D&D 5E The impact of ASIs

[ad_hoc]

Stats are linear now.

A 20 is certainly better than an 18 but it is nowhere near the difference a 19 was versus an 18.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

The other thing is, you don’t have to (and shouldn’t) use the -5 to hit +10 damage on every attack. You want to use it when you know, or can at least reasonably assume, that it will be a net positive. Don’t bother with it when attacking swarms enemies that probably don’t have much HP, or heavily armored opponents that will probably be hard enough to hit even without that -5. Play smart, use it against enemies you expect to be relatively easy to hit but lots of health. Also, when you have advantage.

Especially if you're also an elf or half-elf. Elven Accuracy on top of the -5 hit/+10 damage is in fact really good. Getting three chances to roll high enough, even if you only hit on a roll of (say) 14+, is huge. Though since GWM mostly applies to Str attacks (unless you're a Hexblade) because there are no heavy finesse weapons, usually the preference would be Sharpshooter.

Most half-elf hexblades with the blade pact should try to pick up Elven Accuracy and GWM though. Very potent in their hands.

 

[Guest 7034872]

I like ASI as a way for characters to be able to improve over time by training or studying. I also like that they can be ignored for feats instead, giving more building options.

^^ This is where I am with it.

In a prior post I guess I made it read like I think ASIs just pale before feats, but that isn't what I meant or mean: what I meant and mean is only that for me subjectively they pale before the really juicy feats (you know the ones...). But I also dislike the idea that my personal tastes on this should somehow find themselves writ large upon the system. Gross. I prefer a game in which different people's different tastes are readily met and I also strongly prefer a game in which people have such different tastes. What would I ever learn from a game environment in which everyone thought like me??? No, thanks.

I also agree with Charlaquin's earlier point that in terms of maximizing performance the ASI boost to one's primary stat outweighs most boosts from feats, whereas in terms of making the game more interesting the feats do more. It is for this latter boon that I so prefer feats, even granting the clear mathematical benefits to a caster having 18 or 20 in their primary stat (which also tends to be the stat for their most oft-chosen skills, too, remember).

But that's me. Someone else who wants to go all-in on heavy specialization and maximize odds of success in clutch plays will have every good reason to chase that sweet, sweet 20 stat ASAP. And that's their call to make.

 

[CreamCloud0]

My personal preference would be to remove generic asi and make all the feats half feats, although to go with that class/species specific feats and feat chains for better customisation, although the option to instead take a (tier appropriate) magic item instead of a feat would be great too.

 

[Maxperson]

I prefer the old days when stats were not that important. Now everyone grubs for that extra +1.

They aren't important in 5e. People are just conditioned from 3e and 4e to grub for that +1 and they can't get out of the mindset that the +s are necessary and meaningful.

 

[Warpiglet-7]

They aren't important in 5e. People are just conditioned from 3e and 4e to grub for that +1 and they can't get out of the mindset that the +s are necessary and meaningful.

We will see what happens. I took a half feat at level one and will likely do so again at 4th (we are well into third level now).

I will have a 16 in str, wis and con for a melee heavy cleric. I am toying with taking a not ASI feat (magic initiate) at 8th…

Or I may keep a 15 wisdom until 8th….and do the half feat then.

 

[Bill Zebub]

My personal preference would be to remove generic asi and make all the feats half feats, although to go with that class/species specific feats and feat chains for better customisation, although the option to instead take a (tier appropriate) magic item instead of a feat would be great too.

If that route is taken, imagine if there were intentional non-synergy between the feats and the ASIs. Want GWM? Great, you get +1 Cha. Want +1 Str? Great...how does Magic Initiate sound?

The result would be some interesting, eclectic builds.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

If that route is taken, imagine if there were intentional non-synergy between the feats and the ASIs. Want GWM? Great, you get +1 Cha. Want +1 Str? Great...how does Magic Initiate sound?

The result would be some interesting, eclectic builds.

That’s merely one step away from floating feat-ASIs! If that comes to pass, all feats will just be regular abilities with rubber masks!

 

[Baron Opal II]

A half-feat is an effect with a +1 to an attribute?

 

[Bill Zebub]

That’s merely one step away from floating feat-ASIs! If that comes to pass, all feats will just be regular abilities with rubber masks!

After that it's cats and dogs playing together. Total anarchy.