D&D (2024) How to get option to have all feats available at 1st level?

[Umbran]

Right now there is not "Half-feats" available to take at 1st level.

One reason for this might be that you cannot combine the floating +2 ASI with +1 ASI from the feat and start with an 18 in your primary ability.

What if there is a rule that, if you take a half-feat as your 1st level feat option, you MUST take +1/+1/+1 ASI option.

that way, you max in any ability would be limited again to 17 and you would need your 4th level feat to be a half feat again. to have 18 in your ability.

At your own table, you can do it more simply, by saying, "You may take any feat you want, but I will not accept any characters with an 18 in their primary stat at 1st level."

Or, you can say, "Screw it, go ahead and take an 18 as your primary stat."

The official rules are designed as they are to influence play on broad average. Overall, the designers think it is better to start with slightly lower stats, and they feel it worthwhile to influence play on broad average in this way. You, yourself, don't need to go through gyrations to continue to enforce it at your table.

 

[Marandahir]

Why is taking a 2014 half-feat necessary at 1st level as part of your Background? What's wrong with just using whatever the list of 2014 Background Feats are going to be?

Seems to me we need to not think of the Background feats as "real feats" but rather what they are-- Background feats. And not all feats are going to be Background feats and shouldn't be considered Background feats.

Now that being said... if any individual DM wanted to open up the feat list to their players to let them take whatever feats they wanted as part of their Background creation... that's cool. That DM can certainly allow that. But there's no reason to suggest this needs to be or indeed even should be the standard in the game.

This. Level 1 feats are not the same thing as Level 4+ feats. They're Level 1 class FEATures being used by multiple classes.

Level 4+ feats are Level 4+ class FEATures being used buy multiple classes.

Having a +4 ASB at Level 1 is exactly what they're trying to avoid. Once you're in Tier 2, it's okay to have an 18 in an Ability. If 20 is the max you can have (or 24 with epic boons), then 18 is already getting you really close by Tier 2. Being Tier 1 with an 18 diminishes other viable play styles. They're really trying to avoid people feeling like they HAVE to start with an 18 in something by gaming the system. This is an anti-minmax measure.

 

[pnewman]

Militia Training should be multiple background Feats that gives you proficiency with a few specific weapons and (sometimes) armor at L1 and then more features as you level up. Something like:

Militia Training Hoplite - L1- Gain Proficiency with Shields and Spears.
At L6 - you may wield your spear in both hands (for more damage from Versatile) and still use your shield. L11 - while armed with a spear and wielding a shield you may Parry as a Reaction, gaining PB to AC up to PB times per day. L16 - while armed with a spear and wielding a shield you have +5 of reach with your spear.

Militia Training Archer - L1 - Gain proficiency with the Shortbow and the Longbow. L6 - PB times per day while attacking with a bow you may make an extra bow attack as a bonus action. L11 - PB times per day you may attack with a bow at Long Range without Disadvantage. L16 - PB times per day you may grant yourself Advantage on any bow attack.

 

[Horwath]

Latest playtest has all feats at half feats except 1st level feats.

They do not want characters to gain +3 to their primary stat at 1st level.

fair enough.

Now, instead of having 2 categories of feats, turn all 1st level feats into half feats.

then at 1st level you pick 2 feats, but without theirs ASI's

gaining two "half-feats" without ASI bonuses would also be a good way to describe your character background.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Latest playtest has all feats at half feats except 1st level feats.

They do not want characters to gain +3 to their primary stat at 1st level.

fair enough.

Now, instead of having 2 categories of feats, turn all 1st level feats into half feats.

then at 1st level you pick 2 feats, but without theirs ASI's

gaining two "half-feats" without ASI bonuses would also be a good way to describe your character background.

Probably just picking a 4th level feat and ommitting the stat increase would be sufficient. Most of them are great, even without the extra stat boost.

 

[Marandahir]

FYI, do NOT give 20th-level feats at 1st level either. Those are Epic Boons, and were intended for 21+ back in the 2014 DMG, to boot.

 

[Horwath]

FYI, do NOT give 20th-level feats at 1st level either. Those are Epic Boons, and were intended for 21+ back in the 2014 DMG, to boot.

that goes without saying.
Dont know why are they called feat. Epic boons sounds better when there is a need to separate them.

 

[Marandahir]

that goes without saying.
Dont know why are they called feat. Epic boons sounds better when there is a need to separate them.

Because Supernatural Gifts, Dark Gifts, Fey Gifts, Draconic Gifts, etc ARE Feats. It's a look under the hood. The difference was that Epic Boons unlike the others were not balanced with feats in mind, but rather as a super feat. Now that Feats have levels, they just showed what Epic Boons are - 20th-level Feats.

A Feat is just a Class FEATure that doesn't have a class requirement, Epic Boons are just classless capstone Features.

If you want all feats at a lower level, you definitely need to consider balance since 4th level feats are balanced against the power of a 4th-level PC, etc.

 

[Horwath]

If you want all feats at a lower level, you definitely need to consider balance since 4th level feats are balanced against the power of a 4th-level PC, etc.

Ok, if 1st level feats need to weak then so be it. but as you can take 1st level feat at later levels, it should be buffed so it isn't so clear trap option.

maybe adding +1 ASI to 1st level feats if they are taken at 4th or later level?

 

[Marandahir]

Ok, if 1st level feats need to weak then so be it. but as you can take 1st level feat at later levels, it should be buffed so it isn't so clear trap option.

maybe adding +1 ASI to 1st level feats if they are taken at 4th or later level?

Just remember that we don't get a larger +ASI if we take a feat at 8th, 10th, 12th, 16th, or 19th level, though. So while yes, Feats are designed as 1st, 4th, or 20th level class features here, they're available at a host of other levels. The idea being that the customizability makes up for the loss of power when you take said feat at a higher level.

But the playtest here assumes you might take 1st level feats at 4th+ levels, and don't give ASI bonuses to them. I think it's just the option you might want to take to expand your repertoire. I wouldn't be so quick to add power to feats just because you're a higher level, though I think it's relatively reasonable to weaken 4th level+ feats to 1st level by removing the ASIs. There ARE a few that would be unbalanced at 1st even then, though.