Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
White Dwarf Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Nest
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
EN Publishing
Twitter
BlueSky
Facebook
Instagram
EN World
BlueSky
YouTube
Facebook
Twitter
Twitch
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
A "Fewer" Features Variant!?! (+)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="DND_Reborn" data-source="post: 8514906" data-attributes="member: 6987520"><p><strong>IMAGINE... <em>a Rogue without Sneak Attack? a Monk who doesn't know Martial Arts? a Ranger who never casts <em>hunter's mark</em>? a Paladin without Smites?</em></strong></p><p></p><p><em>Can you...?</em></p><p></p><p>I can, and I encourage it! Welcome to the Island of Misfit PCs! <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>[spoiler="Formerly Faster Features"]</p><p>Well over a ago I post a thread about a Faster Features Variant here:</p><p></p><p>[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.enworld.org/threads/the-faster-features-variant.675734/[/URL]</p><p></p><p>The idea was to give characters features at an accelerated pace so you could have more playing time using them. When we had reached level 20, it felt like we didn't have time to really enjoy the newer features.</p><p>[/spoiler]</p><p></p><p>Well, after playing that way for a long time (using a revised progression for the classes), I pitched to my players this weekend a new idea. <em>FEWER</em> features!</p><p></p><p>While working on character sheets for a player, and realizing how many features and racial traits his Level 7 Wood Elf Ranger had, I decided maybe going the other way might be a novel idea.</p><p></p><p>[spoiler="Arenfel's Complete Feature List"]</p><p>Elf:</p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">ASI +2 DEX</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Darkvision</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Keen Senses</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Fey Ancestry</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Trance</li> </ol><p>Wood-Elf:</p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">ASI +1 WIS</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Elf Weapon Training</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Fleet of Foot</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Mask of the Wild</li> </ol><p>Sailor Background</p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Ship's Passage</li> </ol><p>Ranger (Gloomstalker)</p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Favored Enemy</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Natural Explorer</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Fighting Style</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Spellcasting (5 known spells)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Gloomstalker Magic</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Dread Ambusher</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Umbral Sight</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Primeval Awareness</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Feat</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Extra Attack</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Favored Enemy improvement</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Natural Explorer improvement</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Iron Mind</li> </ol><p>For a grand total of 23 features!!! By level 7... jeez!!! <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f631.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":eek:" title="Eek! :eek:" data-smilie="9"data-shortname=":eek:" /> Is it any wonder a player might have a hard time recalling <em>everything</em> their character can do when PCs are given <em>so</em> much???</p><p>[/spoiler]</p><p></p><p>So arose the idea for fewer features. Allowing players to focus more on the features they choose (yes, you read that correctly, <em>choose</em>) instead of just being given a buffet of features. Also, by choosing which features you want and when you might gain them, it opens up for very different builds (see the opening of the OP for examples!).</p><p></p><p><strong><u>CONCEPT:</u></strong></p><p><em>Race </em>- you choose ONE racial trait (<em>Ability Score Increase, Age, Alignment, Size, Speed, Languages are "common" and you get them all</em>) that is not shared by all the other races.</p><p><em>Background </em>- you get your background feature.</p><p><em>Class </em>- you choose ONE class feature at 1st level. (For example, a Fighter would choose <em>either</em> a Fighting Style OR Second Wind.)</p><p><em>Subclass </em>- each time you choose your subclass feature, you choose ONE subclass feature (For example, a Battle Master chooses either Combat Superiority or Student of War.)</p><p><em>Prerequisites </em>- you cannot choose a feature if aspects of that feature rely on another feature you don't have!</p><p></p><p>So, at 1st level you will have only three features (one race, one background, one class or subclass).</p><p>With each new level, you can choose to gain a feature for that level, select a feature from a prior level (including prior subclass features), or choose a feature from your race.</p><p></p><p>[spoiler="Fewer Features Ranger revised"]</p><p><em>Ability Score Increases (DEX +2, WIS +1), Age, Alignment, Size, Speed, Languages don't count as they are common to all races.</em></p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Race: Trance</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Background: Ship's Passage</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Ranger 1: Natural Explorer</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Ranger 2: Fighting Style (Archery)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Ranger 3: Umbral Sight (Gloomstalker feature)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Ranger 4: Sharpshooter feat</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Ranger 5: Extra Attack</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Ranger 6: Dread Ambusher (Gloomstalker feature)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Ranger 7: Iron Mind (Gloomstalker feature)</li> </ol><p>Only 9 features, not 23. And he never selected spellcasting for her but he is really happy with the build.</p><p>[/spoiler]</p><p></p><p>Finally, here is the first draft of the homebrew write-up. I have to iron-out the wrinkles, and certainly spellcasters <em>should</em> take spellcasting as their level 1 feature, but nothing says they must. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" /></p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]150046[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>That's it for now. I'll update the thread as I make more progress on this idea, but I think it will become our standard from now on. If you are wondering about this, <em>REALLY</em> think about it, you might find it as intriguing as I do. Cheers!</p><p></p><p><strong>EDIT: For anyone looking at this in detail, 2 points:</strong></p><p>1. Druidic and Thieves' Cant are Languages, so you don't have to choose them as a feature for those classes, you get them for free.</p><p>2. I've considered (and not made a decision yet) as to making casters use a feature to gain access to higher level spells. Casters have blank levels without features to choose otherwise, so really aren't loosing anything otherwise...</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="DND_Reborn, post: 8514906, member: 6987520"] [B]IMAGINE... [I]a Rogue without Sneak Attack? a Monk who doesn't know Martial Arts? a Ranger who never casts [I]hunter's mark[/I]? a Paladin without Smites?[/I][/B] [I]Can you...?[/I] I can, and I encourage it! Welcome to the Island of Misfit PCs! :) [spoiler="Formerly Faster Features"] Well over a ago I post a thread about a Faster Features Variant here: [URL unfurl="true"]https://www.enworld.org/threads/the-faster-features-variant.675734/[/URL] The idea was to give characters features at an accelerated pace so you could have more playing time using them. When we had reached level 20, it felt like we didn't have time to really enjoy the newer features. [/spoiler] Well, after playing that way for a long time (using a revised progression for the classes), I pitched to my players this weekend a new idea. [I]FEWER[/I] features! While working on character sheets for a player, and realizing how many features and racial traits his Level 7 Wood Elf Ranger had, I decided maybe going the other way might be a novel idea. [spoiler="Arenfel's Complete Feature List"] Elf: [LIST=1] [*]ASI +2 DEX [*]Darkvision [*]Keen Senses [*]Fey Ancestry [*]Trance [/LIST] Wood-Elf: [LIST=1] [*]ASI +1 WIS [*]Elf Weapon Training [*]Fleet of Foot [*]Mask of the Wild [/LIST] Sailor Background [LIST=1] [*]Ship's Passage [/LIST] Ranger (Gloomstalker) [LIST=1] [*]Favored Enemy [*]Natural Explorer [*]Fighting Style [*]Spellcasting (5 known spells) [*]Gloomstalker Magic [*]Dread Ambusher [*]Umbral Sight [*]Primeval Awareness [*]Feat [*]Extra Attack [*]Favored Enemy improvement [*]Natural Explorer improvement [*]Iron Mind [/LIST] For a grand total of 23 features!!! By level 7... jeez!!! :eek: Is it any wonder a player might have a hard time recalling [I]everything[/I] their character can do when PCs are given [I]so[/I] much??? [/spoiler] So arose the idea for fewer features. Allowing players to focus more on the features they choose (yes, you read that correctly, [I]choose[/I]) instead of just being given a buffet of features. Also, by choosing which features you want and when you might gain them, it opens up for very different builds (see the opening of the OP for examples!). [B][U]CONCEPT:[/U][/B] [I]Race [/I]- you choose ONE racial trait ([I]Ability Score Increase, Age, Alignment, Size, Speed, Languages are "common" and you get them all[/I]) that is not shared by all the other races. [I]Background [/I]- you get your background feature. [I]Class [/I]- you choose ONE class feature at 1st level. (For example, a Fighter would choose [I]either[/I] a Fighting Style OR Second Wind.) [I]Subclass [/I]- each time you choose your subclass feature, you choose ONE subclass feature (For example, a Battle Master chooses either Combat Superiority or Student of War.) [I]Prerequisites [/I]- you cannot choose a feature if aspects of that feature rely on another feature you don't have! So, at 1st level you will have only three features (one race, one background, one class or subclass). With each new level, you can choose to gain a feature for that level, select a feature from a prior level (including prior subclass features), or choose a feature from your race. [spoiler="Fewer Features Ranger revised"] [I]Ability Score Increases (DEX +2, WIS +1), Age, Alignment, Size, Speed, Languages don't count as they are common to all races.[/I] [LIST=1] [*]Race: Trance [*]Background: Ship's Passage [*]Ranger 1: Natural Explorer [*]Ranger 2: Fighting Style (Archery) [*]Ranger 3: Umbral Sight (Gloomstalker feature) [*]Ranger 4: Sharpshooter feat [*]Ranger 5: Extra Attack [*]Ranger 6: Dread Ambusher (Gloomstalker feature) [*]Ranger 7: Iron Mind (Gloomstalker feature) [/LIST] Only 9 features, not 23. And he never selected spellcasting for her but he is really happy with the build. [/spoiler] Finally, here is the first draft of the homebrew write-up. I have to iron-out the wrinkles, and certainly spellcasters [I]should[/I] take spellcasting as their level 1 feature, but nothing says they must. ;) [ATTACH type="full" width="468px" alt="1642378921075.png"]150046[/ATTACH] That's it for now. I'll update the thread as I make more progress on this idea, but I think it will become our standard from now on. If you are wondering about this, [I]REALLY[/I] think about it, you might find it as intriguing as I do. Cheers! [B]EDIT: For anyone looking at this in detail, 2 points:[/B] 1. Druidic and Thieves' Cant are Languages, so you don't have to choose them as a feature for those classes, you get them for free. 2. I've considered (and not made a decision yet) as to making casters use a feature to gain access to higher level spells. Casters have blank levels without features to choose otherwise, so really aren't loosing anything otherwise... [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
A "Fewer" Features Variant!?! (+)
Top
