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Geiger Counter
2010-03-31, 08:40 AM
Which of these are good and why?
I've heard a lot of hype about stormtrooper, is it really that good?

AtwasAwamps
2010-03-31, 08:46 AM
A number of tactical feats are excellent, but it really depends on what you’re trying to do in game. Shocktrooper, for example, is fantastic for charging builds because it negates the extra miss chance that Power Attack gives you. It leaves you more vulnerable, of course, but you’re a charger! You don’t care! And that vulnerability can be turned into more offense with Karmic Strike/Combat Reflexes! Also you can knock people into one another, and then over.

Other tactical feats are…less impressive. I was disappointed by many of the ones in ToB (thought the one focused on the Crusader-Only School was kind of interesting). But some of the base ones (Cavalry Charger comes to mind) are quite strong, and Combat Brute is one of the basic steps in the crazy Flaming Homer build. Tactical feats can be extremely useful, or extremely useless.

marjan
2010-03-31, 09:41 AM
Shock Trooper - chargers.
Combat Brute - PA users.
Elusive Target for defense (though it does require 2 crappy feats).
Blood Spiked Charger is solid for shield-chargers.

There are probably more that I didn't think of.

lsfreak
2010-03-31, 10:05 AM
Shocktrooper is one of the best melee feats, period, behind Power Attack. It gives you twice your level in extra damage on every charge, and when combined with Pounce, should mean on pretty much every attack. Combine with Leap Attack, Frenzied Berserk, Ronin, or a few other things for fun. Shocktrooper also combines fairly well with Dungeoncrasher for a bullrushing build.

Stormguard Warrior from ToB is also very good - combine with Robilar's, TWF, or both, and you can drop a *lot* of damage on someone.

jiriku
2010-03-31, 10:10 AM
Residual Metamagic (CM) is a strong tactical feat for casters.

Confound the Big Folk (RotW) is very strong for characters who can use it consistently, although it requires a specific sort of build to do so (generally, you need Tiny size and either sneak attack or iaijutsu as a class skill). Giantbane (CW) is also useful in that same type of build, and the two synergize well with one another.

Shock Trooper and Combat Brute (CW) have been mentioned. Shock Trooper's claim to fame is that among other things, it allows you to take the penalty from power attack to your AC instead of your attack roll. Cavalry Charger works well for mounted chargers, although it's not in the same league as the previous two.

You can't mention ToB without a nod toward Stormguard Warrior, which is an ingredient in several very effective thrower builds, and that tactical feat for the Devoted Spirit discipline (I also forget its name), which combos well with the immortal fortitude stance and the crusader's delayed damage pool.

Person_Man
2010-03-31, 10:28 AM
You might want to read this (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127026).

Roderick_BR
2010-03-31, 10:47 AM
Awesome Smite for smite users. Allow you to do stuff like ignore miss chance or some DR when powerattacking while smiting. Useful for smiting/charging paladins that already got Power Attack

Sinfire Titan
2010-03-31, 11:54 AM
Most of Tome Of Battle's Tactical feats are really good (save for the Desert Wind one due to an editing error). Stormguard Warrior and Shards of Granite are the ones that stand out.

lsfreak
2010-03-31, 02:34 PM
Awesome Smite for smite users. Allow you to do stuff like ignore miss chance or some DR when powerattacking while smiting. Useful for smiting/charging paladins that already got Power Attack

And the free trip attempt is extremely useful at low to mid-levels when you're still fighting stuff of roughly your size category.

Can't believe I forgot Residual Metamatic. One of the best feats for an arcanist, imo. Quickened spell (possibly with ore metamagic), get a free quickened version the next round. Or chain/twin instead of quickened. Yes please.