A character built around Combat Expertise can create havoc on the battlefield. Using feints and reposition, the character enables his allies to shine. Gang Up and Feint feats are especially valuable feats for a party with a rogue or two or even a couple slayers. Anyone playing a frontline martial class loves being fed criticals from a keen-bladed ally with Butterfly’s Sting. Yet, while the other feat lines of Combat Expertise are well developed, Butterfly’s Sting is a deadend. The following feats are an attempt to get more use from the underserved idea.
Banked Critical
You can forgo a critical hit in order to store it for later use.
Prerequisites: Combat Expertise, Butterfly’s Sting
Benefit: When you confirm a critical hit against a creature, you can choose to store the critical hit for use at a later time. If you store the critical, then your attack deals no damage. Within the next hour, you may automatically confirm a hit as a critical. You may not store more than one critical hit at a time. An unused critical disappears after 10 minutes, or if you roll a natural one on an attack prior to using it.
Critical Aid
You can forgo a critical hit in order to aid an ally’s attack.
Prerequisites: Combat Expertise, Butterfly’s Sting
Benefit: When you confirm a critical hit against a creature, you can choose to forgo the effect of the critical hit and grant an ally a +2 bonus on weapon attack and damage rolls until your next turn. Your attack only deals normal damage.
Critical Advantage
Your critical success in battle inspires an ally.
Prerequisites: Combat Expertise, Butterfly’s Sting
Benefit: When you confirm a critical hit against a creature, you may impart a tactical advantage to an ally. On his next attack, the ally rolls twice and takes the better result. Your attack is still a critical hit and deals damage accordingly.
Improved Banked Critical
You can forgo up to two critical hits in order to store them for later use.
Prerequisites: Combat Expertise, Butterfly’s Sting, Banked Critical
Benefit: When you confirm a critical hit against a creature, you can choose to store the critical hit for use at a later time. If you store the critical, then your attack deals no damage. You may use a stored critical to automatically confirm a hit as a critical. You may store up to two critical hits at a time. An unused critical disappears after one hour. Rolling a natural one on an attack roll dissipates one stored critical.
