Exceptional Pull feat vs Adaptive Weapon

[Alzhan]

I've read some thread on the matter and almost everyone state that adaptive is a way better choice. But i can't really understand why. As i read the description of the feat ain't it basically a +2 damage with no penalty? plus no str required?

Let's make an example:

1)STR:10
Adaptive composite bow +5 STR

Damage: 1d8

2)STR:10
Exceptional Pull
compososite bow +5 STR

Damage: 1d8+7

Am I right? Totally wrong? Am I missing something?

[vegetalss4]

Well, firstly Exceptional Pull just allow you to ignore the penalties on your attack roll from not having at least as much strength as your composite bow. It doesn't allow you to add a strength bonus that you don't have to damage .
So in your example both situations would do 1d8 damage.

Now a different example

a)
STR 20
+1 Adaptive composite bow +0 STR.
price: 3400 gp

Damage: 1d8+6

b)
STR 20
+1 composite bow +3 STR.
price: 2700 gp + 1 feat

Damage: 1d8+6

In this case character b spends one feat to save 700 gp, but have to buy an entirely new bow should his STR ever increase in order to take full advantage, which will quickly become much more expensive.
Also even if you know that your STR will never increase, 700 gp is a rather poor return for a feat.

[Alzhan]

I guess you are right, while i'm just bad at english...

So in order to use effectively the exceptional pull feat i should have a STR score of 24, in which case the feat is simply "+2 damage and maybe save some gp"...

well thanks, vegetalss4

[Andy Brown]

+2 to damage, up to your strength bonus (it still doesn't give you anything more than your actual strength bonus, or more than the bow's actual rating + 2)

[Claxon]

Alzhan wrote:

I've read some thread on the matter and almost everyone state that adaptive is a way better choice. But i can't really understand why. As i read the description of the feat ain't it basically a +2 damage with no penalty? plus no str required?

Let's make an example:

1)STR:10
Adaptive composite bow +5 STR

Damage: 1d8

2)STR:10
Exceptional Pull
compososite bow +5 STR

Damage: 1d8+7

Am I right? Totally wrong? Am I missing something?

Nope. You completely misunderstand how the feat works, just like I did when I first read it.

Thread

The end result is as Andy Brown says.

If your strength modifier is equal to the strength rating of the bow you get nothing. If your strength modifier is less than the strength rating of the bow you don't get the attack penalty you normally would (but you also don't get more damage, you only get up to your strength modifier). If you strength rating is greater than the bow's strength rating the damage you do increases by up to 2, depending on how much higher your strength modifier is than the bow's rating.

It's a terrible feat.

[vegetalss4]

Alzhan wrote:

I guess you are right, while i'm just bad at english...

So in order to use effectively the exceptional pull feat i should have a STR score of 24, in which case the feat is simply "+2 damage and maybe save some gp"...

well thanks, vegetalss4

No problem, we have all misread something at one point or another in our lives. I am just glad I could help :-)

[CBDunkerson]

Claxon wrote:

It's a terrible feat.

The effective +2 to a bow's strength rating isn't particularly useful... basically it lets you save 200 gp on the cost of the bow.

On the other hand, if you happen to have a really good bow with a strength rating higher than yours, then the fact that Exceptional Pull eliminates the -2 to hit penalty with such might actually make it semi-worthwhile.

[Chess Pwn]

or you pay 1000gp and save yourself a feat. 1000gp for a feat is the cheapest way to get a feat.

[Claxon]

Yeah, if you have a really good bow you add adaptive to it. You don't spend a feat slot.