Pasted below, why would anyone take this feat? I'd think Skill focus perception or another feat that adds +2 to perception and another skill would fe FAR superior. Can anyone think of a good reason to take this over another feat?
I like the flavor, but you could easily flavor one of the better feats to match.
Sharp senses
Your senses are especially sharp, even for your kind.
Prerequisite: Keen senses racial trait.
Benefit: You receive a +4 racial bonus on Perception skill checks. This replaces the normal bonus from the keen senses racial trait.
Normal: The keen senses trait normally grants a +2 racial bonus on Perception skill checks.
You already have all the other Perception feats and want a complete set?
Unusually important skill - used often, and can determine whether or not there's a surprise round. Maybe they figured for those reasons +2 Perception was worth more than +2 [Anything Else]??
I see no reason why you would take this over Skill Focus[Perception]. Now, if you already had SF and just wanted even more of a perception boost then maybe you'd take this. Of course, blow enough feats on boosting Perception and you'll be able to see the baddies, but won't have too many abilities to deal with them...
Sharp Senses really should have been a racial trait or a racial alternative.
Because the only other feat your DM allowed was Improved Stonecunning?
I see it as more of a low level NPC feat. Half-Elf Fighter with racial skill focus perception, Alertness and keen sense can help with catching that pesky rogue. I see no reason a player would ever take this feat though.
Let's say you're a half-elf wizard or sorcerer. You take Skill Focus: perception as part of your racial traits, and let's say you have a familiar (arcane bond or the arcane bloodline).
Familiar gives you Alertness when nearby, you already have Skill Focus, so taking Keen Senses might make sense (especially since you don't have Perception as a class skill and you might not have good wisdom).
Probably overkill, but if you're playing a really paranoid character or you just like the idea of Super Senses, I could see it working.
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IMO it's kind of a poorly-designed feat. Better if it gave you a +4 Perception that stacked with Keen Senses. At lower levels it would be a better version of Skill Focus: Perception, but with stricter prerequisites, but at higher level Skill Focus would win out.
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Because they like it. Not every game is all about optimization.
This... does not make sense to me. Why would someone "like" a feat that was just in every way mechanically worse than another? This isn't using a weird weapon, or specializing in a weird fighting style. There is no "flavor," given that this and skill focus would both be summed up in "I have very keen senses." Basically, unless someone looked at your character sheet, they would never know the difference (except that one's bonus is lower).
I can only see taking it if you were taking both.
If say:
You were a fighter and already going to get a bunch of feats.
You don't have much use for it so you're dumping wisdom.
Your last 3 characters have died with this GM in surprise round ambushes.
Then you might take both for a total of +6 to the perception checks.
{ But I still probably wouldn't. }
Let's say you're a half-elf wizard or sorcerer. You take Skill Focus: perception as part of your racial traits, and let's say you have a familiar (arcane bond or the arcane bloodline).
Familiar gives you Alertness when nearby, you already have Skill Focus, so taking Keen Senses might make sense (especially since you don't have Perception as a class skill and you might not have good wisdom).
Probably overkill, but if you're playing a really paranoid character or you just like the idea of Super Senses, I could see it working.
Except if you don't have Perception as a class skill, you can take Cosmopolitan to make it one for a +3 bonus. That already makes it better than Sharp Senses- but Cosmopolitan also let's you make another skill a class skill, and grants you two free languages.
Or if you find a trait that fits your character (such as Eyes and Ears of the City), you can take the Extra Traits feat to give you a net +4 to Perception, and another trait of your choice.
Yes, it is a terrible, terrible feat.
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Because they like it. Not every game is all about optimization.
I do end up hating posts that are like this. Mort pretty much says it.. cause seriously this is like taking a feat..
FEAT
Benefit: You have taken this feat.
Normal: Normally you do not have this feat.
(feat is the name of the feat.)
There isn't any justification of having this take up book space really. But if it did, people would still chime in that "games aren't all about optimization" or a large number of other hootenanny excuses.
Being able to shape-shift into a fox for kitsune is one that isn't about optimization, and actually provides a tangible effect that is clearly demonstrated by your characters capabilities of shape-shifting into a fox.
If I was making a character who did in fact have great perception, I would end up looking for as much bonuses as I can for perception. cause that's the flavor of the character. Even so, this feat would be waaay low on my list. First is skill focus perception, then alertness. I might even take elf as my race and instead go for something that has the ability to get sent, like half-orc. There is also Jackal blood for another +2 to perception bonuses.
For the record I wasn't being hateful. I thought perhaps there was an angle I overlooked. It would seem not.
Im abit clueless about rules, but being a net +2 racial bonus, doesn't this stack with all the other, superior options? That would mean its good (with the inevitable diminishing returns) if you're trying to maximize perception. It wouldn't be the first choice, but it may eventually be the only choice to eke out another +2.
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I can think of a couple reasons.
- Fighter/Cleric/Paladin doesn't have enough skill points to buff perception, but wants to keep compeditive
- Player paranoia, wants to add to the bonus.
- GM doesn't allow Cosmopolitan
All are reasons to take the feat, not just 'role playing is cool'. ;-)
They exist because Paizo needs to make money. They make money by selling books. Stuff needs to go into these books. If everything were always better than the last book, you have power creep. Some stuff has to be worse. Don't like it, don't take it. Stop the hate.
well paizo could just take a crap, compress it into a book form..
But it really wouldn't help them in anyway. But hey, there is no power creep.
Seriously.
Do they make money off selling books? Yes
Does power creep happen when increasing the number of books.. Maybe.
Anti-power creep does not automatically mean make a bunch of stuff that sucks. It means design to the side. Whats that mean? It means design stuff that while isn't better that the previous, isn't worse either. It just simply is.
Like Fox form and power attack. While I disagree with foxforms BAB requirements, it is designed to the side of power attack. It is neither better or worse than power attack, and therefor doesn't increase powercreep.
Jackal hertige vs Alertness. Both give a +2 to perception. JH though gives a +2 vs mind affecting effects, and Alertness gives +2 to sense motive. Alertness also increases after 10 ranks. JH is just slightly worse than alertness but not the the extent that it is completely untakable unless you are really really desperate for just a slight increase to perception.
Sharp senses
Your senses are especially sharp, even for your kind.Prerequisite: Keen senses racial trait.
Benefit: You receive a +4 racial bonus on Perception skill checks. This replaces the normal bonus from the keen senses racial trait. In addition you also get a +2 racial bonus on Initiative checks.
Normal: The keen senses trait normally grants a +2 racial bonus on Perception skill checks.
Look I fixed it. And there's no power creep. It's just slightly different.
Anti-power creep does not automatically mean make a bunch of stuff that sucks. It means design to the side. Whats that mean? It means design stuff that while isn't better that the previous, isn't worse either. It just simply is.
Exactly this. And Paizo does pretty well at it, for the most part. To look at the Dragon Empire Primer, you have interesting options like Hold the Blade and Feinting Flurry. They are no better or worse than previous feats, they just add interesting options for play.
Unfortunately, sometimes things miss the mark. Sometimes by a lot. Ultimate Combat gave us awesome Style feat chains, but also included feats which were either of questionable utility (Death or Glory) or outright do nothing (Prone Shooter).
When something goes wrong and bad feats get through, they really don't need to be defended. They are mistakes. It isn't the end of world that some options are worthless, but at the same time it would be better if they didn't exist. There is no inherent value to them gumming up the system. At best, it is pages that aren't going to see use. At worst, it lays traps for new players and bloats the system with "options" that simply don't provide enough utility to warrant their existence.
I can think of a couple reasons.
- Fighter/Cleric/Paladin doesn't have enough skill points to buff perception, but wants to keep compeditive
- Player paranoia, wants to add to the bonus.
- GM doesn't allow Cosmopolitan
All are reasons to take the feat, not just 'role playing is cool'. ;-)
I am lost here. I am not seeing how any of these makes it a better idea to take Keen Senses.
It's an optimizer tax. If you want optimal perception, you need to take this feat eventually. If you don't, you don't have fully optimal perception.
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I am lost here. I am not seeing how any of these makes it a better idea to take Keen Senses.I can think of a couple reasons.
- Fighter/Cleric/Paladin doesn't have enough skill points to buff perception, but wants to keep compeditive
- Player paranoia, wants to add to the bonus.
- GM doesn't allow Cosmopolitan
All are reasons to take the feat, not just 'role playing is cool'. ;-)
For the first, it's that (especially for fighters) you could go +2 racial +2 Alertness +3 skill focus and +2 Sharp senses for a 3 feats = +9 Again I was thinking fighters with their bonus feats (meaning they can spend regular feats on this) but might not have enough SP to go 'round.
the second it's just "My last three characters got killed by ambushes. This time..."
Someone suggested "Why not just take Cosmopolitan and get the skill?" I was listing "You can't" as a reason to take this instead of Cosmopolitan.
Okay folks. There we have it. We found the situation where you may want to take the Sharp Senses feat.
If your last three characters died because of flubbed perception checks (I guess you are alone a lot or no one else has perception) AND you must play a elf/half-elf fighter with no skill points AND for some reason your GM bans some random APG feats but lets in others (Cosmopolitan, Extra Traits, and Sharp Senses are all APG feats) AND already having two perception feats isn't good enough for you AND magic items like Eyes of the Eagle (2,500gp for +5) are either too expensive or still not good enough AND spells and special abilities like scent or permanent see invisibility are out of reach AND multiclassing or taking archetypes that focus on perception isn't a good enough option AND you still want more perception bonuses....
Then I guess Sharp Senses is a possible feat choice.
I am lost here. I am not seeing how any of these makes it a better idea to take Keen Senses.I can think of a couple reasons.
- Fighter/Cleric/Paladin doesn't have enough skill points to buff perception, but wants to keep compeditive
- Player paranoia, wants to add to the bonus.
- GM doesn't allow Cosmopolitan
All are reasons to take the feat, not just 'role playing is cool'. ;-)For the first, it's that (especially for fighters) you could go +2 racial +2 Alertness +3 skill focus and +2 Sharp senses for a 3 feats = +9 Again I was thinking fighters with their bonus feats (meaning they can spend regular feats on this) but might not have enough SP to go 'round.
the second it's just "My last three characters got killed by ambushes. This time..."
Someone suggested "Why not just take Cosmopolitan and get the skill?" I was listing "You can't" as a reason to take this instead of Cosmopolitan.
I see I just misunderstood what you were saying. That I can agree with.
SO if the person has literally run out of every other way to increase their perception they MIGHT want this feat.
Basically, yes.
From a GM's perspective I find these kind of 'sub-optimal' feats very useful if I want to boost an NPC's ability in some area without giving it more levels. Because of the level restriction on skill ranks I can make a character who's really good at one thing while keeping its overall level in line with what I think the character should be capable of overall.
I can only see it being useful when the character is reincarnated into a creature without keen sense, assuming the feat will stick with the new form(?)
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Half-elf Wizard/Sorcerer/Witch 1
You pick up Perception as a class skill with a trait, start with Skill Focus (Perception) from half-elf, and you get Alertness from your familiar.
Take Sharp Senses as your first level feat, and you're rocking a +14 to Perception, and that's before Wisdom gets factored in. (1 rank, +3 class skill, +3 Skill Focus, +1 trait, +4 racial, +2 alertness)
Also pretty good for Rogues who eventually plan on getting a familiar with the advanced rogue talent (which I've been wanting to do for a while, Raccoon ftw!). Never worry about traps again.
Actually the best way Benchak..
Make Half-Elf Sorcerer with ORC bloodline. First level Take Jackel Heritage +2 vs mind effecting spells +2 perception. Skill focus Perception from half-elf as well.
Take whatever trait gives you perception as a class skills.
So that puts you at +2+2+3+1+3=11 perception.
Take Keen Sent for sent at level 3, giving you a situational +8
So you are looking at something of, 13/21 perception by level 3 with 10 wisdom.
Alertness at level 5, for 17/25
Smell Fear at level 7, giving you another situational bonus of +4 if someone is affected by fear. You can now also use perception to smell if someone crapped their pants. So we have 19/27/31
AT level 9, then we then finally take the improved perception ability, putting us up to 23/31/35
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 8
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Actually the best way Benchak..
Make Half-Elf Sorcerer with ORC bloodline. First level Take Jackel Heritage +2 vs mind effecting spells +2 perception. Skill focus Perception from half-elf as well.
Take whatever trait gives you perception as a class skills.
So that puts you at +2+2+3+1+3=11 perception.Take Keen Sent for sent at level 3, giving you a situational +8
So you are looking at something of, 13/21 perception by level 3 with 10 wisdom.
Alertness at level 5, for 17/25
Smell Fear at level 7, giving you another situational bonus of +4 if someone is affected by fear. You can now also use perception to smell if someone crapped their pants. So we have 19/27/31
AT level 9, then we then finally take the improved perception ability, putting us up to 23/31/35
You should take the Tattooed Sorcerer archetype, it'll swap your 1st level bloodline power for a Tattoo Familiar. Boom, free Alertness at level 1, freeing you up to take Sharp Senses at level 5.
Edit: Of course, now you've got an elf-orc-human-jackalwere abomination on your hands :)
Or go an Empyreal bloodline sorcerer, then as you are rocking a 20wis at level 1 you will have +19 bonus to everything and don't have to take rubbish scent feats, and have +5 to will saves as an added bonus.
Actually the best way Benchak..
Make Half-Elf Sorcerer with ORC bloodline. First level Take Jackel Heritage +2 vs mind effecting spells +2 perception. Skill focus Perception from half-elf as well.
Take whatever trait gives you perception as a class skills.
So that puts you at +2+2+3+1+3=11 perception.Take Keen Sent for sent at level 3, giving you a situational +8
So you are looking at something of, 13/21 perception by level 3 with 10 wisdom.
Alertness at level 5, for 17/25
Smell Fear at level 7, giving you another situational bonus of +4 if someone is affected by fear. You can now also use perception to smell if someone crapped their pants. So we have 19/27/31
AT level 9, then we then finally take the improved perception ability, putting us up to 23/31/35
You should take the Tattooed Sorcerer archetype, it'll swap your 1st level bloodline power for a Tattoo Familiar. Boom, free Alertness at level 1, freeing you up to take Sharp Senses at level 5.
Edit: Of course, now you've got an elf-orc-human-jackalwere abomination on your hands :)
Lets make him more abominational.. lets throw in Draconic hertiage via the feat chain after doing the tattoo. Then our abomination goes dragon disciple, thus gaining blind sense and other dragon-perseptiony stuff.