D&D 5E Best out of combat class features?

[Ath-kethin]

honestly magic needs to get more grounded as it is just all over the place and overrule every other part of the game.
it needs limits.

Something we've done is to make the various wizard specialists actual specialists - that is, only a Diviner can cast Divination spells, only an Illusionist can cast Illusion spells, etc.

It keeps wizards form being a one-size-fits-all solution, since choosing a specialization actually specializes (i.e. limits) them.

It also means that the types of wizards we see is directly related to the type of campaign we are running; very few Diviners in a combat-heavy game, very few Evokers in a combat-light game, etc. There's been some grumbling, but most have enjoyed the variety and challenge.

 

[Mind of tempest]

Something we've done is to make the various wizard specialists actual specialists - that is, only a Diviner can cast Divination spells, only an Illusionist can cast Illusion spells, etc.

It keeps wizards form being a one-size-fits-all solution, since choosing a specialization actually specializes (i.e. limits) them.

It also means that the types of wizards we see is directly related to the type of campaign we are running; very few Diviners in a combat-heavy game, very few Evokers in a combat-light game, etc. There's been some grumbling, but most have enjoyed the variety and challenge.

I would also like to mess around with the types as abjure is odd and lack greater thematics and illusion and enchantment are too similar for me.
letting them all get some basic low-level general stuff would logically be fine but tightening restrictions would help.
also, a standardised tiers of play thematics, grit and low level go well together and level 20 should feel mythic in scale.

 

[aco175]

I have seen a lot of cool things done with the Arcane Trickster's Super Mage Hand ability. Besides ranged pick pockets and open locks that is.

 

[Horwath]

I have seen a lot of cool things done with the Arcane Trickster's Super Mage Hand ability. Besides ranged pick pockets and open locks that is.

that and Telekinetic feat have great roleplay usage.

 

[Stormonu]

Something we've done is to make the various wizard specialists actual specialists - that is, only a Diviner can cast Divination spells, only an Illusionist can cast Illusion spells, etc.

It keeps wizards form being a one-size-fits-all solution, since choosing a specialization actually specializes (i.e. limits) them.

It also means that the types of wizards we see is directly related to the type of campaign we are running; very few Diviners in a combat-heavy game, very few Evokers in a combat-light game, etc. There's been some grumbling, but most have enjoyed the variety and challenge.

I think bringing back opposed schools, rather than "only evokers cast evocations" would work better.

 

[Horwath]

I think bringing back opposed schools, rather than "only evokers cast evocations" would work better.

I would rather see spells known for all full casters be in amount of sorcerer and half caster in amount of ranger.
Then any subclass can give bonus spell known or two per spell level.

rituals can be written in books as separate resource from spells known.

 

[Ath-kethin]

I think bringing back opposed schools, rather than "only evokers cast evocations" would work better.

We tried that too, but it didn't go far enough in our experience. It's definitely doable, and sticking with the 2e opposites works, but the Swiss Army Knife effect still comes up. ESPECIALLY if you keep the school of "universal" spells.

The only exception we make is detect magic and read magic. We treat those as class abilities more than spells.

But we've played around with these ideas quite a bit. Not everything works for everyone, but that's the nature of the beast.

 

[Undrave]

will you make a thread for it?

I will! I finished the base class and now I need to revise the subclasses a bit.

When you take the Help action, the target may add your proficiency bonus to the roll.
If an ally grants you the help action for a check that they are proficient in, you may add their proficiency bonus to the roll.

Something like that?

I already got something like that at a different level haha.

 

[The Annihilargh]

It's not a class feature, but I think Nets are a great out of combat tool. . .

 

[Mistwell]

It's for the 5th version of my Warlord class, but I think I found something neat. I'm not 100% sure about the level placement of all my features, but I'll see what people will say when I'm done.

Ah interesting. Well to me, Warlords make things happen around them. Whether it's through their words, or their presence, they are the calm in the storm that provides direction and focus to efforts. An out of combat ability should reflect that.

I guess one thing that seems to be lacking for other class abilities, is the ability to recall information helpful for a situation. There are skill checks for various knowledge, but no real abilities that are specifically intended to help with that sort of thing. So maybe they have an ability to provide advantage on others making ability checks to recall useful information for a situation?