Question about shatter defenses

[amills1]

I keep reading that this is an awesome feat but I'm unclear of how it works to be trigger it. So the enemy has to be shaken, frightened or panicked and then you have to hit them. But if their AC is incredibly high already (like natural 20 only) then you aren't likely to him them in the first place.

Also, I gather it only works for the character that hit them? So I'd need all fighters to have it?

More importantly, to get them to be shaken, frightened or panicked you'd need to apply one of those conditions. Cornugon smash is something I've seen mentioned but it requires a hit and, according to the text, just applies demoralize. Dazzling display is another but it requires a full round action and a saving throw? Finally, there's Dirge of Doom but I'd need someone to take enough levels in bard?

Is that all correct?

[Sador]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Sotanaht:

I want to mention, Dreadful Carnage is very bad in combination with a ranged character like a Kineticist. A kineticist will be doing most of their killing from near maximum range (50 feet usually, with extended range or an AOE blast). Dreadful Carnage and Dazzling Display only work on enemies within 30 feet of the character with those feats. You would have to waste multiple turns and put yourself in much greater danger in order to make use of the feat..

Kineticist doesn't necessarily have to be long ranged between AoE infusions and the kinetic blade. I hit plenty of stuff with it throughout my game. :)

[Lord_WC]

Shatter defenses do not need you to hit the enemy. If you have frightful aspect for example you just waltz in and everything that isn't immune to shaken gets flat-footed.

[dwarner]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Sador:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Sotanaht:

I want to mention, Dreadful Carnage is very bad in combination with a ranged character like a Kineticist. A kineticist will be doing most of their killing from near maximum range (50 feet usually, with extended range or an AOE blast). Dreadful Carnage and Dazzling Display only work on enemies within 30 feet of the character with those feats. You would have to waste multiple turns and put yourself in much greater danger in order to make use of the feat..

Kineticist doesn't necessarily have to be long ranged between AoE infusions and the kinetic blade. I hit plenty of stuff with it throughout my game. :)

Blade gets iteratives (and Whirlwind) Blast doesn’t, so it’s worth using Blade if you can.

[Sador]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από dwarner:

Blade gets iteratives (and Whirlwind) Blast doesn’t, so it’s worth using Blade if you can.

Yeah, sort of depends on what you're trying to accomplish. Blades can go a bit crazy on burn cost if you're not careful (less of an issue late game admittedly) so AoEs have their place and sometimes you just want to be lazy and do some long term blasts to avoid wasting energy charging. The flexibility is great, though.