D&D 5E Feats and ability score increases: Doing something a bit different.

[Corpsetaker]

Not sure if anyone has tried this but I thought about taking away the ability increases that come with feats and instead make feats non-optional and grant every PC an ability increase of +1 to any ability every four levels. I'm not a fan of the ability score increase being attached to feats and I don't like the choice of feat or ability increase. Not sure how this is going to work out but we shall see.

 

[TheCosmicKid]

Not every feat comes with an ability increase. You're indirectly giving those feats a power boost.

 

[Corpsetaker]

What I may do is a feat every four levels and an ability increase every 5. I will need to experiment a bit.

 

[Xeviat]

I considered doing this, but ultimately decided against it. First, it will require you to "break apart" the feats which don't have ability score increases attached with them. Luckily, those feats give a lot of stuff, so those can be broken up.

Giving a feat (half a feat) every 4 levels and a single +1 ability score every 4 levels means there will be times when those ability score increases do nothing. This is the primary reason I abandoned the idea.

The "math" of 5E, looking at the Monster Baselines in the DMG, "assumes" that you're increasing your attack stat at 4 and 8 based on player Attack vs. AC. The offensive weapon-user feats are balanced against this "loss". Now, this is only when fighting opponents whose CR is equal to your level, but that's a fair ceiling to be thinking of.

I'd be more tempted to split the feats and still give a +2 or +1/+1 every 4 levels. But I like super hero PCs, and am more than willing to throw harder challenges at them to compensate.

 

[Corpsetaker]

I considered doing this, but ultimately decided against it. First, it will require you to "break apart" the feats which don't have ability score increases attached with them. Luckily, those feats give a lot of stuff, so those can be broken up. Giving a feat (half a feat) every 4 levels and a single +1 ability score every 4 levels means there will be times when those ability score increases do nothing. This is the primary reason I abandoned the idea. The "math" of 5E, looking at the Monster Baselines in the DMG, "assumes" that you're increasing your attack stat at 4 and 8 based on player Attack vs. AC. The offensive weapon-user feats are balanced against this "loss". Now, this is only when fighting opponents whose CR is equal to your level, but that's a fair ceiling to be thinking of. I'd be more tempted to split the feats and still give a +2 or +1/+1 every 4 levels. But I like super hero PCs, and am more than willing to throw harder challenges at them to compensate.

I actually like the idea of getting a stat to where it may not giving you anything at that level. It gives the player something to look forward to. I would also argue that the balance part would not be an issue at all. It's not like the game is that tightly balanced and a +1 or even +2 is not going to make or break the PC.

 

[Krachek]

There is only 5 feats or ASI.
As a DM you can force feat choice at some level: 8 & 16. Some players won't like it.
You can give a feat for free. At level 5, which is a turning level. No players will whim, and it should not break game balance.
But overall feat and ASI are precious choice. Let players do what they like.

 

[Ancalagon]

I've mentioned this before, but in my upcoming Yoon-Suin campaign feats (which are an optional rule) will not be allowed; *except* for fighters who can take them with their bonus ASIS. It seems the fighters are a bit lacking in 5e so it will allow them to spruce up a bit without going overboard.

As far as your idea - feats *and* ASIS... sure why not, try it and let us know how it goes. I think it will result in more powerful PCs, but as long as you are aware of that as a DM, it shouldn't be a big problem.

 

[Sunseeker]

In the next campaign that I run, players will get feats and ASIs at the appropriate intervals, but their initial starting scores will be kept lower via 3d6, 6 times, treat 1's as 2's; or book array.