D&D 5E Alternative to Ability Score Increases

[Kinak]

I was just pondering that if, as Mearls has said, upcoming feats will be equivalent to +1 ability scores, that may be an option for me to replace the ability score increases at certain levels with additional feats. Will be interesting to see how this plays out.
This would make my life as DM easier so I can reduce the ability mods to Race + Class at character creation.

Sounds like they're planning on removing the automatic stat increases and just rolling it all into feats. Which... hey, if it works, more power to them.

Cheers!
Kinak

 

[Sadrik]

I thought I read somewhere that the ability increases and the feat system are not on a dichotomy (which is good because it is false). Meaning the DM opts into the feat system for his players or the DM opts in to the Ability boost system for his players. No overlap. If this is the case I can buy into it. Otherwise I am left with the same feeling you have above what can be better...

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I could imagine that spellcasters have a feat that they can chose to get a new spell slot. If you don´t take it, get a stat boost. This way, you can give spellcasters and fighters an equal amount of feats and the feats spellcasters take will grant them speciality in a school accompanied with a spellslot to cast a spell from that school. Allow noncasters to take that speciality, and now you have a dabbler in magic. I could really get behind that use of specialities.

I don´t like your other proposals. +Stat seems more reasonable. Maybe limit the bonus to a single stat by level no +2 to a single stat before level 4.

 

[keterys]

Makes it easier to balance a human "Extra feat" against another race having a better stat too.