[RPG] How does the brawler’s “Bonus Combat Feats” ability work

class-featurepathfinder-1e

The Brawler get an ability called "Bonus Combat Feats":

At 2nd level and every 3 levels thereafter, a brawler gains a bonus combat feat in addition to those gained from normal advancement. These bonus feats must be ones that affect or improve her defenses or melee attacks. The brawler must meet the prerequisites of the selected bonus combat feat.

Upon reaching 5th level and every 3 levels thereafter, a brawler can choose to learn a new bonus combat feat in place of a bonus combat feat she has already learned. In effect, the brawler loses the bonus combat feat in exchange for the new one. The old feat cannot be one that was used as a prerequisite for another feat, prestige class, or other ability. A brawler can only change one feat at any given level, and must choose whether or not to swap the feat at the time she gains a new bonus combat feat for the level.

Both parts of this ability seem problematic to me.

For the first one, what exactly qualifies as a feat "that affect or improve her defenses or melee attacks"? For some feats is is obvious that it works (like Stunning Fist who undoubtedly improves melee attacks), for some other ones it is less obvious (what about Weapon Finesse or Power Attack or Combat Reflexes? what about Improved Grapple?)

For the second one, could you exchange a feat gained with a special condition for an other one that doesn't satisfy the condition? For example change a feat gained with the first part for a feat that doesn't "affect or improve her defenses or melee attacks"?

Best Answer

It's frustrating, but the decision whether or not certain bonus combat feats "affect or improve [the brawler's] defenses or melee attacks" is made by the GM. That said, I'm almost certain no GM would deny a brawler the feats Combat Reflexes, Improved Grapple, Power Attack, or Weapon Finesse as bonus combat feats. (Seriously, I recommend demanding an inclusive list of available feats from a GM that denies one or more of those picks!)

Further, when the brawler is able to exchange feats starting at level 5, all the feats involved in the exchange must be brawler bonus combat feats and those always must meet that previously listed criteria. The description says so: the ability is called bonus combat feats and "a brawler can choose to learn a new bonus combat feat in place of a bonus combat feat she has already learned" (emphasis mine). There's no option to exchange a brawler bonus combat feat for, like, a metamagic feat (unless that metamagic feat is also a combat feat and affects or improves the brawler's defenses or melee attacks).