Fixing Feats

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Lawolf

Nov 11, 2014 11:12:00

I really don't like how feats are handled in 5e. IMHO, too many feats are purely combat oriented, which makes non combat feats less desireable in comparison. I would much rather have feats emphasize non combat aspects of characters, and be a means to character customization, not character optimization.

 

Furthermore, with the potency of ability score increases, I feel that character options are truly limited in 5e. When you have 5 ability score increases/feats only and you need to have a 20 attribute and a _____ Master feat to fulfil your character concept, you become very limited in your remaining options.

 

I propose the follwin changes be made to certain feats:

Charger also increases your Strength by +1.

Crossbow Expert no longer allows you to make an attack as a bonus action, but increases your Dexterity by +1.

Defensive Duelist also increases your Dexterity by +1.

Elemental Adept also increases your Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma by +1.

Grappler also increases your Str by +1.

Great Weapon master no longer allows you to take -5 to hit for +10 to damage, but increases your Strength by +1.

Inspiring Leader also increases your Charisma by +1.

Medium Armor Master also increases your Dexterity by +1.

Polearm Master no longer allows you to make an attack as a bonus action, but increases your Strength by +1.

Sharpshooter no longer allows you to take -5 to hit for +10 to damage, but increases your Dexterity by +1.

Skilled also increases an ability score of your choice by +1.

 

Additionally, when you choose to take an ability score increase, you cannot choose the +2 to a single score option.

 

These changes weaken the power of the best combat feats, as well as bring up the power of some of the less powerful feats. Hopefully these changes, make feats more balanced overall and more appealing in general.

 

 

 

#2

bawylie

Nov 11, 2014 11:57:47

Hm. Interesting. I considered having no stat-bonuses at all (apart from those conferred in feats) but I will take a look at this instead. 

#3

sleypy

Nov 11, 2014 12:12:09

I have an issue with this because it nerfed the fighter to much. I think we should be looking at the combat feats more as fighter MC feats. I say this because feats are specifically being used this way to offer variety to the fighter while giving access to other classes. If you make this change it would also mean that the fighter is taking a serious blow.

 

I considered the same thing, but there weren't enough feats with the varies stats.

 

#42

Karnos

Nov 13, 2014 7:24:48

Those are some excellent changes to make for your personal game, assuming everyone you play with feels the exact same way about things as you do.  

 

For me, I wouldn't touch those ideas with a 10 foot pole- feats are perfectly fine as-is, +2 attribute bonus is fine as-is, and I have no desire to fix something which is not broken.

#43

Lawolf

Nov 13, 2014 11:06:37

ClockworkNecktie wrote:
#44

mellored

Nov 13, 2014 11:21:28

Lawolf wrote:
#45

Karnos

Nov 13, 2014 11:44:54

Lawolf wrote:
#46

Timborama

Nov 13, 2014 11:49:44

Is it the DM's fault or the Player's fault if the PC takes Actor and doesn't use it...?

#47

FFSAA

Nov 13, 2014 11:52:31

Lawolf wrote:
#48

mellored

Nov 13, 2014 12:09:58

FFSAA wrote:
#49

FFSAA

Nov 13, 2014 13:01:31

mellored wrote:
#50

Lawolf

Nov 13, 2014 13:03:56

mellored wrote:
#51

mellored

Nov 13, 2014 13:30:31

FFSAA wrote:
#52

Timborama

Nov 13, 2014 13:19:12

Also, Sword+Board Barbarians are pretty rad...

#53

Karnos

Nov 13, 2014 13:29:53

Lawolf wrote:
#54

mellored

Nov 13, 2014 13:34:11

What we need... is a good old fasion arena battle.

 

A barbarian with GWF and bless.

vs

A barbarian with shield master, and heroism.

#55

ClockworkNecktie

Nov 13, 2014 14:31:14

Lawolf wrote:
#56

Ahglock

Nov 13, 2014 14:49:50

I'm baffled by the idea that combat feats are more valuable. Even in a vacuum non combat feats help in a variety of ways including things like helping you avoid a fight in the first place. 

 

But really the issue is your DM is crafting the adventure to the party. If you go all combat capabilities the fights will be tougher, if you avoid all social skills and abilities there won't be many social challenges. Take what fits your character your DM is going to adjust to it. 

#57

Chiisai_Usagi

Nov 13, 2014 15:16:02

Ahglock wrote:
#58

Lawolf

Nov 13, 2014 15:18:05

ClockworkNecktie wrote:
#59

Lawolf

Nov 13, 2014 15:20:54

Chiisai_Usagi wrote:
#60

ClockworkNecktie

Nov 13, 2014 16:07:40

Lawolf wrote:
(Reply to #59)

AaronOfBarbaria

Lawolf wrote:
#62

FFSAA

Nov 13, 2014 19:18:13

AaronOfBarbaria wrote:
#63

Rastapopoulos

Nov 13, 2014 19:30:17

Lawolf wrote:
#64

Rastapopoulos

Nov 13, 2014 19:35:34

bawylie wrote:
#65

FFSAA

Nov 13, 2014 20:43:39

Rastapopoulos wrote:
#66

cowleymen

Nov 13, 2014 21:08:33

lawrencehoy wrote:
(Reply to #62)

AaronOfBarbaria

FFSAA wrote:
#68

mellored

Nov 14, 2014 6:00:30

FFSAA wrote:
(Reply to #67)

Timborama

AaronOfBarbaria wrote:
#70

mellored

Nov 14, 2014 7:57:30

Timborama wrote:
#71

AaronOfBarbaria

Nov 14, 2014 8:08:43

Thank you to both Timborama and Mellored for getting what I am talking about in regards to not having to be at peak optimization to be contributing meaningfully and having fun (especially when your DM is making it so that any optimization is actually rewarded rather than required by making your character above the "baseline" rather than defining it).

#72

abs1nth

Nov 14, 2014 8:38:21

Rastapopoulos wrote:
#73

Lawolf

Nov 14, 2014 9:50:25

Timborama wrote:
#74

ChrisCarlson

Nov 14, 2014 9:57:49

Session 0. Problem solved.

(Reply to #73)

Timborama

Lawolf wrote:
#76

ChrisCarlson

Nov 14, 2014 10:20:28

Timborama wrote:
#77

Lawolf

Nov 14, 2014 10:26:18

Timborama wrote:
(Reply to #77)

Timborama

Lawolf wrote:
#79

ClockworkNecktie

Nov 14, 2014 10:53:46

Lawolf wrote:
#80

Lawolf

Nov 14, 2014 11:16:14

ClockworkNecktie wrote:
#81

ChrisCarlson

Nov 14, 2014 11:43:55

ClockworkNecktie wrote:
#82

FFSAA

Nov 14, 2014 13:51:34

mellored wrote:
#83

Zardnaar

Nov 14, 2014 14:03:11

Lawolf wrote:
(Reply to #82)

grendel111111

FFSAA wrote:
#85

Steerpike84

Nov 15, 2014 12:44:23

While I don't think feats need "fixing," I do like your tweaks. Especially the no +2 to one attribute aspect, which goes a long way towards eliminated the assumption that all characters will get 20 in their primary stat, which is a problem that I do think needs fixing...

#86

mellored

Nov 15, 2014 12:52:18

Steerpike84 wrote:
(Reply to #86)

Steerpike84

mellored wrote:
#88

mellored

Nov 15, 2014 13:13:14

Steerpike84 wrote:
#89

Lawolf

Nov 15, 2014 22:31:36

mellored wrote:
(Reply to #89)

tubadancross

Lawolf wrote:
#91

mellored

Nov 16, 2014 7:07:54 		defensive dualist is a pretty good feat, but your right since rogues get evasion it's a bit less great for them. Trade it for lucky. And while dead monsters deal no damage, dead players don't either.
#92

Lawolf

Nov 17, 2014 9:09:16

tubadancross wrote:
#93

mellored

Nov 17, 2014 9:18:05

Lawolf wrote:
#94

Lawolf

Nov 17, 2014 10:44:41

mellored wrote:
#95

FFSAA

Nov 17, 2014 11:16:40

mellored wrote:
#96

mellored

Nov 17, 2014 11:24:42

Lawolf wrote:
#97

mellored

Nov 17, 2014 11:31:13

FFSAA wrote:
#98

Direach

Nov 17, 2014 12:36:18

I fixed feats for my own campaign by taking out the bonus attack action elements from all the feats where they applied.

#99

Lawolf

Nov 17, 2014 12:50:47

mellored wrote:
#100

FFSAA

Nov 17, 2014 13:25:52

Lawolf wrote:
#101

mellored

Nov 17, 2014 14:08:59 		Shields block a flat 10%. Defensive dualist at +5, blocks 25%, limited 1/round. So 1-(1-.25)^number of attacks. Someone else can solve for it.
#102

mellored

Nov 17, 2014 14:34:35 		More formally. 0.1X=1-(1-.25)^X
#103

Karnos

Nov 18, 2014 10:14:29

Lawolf wrote:
#104

Lawolf

Nov 18, 2014 10:26:36

Karnos wrote:
(Reply to #104)

Karnos

Actually, an arcane trickster rogue can get significantly higher AC by using certain buff spells. And of course, unless you are playing some wacky solo campaign, you probably have a party of allies who can also buff you.  Then there are feats- maybe the rogue took moderately armored, allowing for shield use.

 

I am not trying to say that no rogue would ever have such a a terrible AC.  Sure, it's possible for a rogue to play a completely unoptimized character and not care about such things.  But if that is the case, the rogue also isn't going to optimize feat choices so hard- making your whole argument redundant.  

 

TL;DR- A rogue that cares enough about optimization to seriously do the math on Defensive Duelist probably has higher than the minimum possible AC.

#106

FFSAA

Nov 18, 2014 10:42:29

Lawolf wrote:
#107

mellored

Nov 18, 2014 10:43:51

Lawolf wrote:
#108

Karnos

Nov 18, 2014 11:31:14

Lawolf wrote:
#109

Lawolf

Nov 19, 2014 8:54:43

mellored wrote:
#110

mellored

Nov 19, 2014 10:04:07

Lawolf wrote: