D&D 5E Fighters: a humble proposal

[Ancalagon]

Hello

Quick background: I am going to run in the future (because my current campaign isn't done) a 5e campaign after many years of running warhammer frpg (2nd ed). Because the system will be new for everyone and to keep complexity down, the game won't have multi-classing or feats. I've been reading and posting here as part of my preparation/learning process (plus it's fun).

Anyway one of the things I've been seeing here is that according to some (not everyone agrees! I don't want to have the debate again) fighters are a bit ho-hum. Fighters get bonus feats/stat advances (at level 6, 14, 19...). So here is my proposal:

For a featless game, the fighters can obtain feats with their bonus feat/stat advance.

Would this throw the balance out of whack?

 

[fjw70]

Nope, should work just fine.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

That sounds like an excellent house rule. That's basically what it would take to get me to agree to play in a featless game--the potential for interesting fighters, even if I ultimately decided to play some other class.

The one potential implication I can think of is that it makes rangers relatively worse than fighters at archery (because of no access to Sharpshooter), but rangers have enough tricks already (via spells) that I think that is fine. There's nothing wrong thematically with making fighters genuinely the best with weapons.

 

[hawkeyefan]

It probably wouldn't disturb the balance too much. I think you can probably get away with making feats only accessible to fighters. You'll probably want to limit their choices to the feats that are martially themed, or else then I suppose there could be issues.

I will add though that if you're going to allow fighters to have them, then you may as well go ahead and let all characters have them. Fighters have access to the most feats...so it seems a bit pointless to limit players who would likely have less feats.

 

[ccs]

I will add though that if you're going to allow fighters to have them, then you may as well go ahead and let all characters have them. Fighters have access to the most feats...so it seems a bit pointless to limit players who would likely have less feats.

I think that would make what Ancalagon was aiming for - fighters being unique in that they alone can select feats - completely pointless.

 

[FrogReaver]

give fighter the ability to go above 20 stat cap with level 16 and 19 stat increase. Problem solved.

Still no feats with a simple interesting and unique mechanic.

 

[Ancalagon]

It probably wouldn't disturb the balance too much. I think you can probably get away with making feats only accessible to fighters. You'll probably want to limit their choices to the feats that are martially themed, or else then I suppose there could be issues.

Well, having access to the non-martial feats would be a way for the fighters to get diversity no? Say you have a champion who at level 6 decides to go for magical initiate. Sure it's only a tiny bit of magical power... but think of what he could do with it! He could get a familiar. Or shield. Or expeditious retreat. And for the cantrips... prestidigitation for fun/utility, and one ranged damage cantrip so he always has a "magical bow replacement" at hand.

Heck he could then walk around and insist that everyone refers to him as a wizard

 

[Ancalagon]

I think that would make what Ancalagon was aiming for - fighters being unique in that they alone can select feats - completely pointless.

correct

 

[NotActuallyTim]

Shouldn't break much. Some feats may be ignored as a result, but, eh, who cares?

 

[AaronOfBarbaria]

It's kind of like the older edition rule that only single-classed Fighters could specialize in a weapon (which got basically thrown as far out as possible as 2nd edition rolled along, but that's neither here nor there).

I don't think it does much of anything to the balance of the game, considering that you could have ended up in the same situation of only the fighter having any feats by way of player choice in a campaign that allows anyone to take feats.

If that helps your players feel like the fighter class is a worthwhile option, then I say go for it.