Improving useless feats

[joelpt]

There are a number of feats available that are virtually useless to take for any build, other than as a class prerequisite. Here are some ideas on making these feats more attractive and viable.

I list a technically simpler (?) alternative option for some of these as I don't really know if some of these can even be implemented. Comments welcome.


Blinding Speed: Grant the character a permanent movement speed "grade" boost (e.g. Fast -> Very Fast). Alternative: +2 reflex saves, +1 dodge AC, immunity: slow.

Dirty Fighting: When selected, sacrifice all other attacks in the round, add 1d4+level of damage output (of chosen weapon's physical damage type), and if the victim fails his Fortitude save, he is also blinded for 2 rounds. (think sand in the eyes) Alternative: In addition to the feat's default effects, adds one random Reflex-opposed effect to the victim: blinded 2 rounds, dazed 2 rounds, or slowed 2 rounds.

Circle Kick: When a player takes this feat, immediately remove the feat from their character and instead give them an item which can be used to toggle a Circle Kick like mode. On successful hit, the character attempts to hit an adjacent enemy with (1+level/6)d6 bludgeoning damage (the damage type of your foot) with a -4 AB. This should work on each attack, so a monk with 5 attacks per round could land up to 10 hits with Circle Kick "mode" on. Alternative: on successful hit, do a free improved knockdown attempt against an adjacent enemy (preferably the same one the Circle Kick causes you to attack, and only onhit). Improved Knockdown feat required.

(Auto) Quicken Spell: When the character is hasted, allow a third spell to be cast in the round (simultaneous with the second spell), immediately dequeuing the cast 3rd spell. This 3rd spell would be allowed to cast when at least one of the first three spells in the queue is a quickened spell. Auto Quicken III would give the hasted caster 3 spell casts every round. Alternative: When using the autocaster, dequeue-and-cast a quickened spell from the queue every second, in addition to the standard casting from the queue. Moving or combat breaks the effect.

Epic Toughness I-X: Grant an additional cumulative +5 HP for each consecutive ET feat taken, i.e. +20 for ET I, +25 for ET II, ... +65 for ET X. Taking all 10 feats would net you 425 extra HP.

Epic Energy Resistance: Eliminate the existing bonus granted by this feat. Instead grant 50% permanent stackable immunity to chosen elemental type, stackable with gear and itself. Taking Epic Energy Resistance for a given elemental type twice would therefore grant 100% immunity.

Arcane Defense: Grant spell immunity to the chosen school. Alternative (if this is overpowered): Grant 2+(level/6) to saves versus the chosen spell school. Alternative 2: Each time the feat is taken, allow the character to choose a single spell from the chosen spell school. The character will be granted permanent immunity to the chosen spell.

Alertness, Artist, Blooded, Courteous Magocracy, Stealthy, Deneir's Eye, Fearless: Scale the specific skill bonuses granted by these feats to 2+(level/6) for a total of +12 at level 60.

Snake Blood: Increase reflex save by 2+level/10.

Strong Soul: Grant 1+level/12 bonus on Fortitude and Will.




Fooz

[FunkySwerve]

Most of those suggestions are impossible, either because of hardcoding, or the fact that we don't use haks. A few could be done, by adding the attributes at the altar of legends, such as your suggestion for blinding speed. Not liikely to do that one, because faster characters create problems with triggers not firing, among other issues. Great ideas though!
Funky

[Ironfang]

Yes some cool ideas, some overpowered, but don't be discouraged keep your ideas coming. Funky listens to all suggestions and it is really cool if one of your suggestions becomes part of the mod.

[joelpt]

Thanks for the thoughts.

Funky - can you give us any idea of what sorts of changes are technically practical/possible to implement? Or alternatively, what things and suggestions should be avoided or are impossible to implement?

From your description it sounds like the following CANNOT or should not be modified at this time (for feats):

- Speed adjustments
- Fiddling with the action queue
- Creating new combat actions/effects, e.g. applying an additional effect onhit, except for Whirlwind Attack
- Additional permanent immunities & effects
- Permanently removing a feat from a PC (in order to replace it with an activateable item)

I seem to remember some NWN scripters adding new immunities/effects to PCs 'permanently' by putting a creature weapon item in the PC's hidden 'creature weapon' slot, then adding permanent effects to the creature weapon item. How does this fit in with HG's system (if at all)?

Thanks
Fooz

[FunkySwerve]

Unfortunately I can't simply explain that. Permanent effects are doable, as you'll see if you make certain subraces. A set 50% immunity for the cost of one feat would be very unbalancing, however. Your edits were all in one of four categories - impossible, impractical, unbalanced, or premature. Impractical meaning 'too much work or overhead for the benefit', and premature meaning 'possibly doable down the road but other things need to be changed first and the suggestion reevaluated in light of those changes. Sorry, wish I could be more specific than that.
Funky

[joelpt]

Thanks Funky.

Some of my suggestions were probably overpowered, though with the benefits you gain from some of the other "must have" feats, perhaps not as much as it may seem at first blush. However, I'm sure if any of these ideas fit into the HG vision you would know best what specific numbers should be used; whether 10% or 25% or whatever immunity, you've got the basic concept.

Thanks again and I'll keep thinking