D&D 5E How do you feel about games without Feats and Multiclassing?

Stattick · May 7, 2021

How do you feel about games without Feats and Multiclassing?

I was rather shocked by the high number of people in another thread saying that they LOVED games lacking Feats and Multiclassing, and that they won't play/run games with either of them. Made me wonder how many people feel that way... but I didn't want to clutter up that thread with this question. Plus a new thread allows a poll.

As to the question itself, I wouldn't consider playing in a 5e game without Feats and Multiclassing. That's a hard pass for me.

Doc_Klueless · May 7, 2021

While I'll play either way. I tend to run games without Multiclassing. Don't know why.

Sorcerers Apprentice · May 7, 2021

There are plenty of strong, fun builds that don't involve feats or multiclassing (mostly casters) so I'd play either way if the game was otherwise interesting. But I'd be skeptical of a group that feels the need to reduce the amount of character customization in a D&D 5e game.

Fanaelialae · May 7, 2021

I don't have a problem playing without them, although I prefer to have the option.

In my own games I use both. The only restriction is that multiclassing must normally be done at the start (we usually start at 3rd level). I see classes as typically requiring significant training, so if the fighter decides at 10th level that he really wants to be a wizard, that means that he'll need to retire and spend a few years training to do so (unless he already had a level of wizard, in which case he'd already completed that training). It also eliminates the worst level-dipping, while still leaving the option open for players that want to play something that isn't covered by a single class.

commandercrud · May 7, 2021

I allow both but almost never see multiclassing. Maybe once or twice total throughout 5e. Only did it once for one of my characters.

I rarely see feats. Maybe one per character about 20% of the time. I rarely take them myself, preferring to keep characters as simple as possible.

Raith5 · May 7, 2021

I really like customization so I very strongly prefer playing a game with feats and MC. If I were to DM id like to add a few extra feats because I really think 5e needs a bit more in the customization department. So I am a number one on this poll (though I would play a game with feats with friends or newbies etc).

TwoSix · May 7, 2021

I strongly prefer to have the option, but I'll play in a game lacking them provided there's some other interesting hook to the game. "Just roleplay your character more" is not an interesting hook.

commandercrud · May 7, 2021

TwoSix said:
"Just roleplay your character more" is not an interesting hook.

That's so sad.

tetrasodium · May 7, 2021

commandercrud said:
That's so sad.

A sytem needs to be built for alternatives. You can "just roleplay your character more" in something like fate where feats & classes are mostly a oncept that exists outside the rules eve if there are some kinda sorta almost near analogues like high concepts & very well defined stunts/extras with near mathematical formula level definitions. That works in a system like fate because of how he system is designed to make "just roleplay your character more" a really interesting thing the whole table can get involved with. If freeform roleplaying were good enough for what a group wants to do they wouldn't have any need for the d&d system itself.

Dragonsbane · May 7, 2021

Multiclassing became much more equitable in my games with some house rules, like
1) Ability Score / Feat gains are at 4, 8, 12, 16, & 19 total levels, not for a class. Extras from Fighters go at the other levels (6th?)
2) Channel Divinity goes by total levels in classes that grant it
3) Extra Attack goes by total levels in classes that grant it

It seemed absurd for someone 3/3 not to have had a feat or ability score increase. Same with fighter extra attack. The house rules work awesome in my games.