Feats at Odd Levels

[Michael Morris]

I've been wondering about the possiblity of giving out feats on the odd levels instead of at 1st level then every level divisible by 3 as in the PHB. Yes, I know this means the fighter would get a feat EVERY FREAKING LEVEL, but with all the sourcebooks out now it could take forever for all the feats to be worked in, especially those high up on a feat ladder.

I'm wondering a bit about unforseen balance changes. Major NPC's can be adjusted easily enough, but monsters may need to be ramped up a little (and at later levels maybe a lot) in power to keep the encounters balanced..

Just some late night ramblings.

 

[tauton_ikhnos]

Been doing this forever. It works fine (at 20th level, you only have 3 extra feats with this system). Monsters don't need ramping up - they get a feat every odd-numbered HD as well ^_^

Oddly enough, humans become more popular - they hit the "cool" stage earlier than anyone else, even though their early lead levels off somewhat by 11th level or so.

 

[Li Shenron]

We are using this HR in a campaign where there are only 3 PC, the reason was to give them a help since they are few. We haven't had any problem at all with it, on the span of 20 levels it is 10 feats instead of 7, which does not really make a balance problem.

And characters which have bonus feats, such as the Fighter, see even a relatively lesser advantage.

However there could be one different issue. Some feats have a BAB requisite (or a straight level requisite) which sometimes is designed purposefully: for example Improved 2WF requires BAB +6 exactly because you shouldn't have a 2nd off-hand attack before you have a 2nd main-hand attack. A normal PC can take I2WF as her 6th-level feat, with our HR you have to wait to level 7th.

It's still a minor thing IMO, and sometimes it will be an advantage, such as with Craft Wand and Craft MA&A.

 

[Vrecknidj]

I'm running a campaign that I started with the PCs at first level (there are 30+ characters and I have 11 players). The setting they're in is inherently more dangerous, but almost more powerful, than normal. I have a list of feats that everyone gets to pick from at 7th character level. I also have a list of feats that are more powerful than usual, but less powerful than Epic, all homebrew--some of which are powered by Action Points (which I've been using all along--a holdover from using hero points in 2e). They all get to pick one of those at 13th.

This isn't that different from what you're suggesting, except that I have somewhat tighter limits on what feats are available at two particular levels. It's been working just fine.

Dave