What are Clerics (and other similarly built 3/4 BAB characters) supposed to take for feats at 1st level? A character that spends points on Str, Con, Wis, and maybe Cha doesn't seem to qualify for feats that are useful to their role until they have a BAB under their belt or takes Metamagic feats that won't assist them for several levels.
Maybe I'm missing something here, and that is why I'm posting to find out what it is I'm not seeing.
They don't qualify for Dodge or Combat Expertise due to stats. The don't have the BAB to take Exotic Weapon Proficiency, Power Attack, or Weapon Focus.
The character can take a number of feats, but none that seem to really boost their fighting capability.
Some may say Combat Casting but not all the characters that have the 0 BAB 1st level have spells to cast.
What I think I'm likely to do is take the +1 BAB req off of Power Attack. Combat Expertise and Weapon Finesse have already lost this requirement in Pathfinder, so it seems a little silly that PA still has it.
Thanks for your time.
What are Clerics (and other similarly built 3/4 BAB characters) supposed to take for feats at 1st level? A character that spends points on Str, Con, Wis, and maybe Cha doesn't seem to qualify for feats that are useful to their role until they have a BAB under their belt or takes Metamagic feats that won't assist them for several levels.
I agree that taking the +1 BAB requirement off of Power Attack wouldn't hurt.
Possible melee cleric feats at level 1: Blind-Fight, Heavy Armor Proficiency, Channel Smite (for negative channelers), Martial Weapon Proficiency, Combat Reflexes/Bodyguard, Saving Shield
Dodge requires 13 Dex, Combat Expertise requires 13 Int. Really not hard to get at level 1.
And clerics could start taking feats that improve their Channel at level 1. Non-clerics (such as rogues) could start out taking feats to improve stealth, or a non-combat ability. Not everything revolves around how hard you can smash stuff in the face.
PA, Combat expertise ,and deadly aim should NOT be feats but should be an attack modifying option anyone could do.
back to the question at hand
Combat casting or the new warrior priest feat from UM, toughness, weapon focus, heavy armor proficiency, selective channeling are the ones that spring to mind.
Core Rules Melee-useful Feats:
Armor Proficiency - no pre-req
Blind-Fight - no pre-req
Combat Casting - like you said
Combat Expertise - INT 13 is do-able if you want it
Channel Smite - no pre-req besides Channel Energy
Dodge - DEX 13 is do-able if you want it
Improved Initiative - no pre-req
Martial Weapon Proficiency - no pre-req, could be good if you have racial access to exotics-as-martials and plan on never dipping to get full MWP
Mounted Combat - no pre-req, clerics/oracles/druids can get AC + riding dogs are affordable for small characters at 1st level
Nimble Moves - DEX 13 is do-able
Improved Shield Bash - shield proficiency
Toughness - no pre-req
If you imagine using Ranged sometimes:
Point Blank Shot - no pre-req
Rapid Reload - if using/proficient in crossbows
And these aren`t affecting your melee/combat directly, but are still good choices:
Selective Channeling - no pre-req besides Channel Energy
Turn Undead - no pre-req besides Channel Energy
Scribe Scroll - no pre-req, lets you scribe utility spells, and memorize more combat buffs
FROM APG:
Additional Traits - no pre-req, can be very useful
Deepsight - Darkvision 60`, improved sensory superiority, including vs. normal Darkvision opponents
Gang Up - Combat Expertise, most useful for Rogues, but +2 to hit is nice for any 3/4 BAB class (even better if you count as an ally, which is PRPG standard AFAIK)
Ironhide - CON 13, Half Orc or Dwarf, +1 to AC stacks with Dodge, doesn`t need 13 DEX
Keen Scent - WIS 13, Half Orc or Orc, Scent is useful
Razortusk - Half Orc, Bite attack is useful
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So there are plenty of options. That you can`t choose all the +1 BAB Feats is so that there is a tangible difference between full BAB classes and those who aren`t. After all, you are getting Full Casting + Channeling, or awesome skills and 1d6 Sneak Attack, or whatever else 3/4 BAB classes get.
Depends on the class, a cleric can take something like channel smite, and dodge is always good. A bard can take extra performance or a monk extra ki. Sure weapon focus and power attack have to wait, but there are still other routes to take.
I seem to have seen most of these options already. I think one of my main problems is that so many feat trees do not start requiring BAB, but the basic "hit something harder" does.
I mainly just wanted to see if I was missing something or not.
As to the Warrior Priest feat that was mentioned, it seems kinda terrible to me. I kinda figure that a feat with requirements that is doing half the job of one feat and less than half the job of another feat (both feats being simple to access) is not that desirable.
Thanks again for the answers folks.
What I think I'm likely to do is take the +1 BAB req off of Power Attack. Combat Expertise and Weapon Finesse have already lost this requirement in Pathfinder, so it seems a little silly that PA still has it.
Interesting, I hadn't noticed Combat Expertise didn't have the BAB +1 requirement anymore.
It also requires Dex 13, but Nimble Moves is rather excellent for a caster/fighter type - being able to 5' away in difficult terrain to cast is very nice.
Other than that, any of the save boosting feats are quite good, especially at low level, and Improved Initiative and Fleet also give good boosts.
I would allow anybody to TAKE Power Attack at BAB +0,
but it wouldn`t have any EFFECT until you actually have BAB +1,
since it`s effects scale based on BAB, at BAB +0 the Feat shouldn`t have any effect.
Still, it lets you get the benefits of PA at 2nd level, so could be worthwhile to some people.