Hello everyone,
I am still working on Goblin Feral Gnasher build (Remember: Pacman wears green) and have two question on the design of the archetype that have sprung up.
First is the 2nd level modification:
At 2nd level, a feral gnasher gains Throw Anything as a bonus feat and can pick up an unattended object that can be wielded in one hand as a free action. Additionally, the feral gnasher can take Catch Off-Guard in place of a rage power.
This ability replaces the rage power gained at second level.
I find this entry odd as it gives you a bonus feat, then Catch off Guard (another feat), all for the price of a single rage power. Looking at how this is worded and how the 5th level swap for Improvised Weapon Mastery is handled (losing Improved Uncanny Dodge) it makes me wonder if there was an editing error somewhere that was never corrected.
Usually Barbarian Archetypes replace both of the Dodges. Also the way it is written, You don't seem to have to take the swap for the rage power. It almost makes me think this was supposed to be:
This ability replaces Uncanny Dodge and the rage power gained at second level.
I know this is not RAW and no one has ever spoken up in an FAQ against it, it just seems off to me somehow.
Now for a more concrete issue, as you level up you replace Trap Sense 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5... this still leaves Trap Sense +6 hanging out there in the breeze with nothing supporting it.
I assume you do NOT just suddenly go from Trap Sense +0 to +6 when you hit level 18, so how should that be handled.
My take would be that it is simply removed along with all the lower level Trap Senses, but you then lose out on an even exchange for that bonus. Is it possible it was meant to be removed by Wicked Improvisation which increases in strength every two levels after 12th? That would seem a fair trade for something you have already lost do to swaps at lower levels.
The last option would be to just give the Gnasher Trap Sense +1 at level 18.
Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Thanks!
Alright I will address these to the best of my ability.
Getting 2 feats for the price of one (or a rage power in this case) while losing the choice of witch feats you get is precedented in other archetypes. An unbreakable fighter gets endurance and die-hard instead of the first combat feat, gladiator gets preformance weapon mastery and a bonus combat feat at level 1, an unarmed fighter gets imp unarmed strike and a style feat ect. So its not that uncommon and honestly, I would rather the rage power :P
It replaces improved uncanny dodge like the hateful rager does but not the regular uncanny dodge, you keep that kinda like how a swordlord fighter only replaces weapon training lvl 1.
Yes you have to swap it out. Second line of the one you quoted,
"This ability replaces the rage power gained at second level."
As for trap sense, you would just get the first level of it at 18, could be worded better but again, look at the buccaneer archetype where you get gun training at 13th level instead of 5th or the pistolero getting the deadeye deed at 7th level instead of 1st.
So to recap,
1) you get 1 feat instead of the first rage power
2) you replace improved uncanny dodge but keep the basic version
3) You have to swap it out, no choice in the matter
4) 3rd option, you only get trap sense lvl 1 at 18th level.
Enjoy :)
Also, check out my mini guide for the feral gnasher here and here.
Edit: Whops looks like I failed at the first one :) Go back and re-read it. it does 2 things,
1) replaces your first rage power with throw anything
2) gives you the option to replace a later rage power with catch off guard.
you do not get both for a single rage power ;P My bad.
Got it!
Good catch on the wording of the Impromptu Armament ability. I will need to take that into account in my build. A minor change.
And yes I have read up on your mini-guide and based my build on it. I honestly can't wait to try it out. Thanks!
No problem! I love it when my ideas get used by other people. It means they get a chance to actually live and thats awesome!
Hope you enjoy it!