D&D 5E Unearthed Arcana: 16 New Feats

"Today’s Unearthed Arcana presents a selection of new feats for Dungeons & Dragons. Each feat offers a way to become better at something or to gain a whole new ability."

News Archive | Dungeons and Dragons

Read the full archives of Dungeons & Dragons news, Sage Advice, Unearthed Arcana, and D&D Studio Blogs.

dnd.wizards.com

The feats include Artificer Initiate, Chef, Crusher, Eldritch Adept, Fey Touched, Fighting Initiate, Gunner, Metamagic Adept, Poisoner, Piercer, Practiced Expert, Shadow Touched, Shield Training, Slasher, Tandem Tactician, and Tracker.

 

[Sunsword]

[QUOTE="Undrave, post: 8037335, member: 7015698"
Why is this 'rules bloat'? They're just feat. That's not new rules, it's just new options for the same rule that's been in the PHB since the beginning.
[/QUOTE]

In my head I Feat bloat but my fingers have a mind of their own

If this makes it through I'm not done with 5E or anything like that I'm just dubious if this is what I want to allow at the table. Our group (in a game I'm playing) has asked to try a couple out. I might see them in action this weekend.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

The Touched spell only give you 1st level spell.

Yeah, and this feat I'm speaking of would do the same thing, but instead of choosing your 1st level spell, you choose the 2nd level spell (for acid arrow, or flaming orb, or one of the ice spells coming out in ID:RotFM.)

Having looked at them, I think the Transmutation school is pretty weak at level 1 so I dunno about pairing it with Evocation since no one is gonna pick a Transmutation spell. Unless the given spell is Transmutation like Feather Fall or Expeditious Retreat.

I think they would be Conjuration and Evocation if they made an elemental feat.

Chromatic Orb is a good pick... but none of the other give a damaging spell so I wouldn't give that.

Sure, but they can be damaging with the chosen first level spells.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

so, dumbest reason ever?

No. It keeps balance in the game to not let anyone take the feat.

 

[Leatherhead]

Question. Would it really hurt if these once a day spell feats just give you a 1st level spell slot? Seems like it would benefit martials more than full casters, and give a little low level umph.

Hurt is a strong word, but spell slots can be used to fuel things other than spellcastings, like Divine Smite or Sorcery Points. Also spell slots can be used for any spell you know, which is harder to future-proof against.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Dragon's Breath.
Then you can also change the name to "Dragon Touched"

That's from Xanathar's, they're not going to give it to them. I think Chromatic Orb is the best option, but give them the choice on a 2nd level spell.

 

[Leatherhead]

That's from Xanathar's, they're not going to give it to them.

They have reprinted spells before. In fact, most of the elemental spells in XGTE are reprints from the EEPC.

Come to think of it, they would kind of need to reprint a bunch of stuff again for whatever big character book they have in store, just for the PHB+1 AL rule.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

They have reprinted spells before. In fact, most of the elemental spells in XGTE are reprints from the EEPC.

They have before, so it's not off the table, but I don't see them reprinting spells for feats (they don't for subclasses), when they could make it broader.

Come to think of it, they would kind of need to reprint a bunch of stuff again for whatever big character book they have in store, just for the PHB+1 AL rule.

I doubt that. They're not going to put the Xanathar's spells in Xanathar's 2.0, unless something requires them to. The PHB+1 AL rule is broken, and needs fixing. That's not a reason to reprint something, as most people do not play AL.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

So, thinking over it, Scout Rogues are even better at replacing rangers than before. Find some way to get Longbow proficiency (either be an Elf, Hobgoblin, or Variant Human for the Weapon Master feat. The Bracers of Archery work as well), then take the Fighting Initiate feat, choose Archery, and also get the Tracker feat, so you can have Hunter's Mark. Hang on until you get an Oathbow and the Sharpshooter feat, and you can now deal a bunch of damage with a bow, be likely to hit, and be better than the Ranger in almost every way.

The rogue doesn’t get any extra feats until what, level 10? So all the feat goodness is equally available to Rangers is the majority of games, and rangers need to invest less to be very good with a bow. (Not that the bow is a Ranger “thing”. I see just as many melee Rangers as ranged.)

The entire feat system needs to be nuked from orbit.

Nah. It’s easy to just not use if you don’t like it.

Those of us who do can then keep doing what we enjoy.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

The rogue doesn’t get any extra feats until what, level 10? So all the feat goodness is equally available to Rangers is the majority of games, and rangers need to invest less to be very good with a bow. (Not that the bow is a Ranger “thing”. I see just as many melee Rangers as ranged.)

Yeah, but I fail to see how this affects this. Rangers don't get much of a boost from this, and Rogues do (when they didn't need one). Rogues can give most of their earlier ASIs and racial features and subclass to become a better Ranger than a real Ranger, at fairly low levels.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Concept perhaps, but I skipped 4e (wasn't my cup of tea). Honestly I'd prefer the Ranger to not be so hideously reliant on their spellcasting. Spells that alter terrain and creating impediments (Entangle and the like) but nothing tied so directly to combat (Hunter's Mark and the like). Spells that offer a utilitarian impact (in or out of combat) and let their warrior skills manage the actual hitting and dealing of damage. Then their terrain expertise can come into play with those utilitarian spells, allowing them to move about those effects more or less freely....and give them (and Paladins) some damn cantrips as part of their spellcasting feature. If EK and AT receive them, then there is absolutely no reason not to give Paladins and Rangers default access to them. Limit them, certainly, but yeesh.

I’d love for Rangers to be able to drop a spell slot to allow the whole team to ignore difficult terrain while slowing enemies, or soemthing. Like, don’t give them smite, but some way to give the team a terrain based advantage.