D&D 5E How weak is Athlete Feat?

[Burnside]

I think the method of ability score generation you're using also factors in with feats like this. If you're using standard array or point buy, you really want the ASIs so a feat like Athlete or Keen Mind that allows you to pick up a specialy ability while still getting a +1 ASI are pretty attractive. If you've used another method that allowed you to start with inflated ability scores, you're likely less interested in these feats.

 

[Guest 6801328]

I think the method of ability score generation you're using also factors in with feats like this. If you're using standard array or point buy, you really want the ASIs so a feat like Athlete or Keen Mind that allows you to pick up a specialy ability while still getting a +1 ASI are pretty attractive. If you've used another method that allowed you to start with inflated ability scores, you're likely less interested in these feats.

Point buy also changes the calculus. If you're using Standard Array then a Variant Human can only start with one 16 unless they take a feat with +1. But if you're doing point buy you can either start with 2 15's and turn them both into 16's without needing a +1 Feat. OR you can start with 3 15's and raise all three of them by taking a +1 Feat. (I did this recently with what I thought was going to be just one or two sessions, but it's turning into a campaign....)

 

[MarkB]

I've taken it as a Monk. Handy for rounding out an odd-numbered Dexterity score, and all of the benefits seemed appropriate for an agile martial-artist. The standing-up one is higher value for a Monk due to their mobility, in that it saves you a larger quantity of movement. Someone can trip you and back away, and you can still overtake them on your turn.

 

[jayoungr]

It's a free ASI with some extra situational perks. How is that weak?

(ETA: Never mind, I misread it as +1 to STR and DEX, not +1 to STR or DEX.)

 

[Horwath]

It's a free ASI with some extra situational perks. How is that weak?

It is weak if those extra situational perks are not worth +1 ASI. And they are not.

It should also add full speed for swim and expertise in Athletics

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

You've seen those martial arts movies where someone gets knocked onto their back and they just spring back to their feet, ready to keep going? That is what I visualize with this feat versus how you normally get up after being knocked down. Even someone in heavy armor could do that with this feat and a sufficient strength score to be able to handle the weight when just springing back up. But then, I prefer games where feats are allowed to be more cinematic in action.

 

[Guest 6801328]

You've seen those martial arts movies where someone gets knocked onto their back and they just spring back to their feet, ready to keep going? That is what I visualize with this feat versus how you normally get up after being knocked down. Even someone in heavy armor could do that with this feat and a sufficient strength score to be able to handle the weight when just springing back up. But then, I prefer games where feats are allowed to be more cinematic in action.

Yeah, I agree with that.

The question, though, is how often that will actually mean anything mechanically. Most of the time that I get knocked down, the enemy just stands there and beats on me while I'm prone. When I stand up again I don't need any movement.

I worked on a homebrew Monk subclass that could stand as a reaction. Now that would be useful, and more like what you're describing.

 

[jayoungr]

It is weak if those extra situational perks are not worth +1 ASI.

Well, here's how I see it. Every 4 levels, you get EITHER an ASI or a feat. If you were going to bump STR and DEX anyway with your ASI--which would be a solid choice for a lot of characters--they why not take the feat and get the extra situational perks as well?

And then, if you're a variant human, you could get +2 each to STR and DEX at level 1, plus the situational stuff.

Obviously, it's less useful if your character doesn't care about both STR and DEX, but a lot of characters do.

(ETA: Never mind, I misread it as +1 to STR and DEX, not +1 to STR or DEX.)

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

Yeah, I agree with that.

The question, though, is how often that will actually mean anything mechanically. Most of the time that I get knocked down, the enemy just stands there and beats on me while I'm prone. When I stand up again I don't need any movement.

That depends on how intelligent the enemy is or whether they are running after knocking you down, and you want your movement to catch them, or they move on to another target, if your group has the enemy outnumbered. Again, think about, say, a Jackie Chan movie, where it is him against many enemy fighters at one time. He does not just stand there and beat on the one he knocked down. He moves on to the next target and knocks that one down and then the next and so on, until they have all been knocked down enough times that they do not get back up again.

If I am running a game where your party has surrounded one or two main enemies, if one of them knocks you down, they are going to switch targets right away to avoid getting hit in the back or something. So your character could spend the round crawling back to his feet or happen to have this feat and bounce right back up and maybe even get an attack at advantage on the enemy who is no longer facing you. And if you are a thief with this feat, that could become a backstab.

 

[Guest 6801328]

That depends on how intelligent the enemy is or whether they are running after knocking you down, and you want your movement to catch them, or they move on to another target, if your group has the enemy outnumbered. Again, think about, say, a Jackie Chan movie, where it is him against many enemy fighters at one time. He does not just stand there and beat on the one he knocked down. He moves on to the next target and knocks that one down and then the next and so on, until they have all been knocked down enough times that they do not get back up again.

If I am running a game where your party has surrounded one or two main enemies, if one of them knocks you down, they are going to switch targets right away to avoid getting hit in the back or something. So your character could spend the round crawling back to his feet or happen to have this feat and bounce right back up and maybe even get an attack at advantage on the enemy who is no longer facing you. And if you are a thief with this feat, that could become a backstab.

1. That would be dumb of the enemy. This is not a Jackie Chan movie. When I knock a creature prone, I don't switch targets. I think "Ha! Advantage!" and hit him again. I expect monsters to play to win.
2. Even if he does switch targets, I'm still just going to stand up and hit him, not use my movement. (Unless of course, he had to move away from me to find another target. So now he's not only giving up the Advantage, he's provoking an opportunity attack.)