Signature Strike Style... why?

[Skrayper]

I only just discovered this feat. On description, it's a perfect Swashbuckler feat - basically making you Zorro.

Quote:

Benefit: Each creature you hit using a called shot (Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Combat 193), the targeted strike swashbuckler deed, or the targeting gunslinger deed must succeed at a Will save or be shaken for 1d3 rounds (DC = 10 + half your character level + your Charisma modifier). You must be using this style and attacking with a weapon for which you have Weapon Focus to gain this benefit. This is a fear effect that doesn’t stack with itself or with other fear effects. If a creature is already shaken and you make it shaken using this feat, the duration of the shaken condition is merely extended.

If this attack deals damage, you can also have the injury leave a distinctive mark, such as a letter, shape, or other simple symbol. This mark heals naturally and disappears once the target has healed the damage dealt by your attack. As a free action after the attack, you can spend 1 grit point or 1 panache point to make the mark heal as a permanent scar unless the target succeeds at a Fortitude save (DC = 10 + half your character level + your Charisma modifier). You gain a +2 bonus on Perception checks to see through the disguises of creatures that bear your mark.

But the prerequisite means that practically no Swashbuckler will ever take it, unless my understanding of semicolons and commas differs from others.

Quote:

Prerequisite(s): Precise Shot; Weapon Focus; base attack bonus +7; Intimidate 7 ranks; Improved Called Shot, targeted strike swashbuckler deed, or targeting gunslinger deed.

Requiring Precise Shot, which in turns requires Point-Blank Shot, is just a weird feat tax. Maybe because it was originally designed for the Gunslinger, but never really meant for it's hybrid class (though it came out in Pathfinder Player Companion: People of the Wastes (PFRPG) - Nov 2017, and Swashbuckler came about in 2014 with the Advanced Class Guide).

Am I missing something, or does it look like adding the targeted strike deed was just haphazardly tossed onto it?

[Claxon]

In this case I believe the semicolons are to tell you each of these items is required, they're basically using it to group items, and the last group is the only one with multiple items requiring that you have improved called shot, or targeted strike, or targeting.

[Wonderstell]

Seconding Claxon.

Also the feat path is pretty dumb. It's so incredibly niche that I'd be surprised if anyone has taken any of the feats, and neither of those effects are strong enough to warrant saving throws in the first place.

[Skrayper]

Claxon wrote:

In this case I believe the semicolons are to tell you each of these items is required, they're basically using it to group items, and the last group is the only one with multiple items requiring that you have improved called shot, or targeted strike, or targeting.

I figured; it just doesn't make sense to have two archery feats tethered to a feat that has an optional pre-requisite be a swashbuckler deed.

[MrCharisma]

Swashbuckler-5/Ranger-2.

Use the Archery combat style pick up Precise Shot as a bonus feat without needing Point Blank Shot.

Oh wait, you need Swashbuckler 7 to get the Taegeted Strike deed ... I guess it still works you just have to go S-7/R-2.

But I agree it's a weird set of prerequisites.

[MrCharisma]

Wonderstell wrote:

Seconding Claxon.

Also the feat path is pretty dumb. It's so incredibly niche that I'd be surprised if anyone has taken any of the feats, and neither of those effects are strong enough to warrant saving throws in the first place.

I was thinking the Flying Blade archetype might see these feats more, but they replace the Targeted Strike deed, soo ...

[VoodistMonk]

Seems completely reasonable for an Arrow Champion Swashbuckler...

[gnoams]

I have never looked at that style. It is... horrible. Requires level 7 to add shaken for 1d3 rounds if they fail an easy will save, plus a cosmetic effect. The rest of the style chain is extremely weak too. If a player really wanted the Zorro cosmetic of cutting their initial into the enemy's shirt, I'd just let them do it as a GM, no need for a terrible feat for something like that.

[Wonderstell]

Even if Signature Strike Style lacked prerequisites it's a hard sell. The ability to leave a mark grants no combat advantage and is honestly something you could have just said you were already doing. The only actual benefit is a chance to make an enemy shaken when you spend Panache to use a specific deed which requires a full-round action.

Would you take a feat that automatically inflicted the Shaken condition on someone when you used the Targeted Strike deed? I wouldn't.

[MrCharisma]

Just take 2 levels in Hexcrafter Magus to get the Brand cantrip and Spellstrike (Arcane Mark works too by RAW if you don't like Hexcrafter, but it isn't technically an attack spell so some GMs don't like it).

[Claxon]

Wonderstell wrote:

Even if Signature Strike Style lacked prerequisites it's a hard sell. The ability to leave a mark grants no combat advantage and is honestly something you could have just said you were already doing. The only actual benefit is a chance to make an enemy shaken when you spend Panache to use a specific deed which requires a full-round action.

Would you take a feat that automatically inflicted the Shaken condition on someone when you used the Targeted Strike deed? I wouldn't.

I wouldn't, primarily because I wouldn't use Targeted Strike because I have better things to spend panache on as well as a full round action.

Spending a feat to tack on an extra effect to something that is already of dubious efficacy doesn't feel great.