Characters gain epic feats in the following ways:
At 21st level, and every three levels thereafter, the character may
select an epic feat in place of a nonepic feat.
Each character class gains bonus epic feats according to the class
description. These feats must be selected from the list of bonus epic
feats for that class.
PREREQUISITES
Most epic feats have prerequisites. A character must
have the listed ability score, feat, skill, class feature, or base
attack modifier in order to select or use that feat. A character can
gain an epic feat at the same level at which he or she gains the
prerequisite, just as with regular feats. A prerequisite expressed as
a numerical value is a minimum; any value higher than the one given
also meets the prerequisite. A character can’t use an epic feat if
he or she has lost a prerequisite.
TYPES OF EPIC FEATS
Most epic feats are general, meaning that no special
rules govern them as a group. Others may be item creation feats or
metamagic feats, which follow all the normal rules for such feats,
except as specified in the feat’s description. In addition, some
feats are defined as divine feats or as wild feats. Such feats are
described below.
DIVINE FEATS
The feats in this category share a few
characteristics. First, they all have as a prerequisite the ability to
turn (or, in most cases, rebuke) undead. Thus, they are open to
clerics, paladins of 4th level or higher, and any prestige class that
has that ability. (An ability to turn other creatures does not qualify
a character to select one of these feats.) Second, the force that
powers a divine feat is the ability to channel positive or negative
energy to turn or rebuke undead. Each use of a divine feat costs the
character one turn/rebuke attempt from his or her number of attempts
each day. If a character doesn’t have any turn/rebuke attempts left,
he or she can’t use the feat. Since turning or rebuking is a
standard action, activating any of these feats is also a standard
action.
WILD FEATS
The feats in this category share the characteristic
of relating to the ability to use wild shape as a druid. These feats
require the character to have the ability to use wild shape before
acquiring the feat.
Psionic characters can acquire epic “psionically
flavored” feats. Some feats require so much translation that
converted feats are provided. Whenever a feat concerns conferring or
altering a spell in some fashion, some translation must be done to use
it with psionics. Sometimes this translation is as straightforward as
changing a few names. Translating epic metamagic feats to epic
metapsionic feats requires that Spellcraft prerequisites be replaced
with Psicraft. It also requires a little math—instead of casting a
spell at a higher level, a psionic character pays more power points.
For every spell slot one level higher than the spell’s actual level
the metamagic feat requires, the metapsionic feat requires a character
to pay a power point cost equal to its standard cost +2. Likewise,
when a feat allows a spellcaster to “pay” one less level to use a
metamagic feat, the psionic version allows a character to pay 2 power
points less for a given metapsionic feat.
