D&D 5E Adding Feats to the Existing Backgrounds

[Parmandur]

I'd say that looking at Tasha's Feats might be a good idea, as well, since those may be in the mix for the future PHB. And the Backgrounds might get shuffled a bit, for that matter.

 

[HammerMan]

That is a mechanical benefit if the DM is using the rules for downtime and charging for services (spellcasting services in this case). But, yeah, I think a lot of groups handwave that stuff. I doubt those features would be replaced with feats, I just think it would be in addition to them.

yeah some background features are RP gold...

I have 3 non combat sevants GRADE A
Every town I have a friend in GRADE A
I have a place to sleep GRADE C (good at low level but saving a gold or two is meh... but when mixed with DM approval with the sleep place having NPCs it could go back to A)
Rank GRADE B (A in some campaigns)

 

[Charlaquin]

I think one issue with the Background/Feat alignment is making sure that feats are broadly applicable, such that picking fairly obvious Background/Class pairings (Soldier/Fighter; Sage/Wizard, etc.) doesn't cause redundancies or a "wasted" feat.

True, although currently you can already get those redundancies with the obvious background/class combinations. Criminal Rogue wastes one of their tool proficiencies by doubling-up on thieves’ tools, for example. The Customizing Backgrounds rule I think exists to work around this.

Obviously Weapon Master OR Martial Adept works well for any class, and I'm hopeful that WotC has the same foresight to make sure these new backgrounds give more than one option.

For sure. Alternatively, just lean on the Customizing Backgrounds rule to allow you to swap out the default Feat for something else.

 

[Yaarel]

The way understand it, each SETTING grants its own set of free feats, such as Theros, Ravenloft, and presumably Dark Sun.

Strixhaven made setting backgrounds and setting feats a package deal. It seems Dragonlance will do similar.

Apparently, 50e will standardize that each setting will come with background as a feat.

It will be more like each feat comes with suggested proficiencies plus a noncombat asset.

 

[Weiley31]

I hope not. That would be not so much power creep as power leap, if every character now starts with a feat and variant humans get two.

Well that was always Humanity's main gimmick/shtick in Fantasy and stuff like that: they were the youngest of all races in recent eons/ages, but they flipping have the most unlimited potential in regards to what they could/can achieve. Elder races are forever static but humans? man they haven't even learn fully what they would be capable of.

So, a Human somehow getting "two" feats would be a crazy way of showcasing that. But Variant Human could get phased out in 2024. But since all of that will be Backwards-Compatible, they won't. but then......you know what, I'm gonna go make myself a sandwich.

 

[Micah Sweet]

The Squire of Solamnia feat gives weapon and armor proficiencies, and the Mage of High Sorcery feat gives spells, so we have to assume any background feat should be on a similar power level to those.

 

[Charlaquin]

I'd say that looking at Tasha's Feats might be a good idea, as well, since those may be in the mix for the future PHB. And the Backgrounds might get shuffled a bit, for that matter.

Yeah, I looked at the PHB backgrounds for simplicity’s sake, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the revised PHB expand on what’s on offer to include things like Archeologist, Smuggler, Courtier, etc. I considered Tasha’s Feats, but some of them have prerequisites that might actually make them invalid for certain background/class combinations.

I could also see some of the previously cultural race traits becoming backgrounds. For example, Clan Crafter is already very close to encompassing all the Dwarf cultural traits. Put that in the core and give it a Feat that grants proficiency in Medium armor and the Dwarven weapons and you’re good to go.

 

[jayoungr]

So, a Human somehow getting "two" feats would be a crazy way of showcasing that.

Humans and only humans getting one feat at level 1 already showcases that. When I talk about power creep, I'm using level 1 characters from 2014 as the baseline.

 

[Li Shenron]

Quite frankly... I always saw the Feature given with each Background as meant to be like a feat, or at least treated with the same emphasis. But because none of those Features had a game mechanic connected to it-- it was just a statement to DMs to let Acolytes get free healing at a temple for example-- I don't think many DMs and players ever treated those Features with the same gravitas they give to Feats in the game.

Not having a game mechanic connected is what always made them interesting and valuable to me, because it's different. I am a huge fan of feats but I would feel a loss of diversity if backgrounds were just another way to get feats.

 

[HammerMan]

The Squire of Solamnia feat gives weapon and armor proficiencies, and the Mage of High Sorcery feat gives spells, so we have to assume any background feat should be on a similar power level to those.

in a good world (not even perfect) in 5.5/6/anniversary edition all feats will be at least close to balanced with each other.