Wouldn't Improved Feint be ok on a ToB character?

[Windrammer]

It's effectively just a free bonus to hit with fantastic flavor, as you're probably executing standard action maneuvers anyways. I wouldn't build around the feat but if you have the space for a flavor feat, why not Improved Feint?

[Troacctid]

Because you need your move action to move. You aren't always going to be adjacent to an enemy.

Part of what makes initiators so much better than other melee fighters is that they don't have to sacrifice mobility--they can put out damage with standard action strikes comparable to what other characters would deal with full attacks. There's no need for them to stand still for the entire fight.

Also, it's two feats for a fairly situational benefit. The upside is just not that high compared to the investment.

[Windrammer]

Because you need your move action to move. You aren't always going to be adjacent to an enemy.

Part of what makes initiators so much better than other melee fighters is that they don't have to sacrifice mobility--they can put out damage with standard action strikes comparable to what other characters would deal with full attacks. There's no need for them to stand still for the entire fight.

Also, it's two feats for a fairly situational benefit. The upside is just not that high compared to the investment.

Sudden Leap!

Besides, you are very often able to stay adjacent to an enemy. It's rare, at least in my experience, to engage enemies in combat and have them consistently attempt to leave.

Also, can't you five foot step and improved feint?

[sleepyphoenixx]

Because there are ways to deny an opponent dex to AC that don't take move action, cost you two feats, require you to max a skill that's probably non-class, have a chance of failure and only work on a single attack at a time.

In other words, there is absolutely nothing free about that to-hit bonus.

[Firechanter]

In other words, there is absolutely nothing free about that to-hit bonus.

Thank you, came here to say that.

Also, note that ToB already includes a selection of maneuvers that treat the target as flat-footed, such as Death from Above.

[DeltaEmil]

Feinting has the added disadvantage that the targets gets to add their base attack bonuses to their Sense Motive checks to resist the feint, and you take an additional penalty of -4 on your Bluff check if the target is not a humanoid, or even a -8 penalty if the target is extremely dumb (Intelligence 1 or 2). Against mindless targets, it doesn't even work.

It's almost always better to use the move action to move away from the target to deny it a full attack.

If you want to deny your opponent its Dexterity bonus to AC, it's better to use conditions like blind or stun, or let them get grappled by a summoned expendable thing that is larger and stronger than anyone else (who might even be able to pin the opponent).

[Darrin]

I could see Improved Feint on a Crusader, as they tend to have more move actions available than Warblades/Swordsages. Getting sneak attack on a Crusader isn't all that tough, either... Sneak Attack Fighter keeps your BAB at full. Adding Bluff as a class skill... Apprentice (Criminal), Aereni Focus, or Planar Touchstone would do it.

[Lerondiel]

...if you have the space for a flavor feat, why not Improved Feint?

It's a pretty easy equation from the responses so far:
If that flavour feat would have you enjoying your character most, run with it and pretend you never asked.
If you're asking if it's a great optimisation choice, the answer is simply no.


As a side comment: Unless you have a lot of banned material in your game, I can't imagine character creation being without agony over all the great feats you can't fit in. The idea of 'leftover' feat space is kinda unusual.

[ghanjrho]

A better choice if you have move actions to spare is Cloak Dance. Partial concealment is always nice to have.