D&D 5E Adding Feats to the Existing Backgrounds

[billd91]

Only for some. We are all feats, no asi

That’s closer to what I’m seeing in the groups I run and play in as well. Sometimes, people take the ASI, but it’s more often a feat - maybe 80-90%.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

They should not overdo it woth feats. One feat at level 1 when you select your background is sufficient.
Feats that should not be taken at level 1 should just have lvl 4 prerequisite. (i. E. All combat feats).
Please don't suggest more than 1 feat per 4 levels.

 

[JEB]

I think they'll revise the idea of backgrounds to make them more impacted ful the big anniversary, but when they do so, I think we'll see a 3E vs 3.5 level of overhaul across the board.

To be honest, this particular change, added to all the others they've been making (near-universal race and monster statblock revisions, reworking of all the classes as seen in Tasha's, switch to proficiency bonus uses over short rests, etc.), pretty firmly pushes 2024 edition into 3.5 territory (at least IMHO). If not 2E vs. 1E. As with those editions, there's still technical compatibility, but a number of fundamental assumptions are different, and comparing a core PC from both the 2014 and 2024 versions will have some noticeable mechanical differences.

 

[Jer]

IMO the way to add the feat to a background is to have the player choose between a feat or the initial +2 bonus to 1 ability score that everyone is going to get with the new race rules. That keeps it in line with the way feats already work (as an exchange for an ability score increase), keeps the power level in line with the current rules, and almost keeps in line with how the Variant Human works (in comparison they still get an additional +1 bonus and an extra skill in comparison, but that's not too far off).

The Background could then be explicitly written to say that if you give up your +2 bonus to a stat at character creation you can choose the feat instead. (Potentially you could just open it up to allowing anyone to give up the +2 bonus in exchange for a feat at 1st level and the Background feat is just a recommended one - I'd prefer that approach but that's because I prefer to let tables and players have more flexibility rather than less when it comes to things like that).

 

[DND_Reborn]

Personally, backgrounds should include things like armor and weapon proficiencies as well, as some (very little) access to magic (if appropriate, such as sage or cloistered scholar maybe?), and maybe a saving throw proficiency (?), since they already include all the other proficiency types (skills, tools, and languages).

For example, I am playing a wizard and take the soldier background, yet I have NO proficiency in any sort of armor or shields??? Seems ridiculous IMO, so we added a bunch of stuff to backgrounds already and I would love to see WotC move in a similar direction.

 

[aco175]

I find that a lot of the non-combat feats are not taken that much and adding them to background might be good. I would not have a problem with feats watered down and given free at certain levels like 3e.

Anyone thinks this means doing away with feats in the revision? I would think they are kept, mostly to make things compatible with 5e and not be seen as a shift to 5.5 or 6e. My group tends to not use that many, maybe 1-2 per campaign or 90% just using the ASI.

 

[Charlaquin]

To be honest, this particular change, added to all the others they've been making (near-universal race and monster statblock revisions, reworking of all the classes as seen in Tasha's, switch to proficiency bonus uses over short rests, etc.), pretty firmly pushes 2024 edition into 3.5 territory (at least IMHO). If not 2E vs. 1E. As with those editions, there's still technical compatibility, but a number of fundamental assumptions are different, and comparing a core PC from both the 2014 and 2024 versions will have some noticeable mechanical differences.

To be fair, we are still only speculating that the 2024 revision will make such a change. It’s entirely possible that only setting-specific backgrounds will grant Feats.

 

[Uni-the-Unicorn!]

To be honest, this particular change, added to all the others they've been making (near-universal race and monster statblock revisions, reworking of all the classes as seen in Tasha's, switch to proficiency bonus uses over short rests, etc.), pretty firmly pushes 2024 edition into 3.5 territory (at least IMHO). If not 2E vs. 1E. As with those editions, there's still technical compatibility, but a number of fundamental assumptions are different, and comparing a core PC from both the 2014 and 2024 versions will have some noticeable mechanical differences.

I don’t see it that way. Nothing rises to a .5 edition IMO, yet. All these changes are so minor I wouldn’t notice the differences at the table

 

[HammerMan]

To be fair, we are still only speculating that the 2024 revision will make such a change. It’s entirely possible that only setting-specific backgrounds will grant Feats.

could you imagine if a 'snipper' background gave the sharp shooter feat and the sage one was exactly as is in the phb... enworld would explode.

 

[JEB]

To be fair, we are still only speculating that the 2024 revision will make such a change. It’s entirely possible that only setting-specific backgrounds will grant Feats.

It's possible, but previously Wizards was pretty scrupulous about leaving feats optional. Even in Theros, which basically did assume feats at first level (after a fashion). Changing that assumption in setting books and not the core would be curious.