Focused Shot

[Twogs]

Hey everyone,

am I missing something about Focused Shot? Just adding intelligence modifer once for a single shot as a standard action doesn't seem very strong compared to other standard action attacks (vital strike being an obvious example).

[Aranador]

Can you vital strike with a crossbow? If so, then yeah, not much point to this. Otherwise, on those occasions where you cant full attack because you have to move, it is nice to have a standard action option to get a tiny bit more damage.

[LArc7thHeaven]

For spellcaster it's a big boon considering their dex usually not as good as dedicated archer

[Razer]

Originally posted by LArc7thHeaven:

For spellcaster it's a big boon considering their dex usually not as good as dedicated archer

Not really since it doesn't add anything to attack. It's just a damage conversion for 1 single attack. At low BAB what is this wizard going to hit?

[mbradtke]

is this a new feat?

[Cutlass Jack]

Originally posted by mbradtke:

is this a new feat?

Its a new feat. Lets you add your Int bonus to damage on a ranged attack. But it counts as a standard action which means once you get a second shot per round its not that exciting.

Its not the worst thing in the world on say Nenio. I took it on an Alchemist and regretted it once they got up to two shots per round. Still usable if you need to move the fire.

[mbradtke]

i guess it is a decent feat for high INT low BAB builds, like a wizard that wants to use a bow sometimes, i can see how some people would take it, also you can dump STR now, even if you want to use a bow and you are more flexible about crossbows as well because you can just use your INT mod, so some uses, nothing too strong but might be nice to have (:

[Razer]

Originally posted by mbradtke:

i guess it is a decent feat for high INT low BAB builds, like a wizard that wants to use a bow sometimes, i can see how some people would take it, also you can dump STR now, even if you want to use a bow and you are more flexible about crossbows as well because you can just use your INT mod, so some uses, nothing too strong but might be nice to have (:

Seems completely useless on low bab builds. With enemy AC skyrocketing how is a low bab going to hit much of anything? Better off casting spells later in the game or using hexes. Etc.

[mk11]

Does it increase the AOE damage from cleaving shot?

Given that it is quite easy to get a good INT bonus, even in classes that do not major on INT, I would think it was better than Vital Strike for characters that aren't going to spend a mythic on Mythic Vital Strike (and aren't Zen archers or of legendary proportions). Time it may be good is against high A/C (or concealed) enemies where you are using True Strike to get one hit on but iterative attacks need to roll a 20. If you have a Sensei in the party you can get party wide True Strike repeatedly.

[mbradtke]

you could use true strike spell later, it might deliver some decent dmg numbers with a good ranged weapon, maybe deadly aim and other bonuses, more than a magic missle for sure

[Razer]

Originally posted by mbradtke:

you could use true strike spell later, it might deliver some decent dmg numbers with a good ranged weapon, maybe deadly aim and other bonuses, more than a magic missle for sure

Low BAB is low BAB, even with True Strike it's not going to hit really high AC reliably. Magic missile deals force damage so is never resisted as long as you can pierce spell resistance. I doubt a single attack from a wizards crossbow or bow is going to do more than a bolstered magic missile which can deal upto 35 damage to a target plus AoE. Besides, magic missile? You'd be oneshotting things with better spells later on. You're better off taking feats that improve what you do best instead of wasting it on a single shot in a round that takes 2 rounds to use for a small chance to do paltry damage.

[Twogs]

Kinda feel like it should be a swift action that lets you buff your attack for a round or so ...

[revan1229]

Originally posted by mbradtke:

you could use true strike spell later, it might deliver some decent dmg numbers with a good ranged weapon, maybe deadly aim and other bonuses, more than a magic missle for sure

More than an Empowered/Bolstered Magic Missile with Edge of Force? I'm not so sure.

And it certainly won't be as much damage as a ray, and those have the added benefit of targeting touch AC.

[mbradtke]

maybe not with metamagic, it probably is not a great lategame feat, but if u go the archer route anyways it is still better than deadly aim for a mage, also you can use wands or scrolls of true strike you might have, not a great feat but can be useful for some builds i guess, if u are limited on feats it will be difficult to justify it however

[Razer]

Originally posted by mbradtke:

maybe not with metamagic, it probably is not a great lategame feat, but if u go the archer route anyways it is still better than deadly aim for a mage, also you can use wands or scrolls of true strike you might have, not a great feat but can be useful for some builds i guess, if u are limited on feats it will be difficult to justify it however

Almost any other feat is better than this one for a mage. And there's a lot of feats you want to take to improve your spell DC and the like.

[Edstyles]

its a bad feat dont take :) should had been a passive imo. Extra damage on every shot would had been better and then just balance it to be half int modifier or give attack instead of damage.