There are a lot of feats out there, some better than others. Having read this thread, I thought I might start my own and ask folks here (especially those who have played a lot) how they would rank a feat.
Now, of course, the problem is that this can involve a lot of subjective views on what makes a good feat, so I'm going to include parameters to help folks interested in ranking a feat:
5) All or nearly all
4) Most (75% or more)
3) About half
2) Few (25% or less)
1) Almost none
0) Even the class(es) that can use the feat won't really benefit from it
5) Any time the character wants
4) An increasing number of times per day (modifier increases number of uses)
3) A fixed number of times per day (no modifier to increase number of uses)
2) Once per day or only under commonly occurring circumstances*
1) Once per week or only under rarely occurring circumstances*
0) Once a month or less or only under special circumstances*
*Because of how campaigns vary, these circumstances can alter. For instance if it's common to fight the undead, the feat is more useful than if the undead are uncommon or rare. For a generic use, however, I think that things like vermin, goblinoids, and the undead are usually sufficiently common. Similarly, if the feat only takes effect while in a certain terrain, the usefulness varies, but being underground or in a forest/jungle, could generally be considered common circumstances. The difference is not going to be that great overall.
5) Every time it can be used
4) Most of the time (75% or more)
3) About half the time
2) Some of the time (25% or less)
1) Almost never
0) I've had to homebrew this feat to make it usable.
5) Everyone/Anyone
4) Someone of a particular race that is common in the setting
3) Someone of a particular race that is uncommon in the setting
2) Someone of a particular race that is rare in the setting
1) Someone of a particular race that is normally an NPC race in the setting but who is allowed to be a PC race
0) Someone of a particular race that is an NPC only in the setting
5) Immediately a 1st level
4) Somewhere between 2nd and 5th level
3) Somewhere between 6th and 10th level
2) Somewhere between 11th and 15th level
1) Somewhere between 16th and 19th level
0) 20th level only
5) None
4) One
3) Two
2) Three
1) Four
0) Five or more
5) None
4) One score of 13+
3) Two scores of 13+ or one score of 15+
2) Three scores of 13+, two scores of 15+, or one score of 13+ and one score of 15+
1) Four (of any combination)
0) More than four or any score(s) requiring 17+
5) Very cool, regardless of any limitations
4) Very cool, especially with some minor tweaking
3) Cool, though it needed some tweaking to be better
2) Cool, but only after some major tweaking
1) Bland - it didn't need tweaking, but it isn't all that appealing
0) Uncool - why did they even make it?
While I realize that coolness is highly subjective, nonetheless I think it should play a factor in the ratings since beyond just mechanics, the game is also about imagination and some things are inevitably going to be more appealing to the imagination than others.
There are eight separate questions with a rating scale of 0-5. Add them up and use the following tiers. The points are optional:
Tier 1: 31-40 {4 points}
Tier 2: 21-30 {3 points}
Tier 3: 11-20 {2 points}
Tier 4: 1-10 {1 point}
Tier 5: 0 {0 points}
Note that none of these questions take into account what the feat actually does. I didn't include this because I felt that it wouldn't matter overall. Usually the more powerful the ability (like flight or extra attacks or similar) are also limited by level or times per day of use - so while it might be high in terms of amount of times used and coolness, it's going to be tempered by the level/limits. There are probably going to be some borderline cases, but I think the nine-point range in most of the tiers will keep them from being too close most of the time. The most likely source of contention (outside coolness) will be usefulness, since any feat that is limited to a certain circumstance is, by nature, going to vary by how often these circumstances are met. I recommend people use their best judgement in such cases.
Also note that a score of 40 does not necessarily mean the feat is overpowered: it simply means that the feat is useful, easy to obtain, and very appealing. However, it's very unlikely any feat will get a 40 since mundane use feats are unlikely to meet the coolness factor (a +2 Fort save is all well and good, but isn't something one's likely going to get excited over) and feats that give extra attacks, damage, or special abilities aren't likely going to meet the other criteria.
If a feat scores all zeros, however, there is something very wrong.