocking roll so that it mirrors the bonuses found in the other feats that deal with CMB rolls such as Improved Trip.

(A potential weakness here is that CMB is based off of Strength whereas Dexterity might be more appropriate, particularly in the case of the shooter.)

Optional consideration: although using the feat is properly characterized as an immediate action, in my view, we might consider whether it ought to cost the PC their next available move action. Shooting a hail of arrows at our hero should at least slow her down. In the movies, the monks have to at least make a dramatic production out of it. If the PC doesn’t want to waste the move, don’t block – take your chances with your AC.

Allow monks who have selected Deflect Arrows as a bonus feat to spend a Ki point as the usual swift action to add a significant bonus such as +10 to a single attack (or CMB) roll to Deflect Arrows. That way monks of 4th level or higher who are serious about their deflection should be able to do it at least once very reliably. But this way it costs them something.

I’d be interested to see alternate suggestions. And of course, I can live with the feat staying as is. It never sat right with me, but it certainly hasn’t been a game breaker either.