Is Spring Attack worth it?

[Wraith-Hunter]

I'm wondering if the spring attack feat chain is really worth the 3 feats to a non-fighter (melee focused ranger) as this is a big investment for a character that does not get as many feats as a fighter. How effective is this for the most part? I'm still fairly new to 3.5 and trying to plan out my build. For the 3 feats I could do Combat Reflexes, Combat Expertise and Improved trip.

Any opinions would be helpful. Thanks

 

[Bagpuss]

Well you'd only get one attack with Spring Attack, so it sort of makes a waste of all your Ranger two weapon fighting feats. It has it's uses but I'd really only pick it up if you had some cunning plan on how to use it tactically or on the way to Whirlwind Attack (another feat that probably isn't so useful to your character).

Scout sure it's handy for them, since they probably want to move a lot of the time to get their skirmish off. Some other builds depend on one big hit, rather than lots of smaller ones can make good use of it, but I would have thought you could find better options.

 

[Crothian]

It is not useful for a two weapon fighitng ranger unless you are going for that two weapon fighter prestige class from Complete Adventurer.

Spring attack is great for rogues or scouts though that can add damage to one good shot.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Spring attack is great for rogues or scouts though that can add damage to one good shot.

Also for reach weapon fighters - it lets them force AoOs, so in a one-on-one melee duel they effectively get an attack and an AoO for each attack their opponent makes.

-Hyp.

 

[frankthedm]

Spring attack is great... for getting other party members killed!

Please! Give your foe direct line charge at your spellcasters!

Feel free to throw away your interative attacks.

Make sure the front line dies one at a time.

Encourage the smarter monsters to pick up improved trip.

Spring attack has it's balance built in very well.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Spring attack is good against either:
A) High AC oppoents who only your firsrt attack will hit anyway.
B) Opponents with many attacks (such as an opponent using two weapons).
C) Opponents with reach, you can close with out provoking an attack of oppurtunity.
D) You have a very high movement and your opponent is slow and sucks at ranged combat.

One trick with spring attack is to use it to move out of an allies line of fire or charging path to the foe.

It is bad if you are:
A) Slow
B) Make a lot of attacks (two weapon fighting)

 

[Christian]

It's got its uses for a melee-support character that can't stand in and fight anyway. Plus, there's a DM annoyance factor, if you're into that sort of thing. (Real exchange from my first long-running 3.0 campaign, from not long after my Monk took the feat:
Me: "I move up, attack the shadow, and move back behind the cleric."
DM: "That's it. I'm officially renaming that feat 'Wuss Attack'.)

 

[SteveC]

If you're really serious about two-weapon fighting and are going after the Tempest prestige class, then yes, absolutely.

If you consider the chain of feats from the PHB II that allow you to have multiple attacks, then yes as well.

If you're really concerned about mobility and AoOs, then yes again.

Otherwise, not so much.

I have a character who works in tandem with our group's rogue. I am able to move into flanking position for him using spring attack without having to tumble and reduce my speed. Works like a charm for that as well.

--Steve

 

[Mycanid]

I am SOOOOO glad no one made any lame jokes about the seasons in this thread so far!

 

[FireLance]

Spring Attack is also good for a charge-focused character as it allows you to move, attack, and move again to set up a charge in the next round of combat.

Of course, this tactic works best if there is also a tank in the party that can keep the opponent pinned down and stop him from following the Spring Attacker.