D&D 5E Current take on GWM/SS

[KarinsDad]

They just keep putting out splatbooks with more and more insane options. It like trying to plug a leaking dam with my fingers.

That is why I like 5E. Only one splat book so far that I can ignore, and I have enough fingers to plug the few gotchas in 5E.

 

[Celtavian]

That is why I like 5E. Only one splat book so far that I can ignore, and I have enough fingers to plug the few gotchas in 5E.

You and I are in complete agreement on this matter. So much easier as a DM.

 

[Greg Benage]

I voted no problem/once per turn. The feats aren't a problem (for me) through Tier 2, but I haven't played enough above level 10 to judge whether they would require a fix. In general, it's fine with me if an archetypal longbowman and greatsword fighter are the best single-target damage dealers. If maxed-out single-target damage dealers are the only characters my players want to create, that would cause me to take a long hard look at my campaign (and adventure and encounter design) first.

 

[Celtavian]

I voted no problem/once per turn. The feats aren't a problem (for me) through Tier 2, but I haven't played enough above level 10 to judge whether they would require a fix. In general, it's fine with me if an archetypal longbowman and greatsword fighter are the best single-target damage dealers. If maxed-out single-target damage dealers are the only characters my players want to create, that would cause me to take a long hard look at my campaign (and adventure and encounter design) first.

I have. Sharpshooter is the bigger problem by far. Once a player gets both Sharpshooter and Crossbow expert, your options become to use full cover or remove the weapon from the person. Every other negative of ranged combat is removed by those two feats.

GWF is probably tolerable other than occasional nova.

 

[Greg Benage]

I have.

Yes, I'm aware of that, as you've posted many times in the thread. However, I assumed the OP might be interested in opinions other than yours. This might be prudent if he thinks there's a possibility that different players and DMs in different campaigns might have differing experiences with these feats.

 

[Celtavian]

Yes, I'm aware of that, as you've posted many times in the thread. However, I assumed the OP might be interested in opinions other than yours. This might be prudent if he thinks there's a possibility that different players and DMs in different campaigns might have differing experiences with these feats.

You wrote that you check your adventure and encounter design first. I did do that, extensively.

By all means I want others to state their experience. Don't deny what the feats do. They eliminate all the penalties for ranged attacking allowing someone to become a ranged guy that can do melee equally well save for lacking a shield. That has nothing to do with encounter design.

 

[iserith]

Don't deny what the feats do. They eliminate all the penalties for ranged attacking allowing someone to become a ranged guy that can do melee equally well save for lacking a shield.

What's the case for this being a problem again?

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Playing 5e without feats has been a great choice for our group. It really has helped avoid these petty little problems.

Right. The important question is not "How many and which bee-bobs would you like to pimp out your PC with?". The important question is "What is enough, that your PC feels like your own, and can we all go have fun together right now?"

 

[DaveDash]

What's the case for this being a problem again?

They create characters with very few weaknesses and a lot of strengths that can potentially overshadow characters who do not take those feats.

I know at least one poster here folded up his campaign early because the SS/Crossbow Expert Fighter basically stopper making the game fun.

 

[iserith]

They create characters with very few weaknesses and a lot of strengths that can potentially overshadow characters who do not take those feats.

I know at least one poster here folded up his campaign early because the SS/Crossbow Expert Fighter basically stopper making the game fun.

Are players who are taking these feats aware that they are taking spotlight away from other players? If so, why do they continue to choose these feats, or having taken them, choose not to use them to act in service of making other characters shine from time to time?

Is this a case where we must change the rules to save players from themselves? Or might we expect they'll voluntarily make choices that don't overshadow others to the detriment of the game experience?