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."

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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.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Once per long rest you create the ward at full hit points when casting an abjuration spell. Casting additional spells heals the ward if it has taken any damage. I don't really think it is a big deal if they can do so without spending resources, it's a combo already there if people want to take advantage of it via multiclassing. Spending a feat is just a different cost-benefit for the abjurer.

It's quite a lot used out of combat, since the ward is "healed" 2 hp per spell level, so without time pressure your infinite 1st level abjuration spell can heal it up to full. If you are in the middle of a scrap you are better casting the highest level abjuration you know.

As for cost, I think most people would rate one ASI significantly lower than two class levels.


I wouldn't consider it "a balance concern" if the cost is one ASI. But I would consider it considerably under-priced if the cost where half an ASI.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Fighting Initiate would actually be good for a Dual Wielding Ranger. You can pick up Whirling Blades and Defensive as your fighting style choices. If your not going Ranged.

Yah Whirling whatnow? That's not a fighting style I can find anywhere. As for Defense, that's garbage.

Great Weapon Fighting is the one rangers might want to pick up, since it works with anything that gives you extra damage dice, such as Hunter's Mark. (Also paladin smite, Divine Strike, Booming Blade, Hex and critical hits). Use your remaining style for Druidic Warrior.

 

[Parmandur]

That was quick. Suggests the book needs to be finalised soon. Maybe these are a last minute replacement for psionics?

Well, we know when the last minute is for a November release: Races of Ravnica dropped on 8/13/2018, with the survey on 8/20, and Crawford explained that was putting any changes down to the wire in early September (and they did make significant changes due to feedback!).

This is only 3 pages of material, so it's probably just the final touches awhile they finish balancing out the main course.

It wouldn't surprise me to see one more UA next month detailing the new Race Regine, to test responses to it, along with the product being announced.

 

[Micah Sweet]

And that isn't the only power combo. An Abjuration Wizard can use Armour of Shadows to infinitely refresh Arcane Ward without expending any spell slots.

When they do a balance pass, the have to assume players are using the strongest combos, not the mundane uses.

The same goes for Fighting Initiate, +1 AC is barely worth half a feat, but not all Fighting Styles are of equal value, or of the same value to other classes. I've known rogues take a 1 level fighter dip just for Two Weapon Style.

I think history has shown that WotC doesn't take optimization and/or optional rules into account unless specifically brought to their attention. New players care less about such things, and that's where the focus is.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

And that isn't the only power combo. An Abjuration Wizard can use Armour of Shadows to infinitely refresh Arcane Ward without expending any spell slots.

When they do a balance pass, the have to assume players are using the strongest combos, not the mundane uses.

The same goes for Fighting Initiate, +1 AC is barely worth half a feat, but not all Fighting Styles are of equal value, or of the same value to other classes. I've known rogues take a 1 level fighter dip just for Two Weapon Style.

A rogue that dips fighter just for TWF is making a rather odd choice. 3-5 damage per round is...not important. Full stop.

The boldest text is where I really disagree, though. They aren’t making things in 5e with the power game in mind, so much as the average game. Which is as it should be.

and an Abjuration wizard could already benefit like crazy from 2 levels of warlock. Having mage armor at will isn’t gonna make a big difference. Casting it again has no other benefit, and is spending an action to do nothing but refresh the shield at the lowest possible level.

But even if I agreed on the power level of the combo, the average case is vastly more important. If a feat is only worth taking for a munchkin, it is a bad feat. Fighting styles and invocations are worth half a feat, maybe 2/3 at most. They need something else.

 

[Weiley31]

Yah Whirling whatnow? That's not a fighting style I can find anywhere. As for Defense, that's garbage.

Great Weapon Fighting is the one rangers might want to pick up, since it works with anything that gives you extra damage dice, such as Hunter's Mark. (Also paladin smite, Divine Strike, Booming Blade, Hex and critical hits). Use your remaining style for Druidic Warrior.

That's where Whirling Blades comes from.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

That's where Whirling Blades comes from.

It's fiddly and convoluted, not something I would allow.

And since it dates from 2018 I think the probability of it making it into the official rules is slightly less than zero.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

It wouldn't surprise me to see one more UA next month detailing the new Race Regine, to test responses to it, along with the product being announced.

I suspect not - firstly because I think that would be too late for a November book, and secondly because it would be a hate magnet.

 

[Chaosmancer]

Yah Whirling whatnow? That's not a fighting style I can find anywhere. As for Defense, that's garbage.

Great Weapon Fighting is the one rangers might want to pick up, since it works with anything that gives you extra damage dice, such as Hunter's Mark. (Also paladin smite, Divine Strike, Booming Blade, Hex and critical hits). Use your remaining style for Druidic Warrior.

I have no idea about Whirling Blades (Edit: See the link, checking it), but I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Defensive.

A character with Dual-Wielding, Defensive, and the Dual-Wielding feat has the equivalent AC of someone with just Duelist and a shield. That is not a bad combo.


Second Edit: Ah, it is basically Dual-Wielding Style but you have a second bonus action. That is quite nice. And makes what I just talked about better.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I have no idea about Whirling Blades (Edit: See the link, checking it), but I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Defensive.

A character with Dual-Wielding, Defensive, and the Dual-Wielding feat has the equivalent AC of someone with just Duelist and a shield. That is not a bad combo.

They have the same AC, lower DPS, no bonus action remaining and two less ASIs.

Sounds pretty bad to me.