jmartkdr2
Hero
I don't see how doing any of those things would require reading all of the feats, though. Do you need to read every spell as well, even the traditions you cannot cast? All the monsters of every level before you plan any encounters?So, you haven't read ahead to plan for later levels? It's a common thing.
So, you've DMed for a group of newbies where you needed to help them conceptualize, build and advance their characters and you've done that without reading their feats?
So, you've never browsed the feats to see what's possible? Or what's intereting to make a character around?
If the answer to any of these is "no", then this is just anecdotal evidence that doesn't address the points I put out so should be discarded.
EDIT: picking stuff out:
Above, you said it was absolutely true that a new player will read all the feats - now you're saying it's common. Those are significantly different concepts, especially when discussing the barrier to entry for the game. Do most, some, or all players read all the feats? Ands what's your source for your claim to said frequency? (note that you yourself stated that anecdotes aren't valid.)"So, you haven't read ahead to plan for later levels? It's a common thing."
"So, you've DMed for a group of newbies where you needed to help them conceptualize, build and advance their characters and you've done that without reading their feats?"
This would imply reading the feats they took, which does not require reading all the feats they didn't take - four players would have about 20 feats at level 1 if none of them overlap, so about 1% of the total number of feats. That's pretty far off from "absolutely all" - and a lot less reading to get the game ready.
"So, you've never browsed the feats to see what's possible? Or what's intereting to make a character around?"
Does one need to browse absolutely every feat available before making a decision? Or can someone say "I'd like to be a fighter" and read only the fighter feats? Or even the first-level fighter feats?
"If the answer to any of these is "no", then this is just anecdotal evidence that doesn't address the points I put out so should be discarded."
I guess my experience with the game isn't valid, or I'm not a new player. After all, your anecdotes are much more relevant than mine, since your experience is more valid than mine.
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