Talk:Calm Skill (3.5e Feat)

Balance

This is my first time making a feat, so I am a bit worried about it being overpowered. It is a simple idea, but it just seems really powerful to me. --Enialis 21:02, 12 April 2011 (MDT)

My first impression is how much this could really determine a threatened or distracted situation. Many skills, although important, are useful with the chance rolling a d20 gives or irreverent in most situations. For example Diplomacy, with a 10, may not be enough to change an outcome. This would be useful, however, when a skill has a disastrous outcome with a low roll, such as Swim. Yes, this could save a characters life as such, but so could thinking about the situation and avoiding such scenarios. I find this to be easily circumventable. This is especially the case when not threatened or distracted, and even more so when one has some calm time. So, this may be very underpowered. Maybe changing it to also give a bonus to the skill like Skill Focus, maybe changing the outcome to be a 20 (or maybe only in some circumstances), have lesser prerequisites, or effect more skills. --Green Dragon 21:41, 12 April 2011 (MDT)

I meant that it would allow for the character to take 10 in pretty much any situation. The skill I was thinking about when I made this was something more like Tumble, which has many in combat uses that would have horrible consequences for failed checks. --Enialis 22:22, 12 April 2011 (MDT)

Yes, if they could take a ten it would help Tumble, by getting rid of the probability. Is that worth a feat though? Many people may just withdraw anyway (considering that a standard action every so often is not worth a feat) or not flank (for example). And that is rather specific for Tumble, and other skills do not necessarily have the same results. I agree taking a ten is interesting to one's game, but it also seems like a rather specific application. Also giving a bonus would make the application less specific. --Green Dragon 22:40, 12 April 2011 (MDT)

Thanks for the advice. I think I will put it to use. --Enialis 16:50, 13 April 2011 (MDT)