Feat At Level 1 Module

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Zardnaar

Sep 16, 2014 21:49:38

 One thing I do find slightly annoying about 5E is that there is no feat at level 1 unless you are a human. One could always houserule in a bonus feat for everyone but that involves things like power creep.

 

 So I thought up this idea.

 

This is the normal stat array

15

14

13

12

10

8

 

 Or you can have a stat buff or bonus feat and use this array

14

13

13

12

10

8

 

If you want a feat at level 1 however you do not get to roll or point buy. You can still get to 16 with a racial and you can even get 16/14/14 I suppose if you take a feat with stat buffs but it does cost you the ability to get a 16/16 type score which is not hard to o with most races.

 

 

#2

grendel111111

Sep 16, 2014 22:06:38

Zardnaar wrote:
#3

Lawolf

Sep 16, 2014 22:53:47

Considering the expected value of rolling for ability scores is 31 points and the standard array/ point buy gives you only 27 points, I would say a fair choice is this:

 

Choice 1) 4d6 drop lowest and assign

Choice 2) 27 point buy and bonus feat

#4

pukunui

Sep 17, 2014 1:45:45

One thing my groups do is let non-human races give up their +2 stat boost to get a feat at 1st level.

#5

Brock_Landers

Sep 17, 2014 2:00:22

pukunui wrote:
#6

pukunui

Sep 17, 2014 2:05:15

Brock_Landers wrote:
#7

Brock_Landers

Sep 17, 2014 2:22:10

pukunui wrote:
#8

pukunui

Sep 17, 2014 2:34:22

Ah OK. That makes more sense. Feats are optional, but the ability score increases are an assumed part of the game. I guess if you're not going to use them, you'll have to give the PCs some other kind of power boost. I'm not really sure what, though.

#9

Brock_Landers

Sep 17, 2014 2:48:05

pukunui wrote:
#10

Uchawi

Sep 17, 2014 3:08:27

The simple solution is everyone gets 1 feat at first level and the human variant recieves 2.

#11

Zardnaar

Sep 17, 2014 3:50:37

Brock_Landers wrote:
#12

Zardnaar

Sep 17, 2014 3:52:22

Uchawi wrote:
#13

Brock_Landers

Sep 17, 2014 4:01:09

Zardnaar wrote:
#14

Zardnaar

Sep 17, 2014 4:08:38

Brock_Landers wrote:
#15

Brock_Landers

Sep 17, 2014 4:13:15

Zardnaar wrote:
#16

Zardnaar

Sep 17, 2014 4:20:29

Brock_Landers wrote:
#17

Brock_Landers

Sep 17, 2014 4:28:00

Zardnaar wrote:
#18

Zardnaar

Sep 17, 2014 4:34:08

Brock_Landers wrote:
#19

Brock_Landers

Sep 17, 2014 4:46:37

...yeah. passing out +1 weapons always rang false.

#20

Oraibi

Sep 17, 2014 5:08:55

Here's my solution: variant races for non-humans that also get feats, while giving up a few of their racial abilities.

 

Just a sec ... gotta clean up that formatting.

 

#21

Oraibi

Sep 17, 2014 5:13:01

Variant Dwarf Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
Size. Your size is Medium.
Speed. As per dwarf.
Darkvision. As per dwarf.
Languages. As per dwarf.
Dwarven Resilience. As per dwarf.
Subrace. You can choose variant hill dwarf or variant mountain dwarf.

 

Variant Hill Dwarf

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Feat. You gain one feat from the following list: Charger, Durable, Great Weapon Master, Martial Adept, Resilient, Tough, Weapon Master.

 

Variant Mountain Dwarf

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.
Dwarven Armor Training. You have proficiency with light and medium armor.
Feat. You gain one feat from the following list: Charger, Dungeon Delver, Great Weapon Master, Heavy Armor Master, Martial Adept, Shield Master, Weapon Master.

 

Variant Elf Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Size. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. As per elf.
Trance. As per elf.
Languages. As per elf.
Subrace. You can choose variant high elf, variant wood elf, or variant dark elf.

 

Variant High Elf

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Extra Language. As per high elf.
Feat. You gain one feat from the following list: Alert, Healer, Keen Mind, Magic Initiate, Observant, Ritual Caster, War Caster.

 

Variant Wood Elf

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Fleet of Foot. Your base walking speed is 35 feet.
Feat. You gain one feat from the following list: Alert, Dual Wielder, Keen Mind, Medium Armor Master, Mobile, Observant, Sharpshooter.

 

Variant Dark Elf

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.
Superior Darkvision. As per dar kelf.
Sunlight Sensitivity. As per dark elf.
Feat. You gain one feat from the following list: Alert, Crossbow Expert, Dual Wielder, Keen Mind, Observant, Skulker, Spell Sniper.

 

Variant HalflingTraits

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Size. Your size is Small.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.
Halfling Nimbleness. As per halfling.
Languages. As per halfling.
Subrace. You can choose variant lightfoot halfling or variant stout halfling.

 

Variant Lightfoot Halfling

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.
Feat. You gain one feat from the following list: Dungeon Delver, Lucky, Mobile, Skulker.

 

Variant Stout Halfling

Ability Score Increase.Your Constitution score increases by 1.
Feat. You gain one feat from the following list: Dungeon Delver, Lucky, Resilient, Tough.

 

Variant Dragonborn Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1, and your Charisma score increases by 1.
Size. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Draconic Ancestry. As per dragonborn.
Damage Resistance. As per dragonborn.
Languages. As per dragonborn.
Feat. You gain one feat from the following list: Alert, Athlete, Durable, Elemental Adept, Great Weapon Master, Polearm Master.

 

Variant Gnome Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Size. As per gnome.
Speed. As per gnome.
Darkvision. As per gnome.
Languages. As per gnome.
Subrace. You can choose variant forest gnome or variant rock gnome.

 

Variant Forest Gnome

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Speak with Small Beasts. As per forest gnome.
Feat. You gain one feat from the following list: Keen Mind, Magic Initiate, Observant, Spell Sniper.

 

Variant Rock Gnome

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
Tinker. As per rock gnome.
Feat. You gain one feat from the following list: Dungeon Delver, Keen Mind, Observant, Skilled.

 

Variant Half-Elf Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1, and one other ability score of your choice increases by 1.
Size. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. As per half-elf.
Languages. As per half-elf.
Feat. You gain one feat from the following list: Alert, Athlete, Actor, Defensive Duelist, Healer,Inspiring Leader, Linguist, Magic Initiate, Observant, Skilled.

 

Variant Half-Orc Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1, and your Constitution increases by 1.
Size. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. As per half-orc.
Languages. As per half-orc.
Feat. You gain one feat from the following list: Athlete, Charger, Durable, Grappler, Great Weapon Master, Martial Adept, Savage Attacker, Tavern Brawler, Tough, Weapon Master.

 

Variant Tiefling Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1 and your Charisma score increases by 1.
Size. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. As per tiefling.
Hellish Resistance. As per tiefling.
Languages. As per tiefling.
Feat. You gain one feat from the following list: Actor, Elemental Adept, Ritual Caster, Spell Sniper, War Caster.

#22

Joe_the_Rat

Sep 17, 2014 5:42:06

grendel111111 wrote:
#23

spelley

Sep 17, 2014 5:59:29

Reduce "primary" race bonus to +1 and remove stat bonus from subrace for a Feat. That feels more "right" than removing the +2 bonus but keeping the subrace bonus.
 

#24

Drizzt_hunter

Sep 17, 2014 6:00:54

Oraibi wrote:
#25

Oraibi

Sep 17, 2014 6:15:13

spelley wrote:
#26

impactfire

Sep 17, 2014 6:54:52

Zardnaar wrote:
#27

Timborama

Sep 17, 2014 8:05:41

Alternatively to all of the above, you can just start at 4th level (this has even been heavily stated from devs, including Mike Mearls). Also solves the HP "problem" a lot of people have!

#28

DemoMonkey

Sep 17, 2014 10:12:39

"Reduce "primary" race bonus to +1 and remove stat bonus from subrace for a Feat. That feels more "right" than removing the +2 bonus but keeping the subrace bonus."

 

I agree with this.

 

Aside to Oraibi

Spelley wasn't commenting on your idea; they were commenting on pukunui's, further upthread.

 

Aside to Brock Landers

I don't understand why you would want to disallow feats. To me, they are basically just class features you get to choose from a list instead of being preset.

 

If you really don't want feats, shouldn't you also disallow all the class features?

#29

Zardnaar

Sep 17, 2014 12:26:22

Joe_the_Rat wrote:
#30

Zardnaar

Sep 17, 2014 12:28:45

DemoMonkey wrote:
#31

DemoMonkey

Sep 17, 2014 12:43:09

"Brock likes AD&D and there are no feats in TSR versions of D&D. Feats lead to combos which can create problems. See the recent ruling on polearm master+warcaster for example. "

 

Spells, class features, and magic items all create problematic combos. I remember the 1E/2E days, believe me; they were hardly idyllically free of abusive or broken combinations. I don't see feats as being much worse, and their plus side for customization is huge.

 

That's not to say Brock is wrong in his preferences; no one is wrong in their preferences because preferences are subjective. But you do reach a point when you are stripping things out when you should ask "Is this really what I want to be playing in the first place?".

#32

Zardnaar

Sep 17, 2014 13:05:53

DemoMonkey wrote:
#33

DemoMonkey

Sep 17, 2014 13:10:50

"You are not stripping things out, RAW stat buffs are the default. You are adding feats in if you want to use them. The DM is under no obligation to allow feats."

 

I know that Zard. Go back and read Brocks post earlier; he wants to strip out stat boosts AND feats. Thus my point.

 

"Feats just add another layer of potential things to break hence why some people may not want to use them."

 

If Feats don't exist, people will try harder to find broken combinations of what's left. The urge to milk every last ounce out of the rules cow is a constant between editions, you are just changing where the milk goes.

#34

Zardnaar

Sep 17, 2014 13:31:28

DemoMonkey wrote: