Fast Learner feat and Fav Class Bonus

[StealthElite]

I have a question about the new feat Fast Learner from the ARG.

The feat fast learner states:

Fast Learner
You progress gain extra versatility.
Prerequisites: Int 13, human.
Benefit: When you gain a level in a favored class,
you gain both +1 hit point and +1 skill rank instead
of choosing either one or the other benefit or you can
choose an alternate class reward.

Lets say for instance you are a human Rogue

when you level up in rogue, you usually have the choice of +1 hp, +1 skills point or 1/6 towards a rogue talent.

so when you level up with this feat could you upon leveling get:

+1 Hp and 1/6 Rogue talent

+1 skill point and 1/6 rogue talent

or even possibly

2/6 rogue talent since you could choose to replace the HP and skill point with the favored class option.

Which would mean getting an extra rogue talent every 3 levels instead of 6.

if the latter is possible that would be extremely useful

1 feat for possibly 6 extra talents

Im just looking for clarification on this.

Thanks

[MurphysParadox]

Depends on wording interpretation. "you gain both +1 hit point and +1 skill rank instead of choosing either one or the other benefit or you can choose an alternate class reward"

I can read that as getting (+1 HP AND +1 skill rank) OR (1 alternate class reward). You get both traditional bonuses or you just get one alternate bonus.

If you take it the other way, as you do, I am unaware of any specific ruling against such interpretation (though I wouldn't let my players do it). Up until this point, it was always just 'choose one' and so there weren't need for rules about multiple choices.

[AvalonXQ]

MP has the right of it. Your choices are either both +1s or the standard alternate. You don't get to double the alternate or take the alternate and a +1.

So if you plan to take your alternate favored class bonus at most levels, this feat is probably not for you.

[Itsgottabeodin]

Which makes this feat a lot less useful than at first glance; Taking Toughness as a feat gives you more options(You could get the standard +1hp/+1skp or take +2hp/level or take 1 alternate and still get your +1 hp - Toughness also loads up those hp at first level when you need them most and is available to all races...).

[AvalonXQ]

Yes, Toughness is strictly better than this feat. So the only reason to take it would be in addition to Toughness.

[Dolanar]

By that interpretation it is basically useless unless you want to take the skill/hp.

[Todpole]

Dolanar wrote:

By that interpretation it is basically useless unless you want to take the skill/hp.

It is basically a watered down toughness, but the feats that tree off of it are worth the investment (imo).

Improvisation is a pretty damned cool feat and improved improvisation is kind of like an extra layer of frosting on the awesome cake.

[Nicos]

I read it as you can take whatever 2 benefit without repeate

1hp and 1 skill
or
1 hp and 1 alternate class reward
or
1 skill and alternate class reward.

[Tobrian]

Nicos wrote:

I read it as you can take whatever 2 benefit without repeate

1hp and 1 skill
or
1 hp and 1 alternate class reward
or
1 skill and alternate class reward.

NO. You read wrong.

I checked the Advanced Race Guide, page 77, for the racial feat, and the description of alternate class rewards on page 9

Quote:

Fast Learner

Benefit: When you gain a level in a favored class,
you gain both +1 hit point and +1 skill rank instead
of choosing either one or the other benefit or you can
choose an alternate class reward.

As MurphysParadox and Avalon already wrote:

Normally, without the feat, a character gaining a level in a favored class can choose either +1 hp or +1 skill point as benefit.

With Feat Learner, you can choose:
take EITHER +1 hp plus +1 skill point,
OR take the alternate class reward.

I admit, putting an added Oxford comma in front of "or you can choose an alternate class reward" would have helped the sentence, as would have putting "instead of choosing either one or the other benefit" in brackets. But seriously, it's basic text comprehension, people!

Stop trying to greedily weasel in "alternate interpretations" to get more bonuses by misquoting the feat. It's the first feat in a feat tree. Suck it up.

This feat does not need an FAQ entry IMO.

[Saronian]

The feat isn't that great for both the requirements or the way it was written and designed. It is designed for the Human character whose alternate class feature would never be used (fighter, I'm looking at you). Personally, allowing it to be applied to the alternate class options would make it attractive to more players.

Maybe too attractive, but meh, it happens.

[Rhumdeas]

Quote:

Fast Learner

Benefit: When you gain a level in a favored class,
you gain both +1 hit point and +1 skill rank instead
of choosing either one or the other benefit or you can
choose an alternate class reward.

Tobrian wrote:

As MurphysParadox and Avalon already wrote:

Normally, without the feat, a character gaining a level in a favored class can choose either +1 hp or +1 skill point as benefit.

With Feat Learner, you can choose:
take EITHER +1 hp plus +1 skill point,
OR take the alternate class reward.

I admit, putting an added Oxford comma in front of "or you can choose an alternate class reward" would have helped the sentence, as would have putting "instead of choosing either one or the other benefit" in brackets. But seriously, it's basic text comprehension, people!

Stop trying to greedily weasel in "alternate interpretations" to get more bonuses by misquoting the feat. It's the first feat in a feat tree. Suck it up.

This feat does not need an FAQ entry IMO.

So, by this logic a human cannot take the alternate class reward without this feat? I have a feeling that this feat is in fact allowing one to either take:

Nicos wrote:

I read it as you can take whatever 2 benefit without repeate

1hp and 1 skill
or
1 hp and 1 alternate class reward
or
1 skill and alternate class reward.

Granted, I do agree that this a hefty bonus, but if this isn't RAI, why even put a reference to alternate class rewards in the feat? Seems that an official ruling would be needed for this one.