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Sill Alias
Senior Scribe
Kazakhstan
588 Posts |
 Posted - 22 May 2010 : 19:05:20
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There are feats that are not battle type (cooking). But how are they learned? And did you ever chosen one for your PC? Which one? Were they ever used?
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You can hear many tales from many mouths. The most difficult is to know which of them are not lies. - Sill Alias
"May your harp be unstrung, your dreams die and all your songs be unsung." - curse of the harper, The Code of the Harpers 2 ed.
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4441 Posts |
Posted - 22 May 2010 : 19:47:27
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Not really sure about the question. You mean skills in 3.5 like Performance, Profession, Craft? For me, I pay little attention to them because I feel spending limited resources (feats, skill points, etc) just to further your RP isn't necessary. There are some classes with class features that require a certain skill like Bards gaining certain effects with Performance and that ties directly into the more combative side of the game. For those reasons, I'd put ranks into that skill but just because I want my character to be versed in wind instruments?
As for non-combat feats like Skill Focus, Agile, Persuasive, Investigator... I think they're pretty much a waste to take. The only instance I found taking Skill Focus was to gain entry into the Archmage prestige class and because it's manditory. They're just not worth it IMO. |
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Erik Scott de Bie
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
4598 Posts |
Posted - 22 May 2010 : 20:03:44
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If we're talking about 3.5 or before, it really depends on your DM and the style of your campaign. I've been in games that are 80-90% combat, where non-combat situations are governed exclusively by free-form RP, while I've also been in games that are split about 50/50, where mastery of non-combat skills (like bluff, diplomacy, knowledge, craft, profession, etc.) have been not only significant but *necessary* to success. I can think of one particular party bard who was almost exclusively non-combat, and focused on bluff, diplomacy, gather information, etc., sorts of skills, along with feat support like Skill Focus and whatnot.
If we're talking about 4e, then again, it depends on your DM, but 4e has a mechanical system that utilizes these skills outside of a combat (Skill Challenges). Granted, the skills in 4e are all useful in combat in their own right, but a DM who uses lots of skill challenges or gives the PCs plenty of non-combat opportunities (as I do when I DM) has more tools at his/her disposal that justify these skills/feats.
Cheers |
Erik Scott de Bie
'Tis easier to destroy than to create.
Author of a number of Realms novels (GHOSTWALKER, DEPTHS OF MADNESS, and the SHADOWBANE series), contributor to the NEVERWINTER CAMPAIGN GUIDE and SHADOWFELL: GLOOMWROUGHT AND BEYOND, Twitch DM of the Dungeon Scrawlers, currently playing "The Westgate Irregulars" |
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sfdragon
Great Reader
2285 Posts |
Posted - 22 May 2010 : 20:08:33
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quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
If we're talking about 3.5 or before, it really depends on your DM and the style of your campaign. I've been in games that are 80-90% combat, where non-combat situations are governed exclusively by free-form RP, while I've also been in games that are split about 50/50, where mastery of non-combat skills (like bluff, diplomacy, knowledge, craft, profession, etc.) have been not only significant but *necessary* to success. I can think of one particular party bard who was almost exclusively non-combat, and focused on bluff, diplomacy, gather information, etc., sorts of skills, along with feat support like Skill Focus and whatnot.
If we're talking about 4e, then again, it depends on your DM, but 4e has a mechanical system that utilizes these skills outside of a combat (Skill Challenges). Granted, the skills in 4e are all useful in combat in their own right, but a DM who uses lots of skill challenges or gives the PCs plenty of non-combat opportunities (as I do when I DM) has more tools at his/her disposal that justify these skills/feats.
Cheers
I miss having more diplomacy addition and what not feats in 4e |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4211 Posts |
Posted - 23 May 2010 : 04:15:18
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Well, I've had wizards in 3.5 that took Skill Focus Concentration because their CON sucked hind teet at the fair!
Other than that, I have rarely taken non-combat oriented feats unless they had a bonus as well to combat, like Thug: +2 Initiative and +2 Intimidate I think?
Only one I can think of off the top of my head. |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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Amarel Derakanor
Seeker
97 Posts |
Posted - 23 May 2010 : 11:19:46
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Sill Alias, since the games I've participated in (either as GM, or otherwise) are ALL about role-playing, they come to use. An example is skill focus. Some PC's became highly skilled in... well, a lot of skills. And most of them had nothing to do with combat.
As I wrote earlier, our games were all about role-playing, and while some acts of violence occurred sooner or later, they all had some sort of reasoning behind them. For example, a PC, who was to marry a local girl had fallen in love with a traveling, very religious female warrior(paladin), and refused. His stepfather(a real bastard), none too happy with the affair, decided that the best solution was to murder the warrior (no-one misses vagrants anyway, eh?).
This led to a spiral of gruesome domestic violence. When the PC found out, he attacked his foster-father in a rage, but was beaten to death by the same, who tolerated no insubordination(and who certainly had no love for his 'new son'). If I am not mistaken, the PC's mother later avenged her son by killing her husband when he was asleep.
Live by the sword, die by the sword, indeed.
While the above example may not have much with 'reason' to do, we go to great lengths to create a believable world whenever we play. NPC's live their own lives, and have their own motivations, and if the PC decide to mess with the wrong people, he might prevail, or he might not. So no sword-fodder goblins or 'appropriate level' thugs exist. Like real life, there are no guarantees.
I think that, while it is up to the GM to create a good 'story', it is all the insignificant people (who may become significant in a heartbeat) in the world(the details, if you will), that really makes the difference between roll-playing and role-playing. A PC should, in my meaning, be able to live a full 'life' without murdering anyone.
And that is probably enough yappin' from me. I may not write many posts, but sometimes, I do feel the urge to write.
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Alisttair
Great Reader
Canada
3054 Posts |
Posted - 25 May 2010 : 17:13:55
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My 4E Wizard has taken quite a few Skill Focus feats. The DM is constantly amazed at how easily he handles Skill Challenges. Even with the big bonuses though, the DM grants me a +2 bonus when I role-play it very well beforehand  |
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woodwwad
Learned Scribe
USA
267 Posts |
Posted - 26 May 2010 : 00:12:48
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| I'll usually the one dming, so I havn't been able to play too many 3/3.5 pcs. I took one of the running feats once in a game. Also had a pc in an eberon game that had a feat that gave him a +2 bonus to search & knowledge History, of course that was a helpful feat. |
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Non battle feat.
