For my campaign, I'm trying to improve the interaction of the Vital Strike feats with other feats, and basically allow them to be used anytime you don't or can't full-attack. Not being able to use them on a charge was a particular point I wanted to rectify. I think I've got the wording down pretty well, but am hoping for a little feedback. The text in blue is what has changed from how it's written in the book. Any loopholes, problems with other feats, etc, that I missed?
Vital Strike (Combat)
You can make a single attack that deals significantly more damage than normal.
Prerequisites: Base attack bonus +6.
Benefit: When you use the attack action your attack deals additional damage. Roll the damage dice for the attack twice and add the results together, but do not multiply damage bonuses weapon abilities (such as flaming) or precision-based damage (such as sneak attack). This bonus damage is not multiplied on a critical hit (although other damage bonuses are multiplied normally).
Special:
Improved Vital Strike (Combat)
You can make a single attack that deals a large amount of damage.
Prerequisites: Vital Strike, Base attack bonus +11.
Benefit: When you use the attack action your attack deals additional damage. Roll the damage dice for the attack three times and add the results together, but do not multiply damage bonuses weapon abilities (such as flaming), or precision-based damage (such as sneak attack). This bonus damage is not multiplied on a critical hit (although other damage bonuses are multiplied normally).
Special:
Greater Vital Strike (Combat)
You can make a single attack that deals incredible damage.
Prerequisites: Vital Strike, Improved Vital Strike, Base attack bonus +16.
Benefit: When you use the attack action your attack deals additional damage. Roll the damage dice for the attack four times and add the results together, but do not multiply damage bonuses , weapon abilities (such as flaming) or precision-based damage (such as sneak attack). This bonus damage is not multiplied on a critical hit (although other damage bonuses are multiplied normally).
Special:
I have one issue with using Vital Strike as part of a charge - Vital Strike is meant to be a deliberate blow to somewhere vulnerable, and when you're charging you cannot select a vulnerable point, in my mind.
I would allow Vital Strike as part of another attack action, such as with Spring Attack, or along with a feint, a Stunning Fist, even a touch attack with a Swift spell, but not a charge. Likewise, I can't see it as part of a Cleave or Great Cleave action: both are standard actions, so you choose one or the other.
I have one issue with using Vital Strike as part of a charge - Vital Strike is meant to be a deliberate blow to somewhere vulnerable, and when you're charging you cannot select a vulnerable point, in my mind.
I would allow Vital Strike as part of another attack action, such as with Spring Attack, or along with a feint, a Stunning Fist, even a touch attack with a Swift spell, but not a charge. Likewise, I can't see it as part of a Cleave or Great Cleave action: both are standard actions, so you choose one or the other.
Thanks for responding Dabbler.
James Jacobs explained the purpose for introducing these feats in the thread, Charging and Vital Strike:
The point of the feat chain is to let fighters do more damage when they have to move in a round. Or if they're facing a foe that their secondary and other attacks simply can't really hit. Whenever you lose the option to make those additional attacks, you can simply transfer the damage over to the attack you DO get.
Which I agree with and see the wisdom of introducing these feats. However, my main goal is that I specifically want them to work virtually any time you are only able to make a single attack on your turn, including a charge. The "Special," added to each feat is to address the very few situations that arise where you might be able to make more than one attack during a standard action. I thought that it should be clarified how these feats would interact in such a situation. I may be convinced that it's better to state that these feats cannot be used during a standard action if you make more than one attack (such as when using Cleave). As it stands, I don't think it's too unbalancing right now to allow it with a Cleave/Great Cleave.
Given that the quote you give is quite specific: that where the attacker has only one attack, they can make a more powerful attack, and that Cleave and Great Cleave allow for more than one attack, it seems logical to exclude Vital Strike from these options. Otherwise, yes I can see the logic there, and Vital Strike is not after all as precise as a sneak attack, which in theory you could apply on a charge if the foe was flat-footed.
I would be happy if Vital Strike could be applied on a charge against a flat-footed or otherwise surprised opponent. Charge is seldom used outside this kind of situation, anyway!
I am for Vital Strike (along with IVS and GVS) to work with the charge action, Spring Attack and Shot on the Run. Although it isn't completely clear in the rules, I think the intent was to let you do more damage when you are limited to making a single attack on your own turn.
I don't think it should work with full attacks or the standard action feats like Cleave.
I think I'm agreeing with you both that the feats should only trigger when you make only one attack on your turn, excluding using them in conjunction with Cleave/Gr Cleave.
So:
Vital Strike (Combat)
You can make a single attack that deals significantly more damage than normal.
Prerequisites: Base attack bonus +6.
Benefit: When you attack deals additional damage. Roll the damage dice for the attack twice and add the results together, but do not multiply damage bonuses weapon abilities (such as flaming) or precision-based damage (such as sneak attack). This bonus damage is not multiplied on a critical hit (although other damage bonuses are multiplied normally).
@ Dabbler…
I'm definitely trying to improve the charge maneuver, through this feat. Say I define VS so that you can't use it on a charge. A person who picks this up, may never really want to charge at all. The only real advantage of charging after you pick up VS would be that you could still attack when moving more than your regular move. Otherwise, you're better off just standard move + VS, IMO. Plus, adding its use on the charge, I think it helps to offset the situation (which often comes up in our games) where, creature A charges creature B, but then creature B, full attacks creature A. It definitely puts a little more bite into a charge, which I like. We use very little of our 3.0/3.5 stuff, (in fact we hardly used anything outside of 3.5 core before PF), so I don't think I or my players can make insane chargers by adding this feat to charges.
Another thought, regarding my new wording, it would be allowed when using Greater Trip for instance (Trip maneuver as Std, gain AoO if opponent is tripped… AoO benefits from VS as it is your only attack during your turn). Not sure if VS as written in core can be used this way as well.
I have a suggestion ... introduce an additional feat:
Action Charge
Prerequisites: Base attack bonus +4
Benefit: You may make a charge action and combine it with an attack that would normally require a standard action, such as Cleave, Vital Strike etc.