Is there a feat that allows you to trade AC for a bonus to Attack rolls? I'm running Second Darkness for my group and redesigning the standard thugs in the first book, as there a little to weak against my party. (I run a high powered game) Most of the party is melee and aside from the one wizard the average AC is like 22ish. One guy is, I think, a tower shield specialist and can get his AC up to like 25 at lv 2, just fighting defensively. I want to be able to come up with opponents that will still provide a challenge for that, but I can't find a feat like that in the CRB, APG, UC, or ACG. I don't want to go searching through all the supplements out there for a feat that seems basic enough that it should be in a core book. Did I miss it or do I need to hombrew it?
I suggest giving the enemies a template, such as "Advanced". Or having more of them and using Aid Another. Either that or spending lots of time redoing NPCs and statting them properly.
You should also identify why the encounters are so easy. APs are made for 15point buy of a 4 ppl party (fighter rogue cleric wizard to be precise). If you have 25 point buy, the AP is going to be a literal cakewalk.
Give them barbarian levels?
Errant Mercenary wrote: I suggest giving the enemies a template, such as "Advanced". Or having more of them and using Aid Another. Either that or spending lots of time redoing NPCs and statting them properly.
You should also identify why the encounters are so easy. APs are made for 15point buy of a 4 ppl party (fighter rogue cleric wizard to be precise). If you have 25 point buy, the AP is going to be a literal cakewalk.
Oh, I know why it's easy:) I am using 25 point buy, and I like to hand out good loot (when I can... This AP hasn't made that easy so far.). I've already completely re-stated the standard thug they encounter. I've got the problem mostly fixed, and I was just looking for a specific feat that can help with this one specific problem. It seems to me that it's a fairly basic idea for a feat. We've already got Combat Expertise, Deadly Aim, Power Attack, and I think one or two others that allow you to trade one bonus for another. I'm just looking for a feat that will do that trading AC for AB. Does it exist?
The Barbarian rage power Reckless Abandon is pretty much exactly what you're asking for, except it's a rage power not a feat.
Right here. It's 3PP, but meh, who cares? :)
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/feats/reckless-offense
Also, bear in mind you *are* the GM. If you want to give them all a +2 to attack rolls just 'cause, then you can just do that.
Shadenir wrote:
Oh, I know why it's easy:) I am using 25 point buy, and I like to hand out good loot (when I can... This AP hasn't made that easy so far.). I've already completely re-stated the standard thug they encounter. I've got the problem mostly fixed, and I was just looking for a specific feat that can help with this one specific problem. It seems to me that it's a fairly basic idea for a feat. We've already got Combat Expertise, Deadly Aim, Power Attack, and I think one or two others that allow you to trade one bonus for another. I'm just looking for a feat that will do that trading AC for AB. Does it exist? fair enough. I am having very similar troubles as you in the AP I'm running (worse, this AP gives them quite a lot of time to prep for battle).
I generally beef hp to 75%-100%, give everything a +2 accross the board (as in advanced template) and then always give the enemies Weapon Focus. So they at least stand a chance to once in a blue moon connect :)
My general + hit feats I use are: Weapon Focus and Outflank.There is also Furious Focus, which is a straight +hit if power attacking.
Specifically about exchanging Hit with AC the Tiger Style feats do that, but are narrow.
Zhayne wrote: ....
Also, bear in mind you *are* the GM. If you want to give them all a +2 to attack rolls just 'cause, then you can just do that.
And this! Though if he gave his PCs 25 PB, the enemies should also get that, and it wouldnt be GM fiddling, so long as the encounters are designed for 15 PBs. But yeah, GM fiddling goes a long way if necessary.
Reckless Abandon is the only way I know and that is a Barbarian Rage power. So as RumpinRufus said 2 level of Barbarian gives they +3 to hit and +2 damage. A 3rd level Skald can get and 4th level Blood Rage can get.
Now put a Skald in the group of enemies that grants Reckless Abandon to allies with his rage song. A 3th level Skald could grant +2 to hit and +1 to damage to all his allies and at 4th that goes to +3 to hit. The enemies will be at a -3 AC though. Also the Skald can cast heroism a few twice at 4th level. So that could be a bad guy with +5 to hit. This is nice bonus to hit with out boosting the damage per hit too much.
Zhayne wrote: Right here. It's 3PP, but meh, who cares? :)
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/feats/reckless-offense
Also, bear in mind you *are* the GM. If you want to give them all a +2 to attack rolls just 'cause, then you can just do that.
Thanks! I did see that, but -4 to AC is a bit to steep for me. I was hoping there was a better pathfinder version. I do sometimes give them bonuses just 'cause, but the concept for that feat is so simple I was hoping it existed already.
Artoo wrote: The Barbarian rage power Reckless Abandon is pretty much exactly what you're asking for, except it's a rage power not a feat. This is almost exactly what I was thinking of, thank you! I'm not sure why it's limited to a rage power, though I can kind of understand the thought process... The version I was hoping for started out at -2 for +2, increasing at fourth and every four after by -1 and +1... Maybe I'll just go with that.
You could make it a drug that the creatures in question use to make them frothy and reckless. Give it nasty long-term side effects if you don't want the PCs to abuse it.
Errant Mercenary wrote: fair enough. I am having very similar troubles as you in the AP I'm running (worse, this AP gives them quite a lot of time to prep for battle).
I generally beef hp to 75%-100%, give everything a +2 accross the board (as in advanced template) and then always give the enemies Weapon Focus. So they at least stand a chance to once in a blue moon connect :)
My general + hit feats I use are: Weapon Focus and Outflank.There is also Furious Focus, which is a straight +hit if power attacking.
Specifically about exchanging Hit with AC the Tiger Style feats do that, but are narrow.
A short description of the standard thug from Second Darkness book 1 SPOILER warning if you care
The standard thugs are warrior 1 with the melee npc stats from the CRB: Str 13, dex 11, con 12, int 9, wis 10, cha 8. AC of 13
/SPOILER
I redid them as fighter 1 10 point buy and left the mental stats alone. Wrote down their stats for a small variety of weapons and armors as well to mix it up a bit so they're not fighting half a dozen clones. Beefed up the health a bit too. Trial run will be tonight. The only thing I was worried about is the increased AC slowing down combat and only being able to hit the pcs on a nat 20... You guys' suggestions are a big help.
blahpers wrote: You could make it a drug that the creatures in question use to make them frothy and reckless. Give it nasty long-term side effects if you don't want the PCs to abuse it. That's a good idea too... I may use that down the road also.
Bonuses to hit are almost always worth more than to any other combat stat. That's why it's something more like +2/-4.
There is also the halfling feat Risky Striker, that trades AC for Damage, and Tiger Pounce that allows the same thing.
Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
By rules, if you give them a PC class then they get an elite array of stats, that would help. So would various potions or other disposables. Or group them with a bard.
Shadenir wrote: Is there a feat that allows you to trade AC for a bonus to Attack rolls? I'm running Second Darkness for my group and redesigning the standard thugs in the first book, as there a little to weak against my party. (I run a high powered game) Most of the party is melee and aside from the one wizard the average AC is like 22ish. One guy is, I think, a tower shield specialist and can get his AC up to like 25 at lv 2, just fighting defensively. I want to be able to come up with opponents that will still provide a challenge for that, but I can't find a feat like that in the CRB, APG, UC, or ACG. I don't want to go searching through all the supplements out there for a feat that seems basic enough that it should be in a core book. Did I miss it or do I need to hombrew it? Reverse Combat Expertise does not exist.... at least outside of third party.
It doesn't make a lot of sense. especially for AC derived from armor, shield, or natural armor bonuses.
If you're trying to work it of Dex, that's what Weapon Finesse is for.
Arcanis had something called Heedless Assault, and if you Charge, you're trading some AC for a bonus to hit.
LazarX wrote: Shadenir wrote: Is there a feat that allows you to trade AC for a bonus to Attack rolls? I'm running Second Darkness for my group and redesigning the standard thugs in the first book, as there a little to weak against my party. (I run a high powered game) Most of the party is melee and aside from the one wizard the average AC is like 22ish. One guy is, I think, a tower shield specialist and can get his AC up to like 25 at lv 2, just fighting defensively. I want to be able to come up with opponents that will still provide a challenge for that, but I can't find a feat like that in the CRB, APG, UC, or ACG. I don't want to go searching through all the supplements out there for a feat that seems basic enough that it should be in a core book. Did I miss it or do I need to hombrew it? Reverse Combat Expertise does not exist.... at least outside of third party.
It doesn't make a lot of sense. especially for AC derived from armor, shield, or natural armor bonuses.
If you're trying to work it of Dex, that's what Weapon Finesse is for.
Arcanis had something called Heedless Assault, and if you Charge, you're trading some AC for a bonus to hit. I suppose that's true, it wouldn't make a lot of sense... Although, you could say that that in their recklessness the character leaves openings for attacks against them.
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