Feats are special features that either give a character a new capability, or improve one that he or she already has. They are more like innate abilities than skills, and as such, have no ranks or progression. A character either has the feat or not. As with skills, there are a wide array of feats in Neverwinter Nights, and no character will be able to choose them all.
Use
Many of the feats in the game are "automatic", meaning they apply with no effort required on the player's part. Others are "selected", meaning they apply when the player selects them. Selection is typically done either by right-clicking the feat's target and finding the feat in the radial menu, or by assigning the feat to a quickslot then activating the quickslot and clicking the target. These feats are often found in the radial menu under one or more of the player's classes in the "Special Abilities" subradial (leftmost option), but some are found under "Special Attacks" (lower-right option).
A special case of the "selected" feats are the combat modes. These feats act as a toggle on the PC (so do not require a target if activated from the quickbar). Combat modes are typically found under "Special Attacks" in the radial menu, with the exception of flurry of blows, which is under the monk abilities under "Special Abilities". Another special case of "selected" is "cast", indicating the feat can be found under the "Cast Spell" subradial (upper-right option). This use is specific to the epic spells.
The metamagic feats are different than both "automatic" and "selected" in that they apply when a spellcaster chooses a spell to prepare or cast. Instead of directly selecting the feat, the caster chooses a spell modified by the feat (if such a selection is available). Item creation feats are also special in their method of selection. Using an item creation feat entails casting a spell on an appropriate item, e.g. a blank scroll for scribe scroll.
Types
General feats are chosen as a character gains levels. The first general feat is chosen at character creation, and additional ones are gained with every three character levels thereafter (levels 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18). In addition, humans get an extra general feat at character creation.
To select a general feat, a character must meet its prerequisites without modifications or synergies. Base attack bonus requirements refer to the unmodified base attack, not what's listed on the character sheet, as the latter includes ability modifiers. Ability requirements don't consider spells or enchantments, although permanent increases from Red Dragon Disciple and the Great Attribute (STR, DEX, CON, INT, WIS, CHA) feats still do count. Finally, skill prerequisites are skill ranks unmodified by spells, items, ability modifiers, and feats. Notably, this means that a wizard can't gain Epic Spell feats earlier than they would otherwise simply by having a high Intelligence and/or selecting feats like Skill Focus or Epic Skill Focus, as these only affect skill checks.
Bonus feats are granted to a character based upon class level. These are divided into two sub-categories: automatic bonus feats and class bonus feats. Automatic feats are gained as a class feature, and are granted regardless of their normal prerequisites; a Monk for instance, gains Cleave even without Power attack or a 13 Strength. Class bonus feats are chosen from special lists particular to the class, but do not ignore prerequisites. A fighter would not be able to select Cleave from the Fighter bonus feat list unless they met its prerequisites.
Racial feats are granted to a character based on race. These are automatic. The only way they can be changed post character creation is via various forms of Polymorph and Tenser's transformation.
Epic feats become available for selection with the Hordes of the Underdark expansion, when a character becomes epic (character level over 20). General feats continue to be selected every third level (at levels 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, and 39), with the epic feats added to the available choices. Similarly, classes that had a choice of bonus feats before have had some epic feats added to the selection once the character (not necessarily the class) becomes epic. In addition, all epic classes gain class bonus feats at regular intervals (instead of gaining automatic class feats, for the most part). These bonus feats are called "epic bonus feats", best read as "epic bonus" feats, as it is the bonus that is epic, not necessarily the feats. These epic bonus feats are chosen from class-specific lists, the same lists used pre-epic in the case of classes that have a choice of pre-epic bonus feats.
Notes
- Unlike prerequisites for prestige classes, a character may fulfill a feat's prerequisites in the same class level that they select it. A fighter, for instance, may gain cleave on character creation by selecting power attack as his bonus feat first. Similarly, one may select a feat in the same level-up that an ability was raised to qualify for it.
- Likely as a bug, the temporary ability changes from being polymorphed may be used to qualify for feats. This can result in the character no longer being legal.