D&D 5E What if you had to take a feat at ASI levels?

Blue · Aug 4, 2022

Right now once the primary ability score gets to 20, I'll see the occasional half-feat for something unusual. But with this, there's the same high push for the first tier feats and an increased push for +1 to primary/secondary ability score half feats, but that would leave other feats much further behind in the selection weighing, effectively shrinking the available feat pool.

Another issue is SAD vs. MAD classes. A rogue archer can get way with just a good DEX, but a melee paladin needs STR (or DEX), CON and CHA.

One possible solution that addresses both of these is if a feat is increasing an ability score that starts at 13 or lower, it gets +2 instead. Since that's a definite bonus to saves and skills, that's valuable always. And at 13 or lower it's not your primary ability score, and either isn't a secondary or you are already spread thin and it gets a bonus to one boost.

Charlaquin · Aug 4, 2022

It definitely seems like this approach could be rough on MAD classes. And limited feat selection could be an issue, though that seems resolvable with use of UA and/or 3rd party feats.

squibbles · Aug 5, 2022

Charlaquin said:
It definitely seems like this approach could be rough on MAD classes. And limited feat selection could be an issue, though that seems resolvable with use of UA and/or 3rd party feats.

Maybe borrow the idea from @Yaarel

Yaarel said:
[...] You get a feat about every four levels. One of the feats grants you a +2 to an ability score. [...]

You could treat +2 to an ability score as a feat--maybe even give it a cool name and some lore. Like most feats, you can take it once and only once. Maybe the feat has class prerequisites (and ofc requires 4th level), like monk and maybe ranger only (paladin? barbarian? artificer? I don't feel like 5e has huge issues with MAD outside of monks). Basically, you create a bespoke solution for the classes most harmed by the houserule.

And ya, the feat selection issue is easily addressed if you have the time and inclination to curate some 3rd party materials--though IMO most of the worthwhile UA feats have already made it into the game; a lot of the UA feats are resoundingly mediocre.

Charlaquin · Aug 5, 2022

squibbles said:
Maybe borrow the idea from @Yaarel

You could treat +2 to an ability score as a feat--maybe even give it a cool name and some lore. Like most feats, you can take it once and only once. Maybe the feat has class prerequisites (and ofc requires 4th level), like monk and maybe ranger only (paladin? barbarian? artificer? I don't feel like 5e has huge issues with MAD outside of monks). Basically, you create a bespoke solution for the classes most harmed by the houserule.

I mean, that’s just how it works now…

OB1 · Aug 5, 2022

I really like the idea of getting rid of ASIs in favor of feats, and think that doing so actually levels the playing field when it comes to the differences between feats (GWM and SS for example, aren't nearly as good when you have a 16 STR or DEX and Skilled is much better).

That said, what about setting up 3 different standard arrays with different rules for ASIs and Feats depending on which you choose.

Zero to Hero - 8, 9, 10, 10, 11, 11 - Gain a Feat and an ASI every ASI level
Standard - 8,10,11,12,13,14 - Gain a Feat or an ASI every ASI level
Heroic - 10,12,14,15,16,17 - Gain a Feat every ASI level

Charlaquin · Aug 5, 2022

OB1 said:
I really like the idea of getting rid of ASIs in favor of feats, and think that doing so actually levels the playing field when it comes to the differences between feats (GWM and SS for example, aren't nearly as good when you have a 16 STR or DEX and Skilled is much better).

That said, what about setting up 3 different standard arrays with different rules for ASIs and Feats depending on which you choose.

Zero to Hero - 8, 9, 10, 10, 11, 11 - Gain a Feat and an ASI every ASI level
Standard - 8,10,11,12,13,14 - Gain a Feat or an ASI every ASI level
Heroic - 10,12,14,15,16,17 - Gain a Feat every ASI level

That’s an interesting approach. Personally, if I implement this rule, it’s going to be in a campaign where we roll for ability scores (but you can discard rolled sets until you get a set you’re satisfied with). I think this will probably also help with the MAD class imbalance, because if you want to play a MAD class, you’ll just roll sets until you get one with high enough starting stats for the class you want. I’m also thinking of implementing a hard level cap at 11th, at which point, I imagine most players will want to start leveling a new character.