Hurtful feat (or similar?)

[igor140]

so, kingmaker took me a couple tries to really get into, but i ended up absolutely loving it, to the point that i preordered WotR as soon as it was available... and so far i've enjoyed it even more, despite having had VERY little time to play it (i still haven't gotten to drezden : /)

one of my favorite things in KM was a cleave/ cornugon smash build that very effectively used the Hurtful feat to simply eviscerate enemies. (in my researched, i discovered than many tabletop DMs ban this feat... and i absolutely understand why).

i was planning to make this the core of my WotR playthrough (specifically: armiger/ hellknight/ lich with a scythe... the edgiest edgy edgelord edge)... but it turns out that Hurtful was added by the CotW mod... which evidently doesn't exist for WotR : /

so! long way of asking: is this feat actually in the game and i'm just missing it somewhere? is there a CotW (or similar) mod that adds it? am i just SoL? how much function am i losing if i keep most of the cleave/ cornugon smash feats in tact?

alternatively, is the Dazzling Display series a better investment?

[forkofspite]

Dazzling display has some uses depending on how quickly you get it. In my opinion, dreadful carnage is generally too late to matter unless it's for a character that moves all over the battle area into the middle of several enemies and not near allies. A high level spell (frightful aspect, range is personal so it's on the caster only) automatically causes all enemies within 30 feet to be shaken.

For me, dazzling display tends to be a wasted feat (feat tax) for martials that want shatter defenses.

[Silamon]

Originally posted by forkofspite:

Dazzling display has some uses depending on how quickly you get it. In my opinion, dreadful carnage is generally too late to matter unless it's for a character that moves all over the battle area into the middle of several enemies and not near allies. A high level spell (frightful aspect, range is personal so it's on the caster only) automatically causes all enemies within 30 feet to be shaken.

For me, dazzling display tends to be a wasted feat (feat tax) for martials that want shatter defenses.

I took dazzling display and Dreadful carnage on a character with high mobility (level 7 2h fighter, level 10 fearsome leader cavalier atm) and it is working very well. He has 27 persuasion skill and adds his strength score (+9) to that for a total of 35 bonus to intimidate. Display of Power belt (+6 str bonus, -2 to will saves on enemies) helps too. Maybe not useful on higher difficulties but on normal whenever I kill something pretty much anything short of bosses get shaken for shattered defenses.

[forkofspite]

(after looking up the hurtful feat ...)

It's not legal for organized play, but I don't think it's too overpowered. The extra attack is a swift action, so only one per turn, and many characters have other uses for their swift action.

However, I have absolutely no idea how it was implemented in the mod. If it could be used more than once per round, then I think that's a bit much. Improved cleaving finish can accomplish similar effects, especially combined with vital strike - credit to Mbrady from Owlcat message board for that design idea - but I've heard it's bugged. After dropping two enemies, it tries to target the first one again breaking the chain.

[Koveras]

There is a scythe named "Wide Sweep" in game. It has an effect that similar to improved cleave except that it works with every attack regardless of whether your character has defeated an opponent. I believe it is sold by an in-camp vendor or later in Drezen. I don't think Cornugon Smash or Cleave is worthwhile since you can buy "Wide Sweep", arguably the best scythe in the game, very early in the game.

If you want to take advantage of attacks of opportunity, your best bet is to take the teamwork feats outflank and seize the moment. Team builds that use these teamwork feats may highly benefit from the mythic ability that increases your attack for attacks of opportunity. I would strongly suggest your melee characters use weapons with high critical threat ranges for maximum effect.

Dazzling display is mostly a tax feat for shattered defences. However, it can be alright for tanks or support units (or both!) to use to set up shattered defences. I tend to use it with Seelah or a bard before I gain access to Dirge of Doom or Frightening Aspect.