Number of Feats at Lvl 1


Advice


So, I'm attempting to make sure I'm doing this correctly; how do I figure out how MANY feats I can have at lvl 1 given any class/race. The getting started guide describing it as " determine how many feats your character receives, based on his class and level, and select them from those presented in Feats." isn't doing me much good. Any help would be much appreciated!


All characters start with 1.

Then, you look at your racial details, and see what it gives you. Humans gain an unrestricted bonus feat (for a total of 2). Other races might give that bonus, or give you a specific feat as a bonus feat.

Then, you look at the 1st level benefits of your class. Some classes (most notably the Fighter) grant bonus feats (often from a restricted list, like the Fighter's combat feats).

That's it.

Lantern Lodge

Also to note you get a single unrestricted feat every odd character level.


So, the highest number you could get is 3 for a normal character; 1 standard, 1 from race, 1 from class if and only if both your race and class offer a bonus feat. If only race or class offers a bonus feat, but not both, you have 2 feats. If neither race nor class offers a bonus feat, you have 1. If you're playing a Gestalt character (gets 2 different classes per single character level and takes the best of both worlds), you could potentially start with 4 feats if both classes you take give a bonus feat.


I think this guy is pretty new, don't mess him up with gestalt.


Technically you can get more than three if your class gives other bonus feats. I think a human monk has 5: 1 from 1st level, 1 from human, one bonus feat from a restricted list, Improved unarmed strike, and stunning fist. And all of this is not counting how Flurry of blows is basically described as acting like TWF.

Start looking at it from this angle, and who knows how many feats you can rack up. I'm sure that there are races with free feats. I kind of want to see how many we can get by ignoring quality in favor of quantity

But normally: level up feats and the human bonus feat can be anything you qualify for. Just thumb through the feats section and see what you can get. Bonus feats like the fighter's can only be combat feats, which is its own section in the feats section. A similar process occurs with classes like the wizard and their free spellcasting or crafting feat. Some classes give you bonus feats from a list of choices (monks, rangers, and the sorcerer's bloodline feats immediately come to mind), which is fairly strait forward since you pick one and then pick again from the list when you can get another bonus feat. Finally, some classes just give you a predetermined feat at certain points (monks and improved unarmed strike or rangers and endurance come to mind). Just enjoy the freebie


Half elf gives skill focus for free.

Scarab Sages

Kazaan wrote:
So, the highest number you could get is 3 for a normal character; 1 standard, 1 from race, 1 from class if and only if both your race and class offer a bonus feat. If only race or class offers a bonus feat, but not both, you have 2 feats. If neither race nor class offers a bonus feat, you have 1. If you're playing a Gestalt character (gets 2 different classes per single character level and takes the best of both worlds), you could potentially start with 4 feats if both classes you take give a bonus feat.

4 for is the maximum number of feats for a level 1 human (as far as I know).

Some archetypes give two bonus feats at level 1, but they are typically specific feats. (Unbreakable fighter and Kensai magus are two examples.)


This is great folks; you're all a big help!! Thank you!! I would ask though - where is it stated directly in the codex that at level one you are allowed one allotted feat (not counting those incurred by race/class)?


In the section on classes, there is a table that tells you when you gain new feats and increase ability scores.

http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/classes.html


Gilbin wrote:

In the section on classes, there is a table that tells you when you gain new feats and increase ability scores.

http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/classes.html

Thank you for the link!

Liberty's Edge

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I wonder whether this summary would be useful for new players.
SOURCES OF FEATS AT FIRST LEVEL:
A. All characters receive 1 feat at first level (free choice).
B. Humans receive 1 bonus feat (free choice).
C. Certain classes receive specific bonus feats (no option).
D. Certain classes receive a bonus feat (limited choice).
E. Half-Elves receive Skill Focus (any skill) as a free bonus feat.

If I use this guide for new players, I will need to list the specific and limited choice feats available to each class.

Examples:
Half-Orc Monk
A: Toughness
C: Improved Unarmed Strike, Stunning Fist
D: Deflect Arrows

Human Fighter:
A: Toughness
B: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Falcata)
D: Power Attack

Half-Elf Sorcerer
A: Expanded Arcana
C: Eschew Materials
E: Skill Focus (Spellcraft)


Theconiel wrote:

I wonder whether this summary would be useful for new players.

SOURCES OF FEATS AT FIRST LEVEL:
A. All characters receive 1 feat at first level (free choice).
B. Humans receive 1 bonus feat (free choice).
C. Certain classes receive specific bonus feats (no option).
D. Certain classes receive a bonus feat (limited choice).
E. Half-Elves receive Skill Focus (any skill) as a free bonus feat.

If I use this guide for new players, I will need to list the specific and limited choice feats available to each class.

Examples:
Half-Orc Monk
A: Toughness
C: Improved Unarmed Strike, Stunning Fist
D: Deflect Arrows

Human Fighter:
A: Toughness
B: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Falcata)
D: Power Attack

Half-Elf Sorcerer
A: Expanded Arcana
C: Eschew Materials
E: Skill Focus (Spellcraft)

It is useful actually - it paints a diagram with the 4 steps to identify who gets a feat at lvl 1 and why. The subsequent examples of the race/class also displays how it looks. Thank you!


Does armor and/or weapon proficiency count as a feat? Because if so then you actually receive more.

I'm pretty sure a human alchemist receives several feats, Brew Potion, Throw Anything, plus his own feats.


master_marshmallow wrote:

Does armor and/or weapon proficiency count as a feat? Because if so then you actually receive more.

I'm pretty sure a human alchemist receives several feats, Brew Potion, Throw Anything, plus his own feats.

I would think that the proficiencies would depend on the circumstances. Obviously it would be meaningless for classes since you could just say that fighters have dozens of feats.

I would be slightly inclined to count weapon familiarity though, but only as a single feat since it would again see a lot of bloating through races such as elves or tengu.

Liberty's Edge

master_marshmallow wrote:

Does armor and/or weapon proficiency count as a feat? Because if so then you actually receive more.

I'm pretty sure a human alchemist receives several feats, Brew Potion, Throw Anything, plus his own feats.

Thank you, Master Marshmallow. I would not include weapon/armor proficiencies as feats if they are class features (such as the fighter's proficiency with all simple and martial weapons). The alchemist's bonus feats would appear under "C" if they are "mandatory" for the class.

What I wrote here is only the bare bones. I will have to flesh it out for actual use.

Lemeres, I do not think I would include Weapon Familiarity in this list. I am merely trying to put something together to help new players pick feats.


They really do need to make it more explicit that "by default, all level 1 characters start with one feat. Individual classes and races may provide access to others."

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