Improving the armor proficiency feats

[jaelis]

The existing armor proficiency feats seem too weak to me. I would like it if the feats were at least somewhat competitive with a multiclassing dip for a player interested in upgrading their armor.

I was thinking to offer these improved versions. Do they seem good enough?

Combat Trained
You have practiced basic combat skills.

• Increase your Strength or Dexterity score by 1 to a maximum of 20
• Gain proficiency in light armor, all simple weapons, and either three martial weapons of your choice or shields and one martial weapon of your choice.

Combat Veteran
Prerequisite: Proficiency with light armor
You are an experienced combatant.

• Increase your Strength or Dexterity score by 1 to a maximum of 20
• Gain proficiency in medium armor, shields, all simple weapons, and three martial weapons of your choice.

Master of Arms
Prerequisite: Proficiency with medium armor
You are an expert at the arts of combat.

• Increase your Strength score by 1 to a maximum of 20
• Gain proficiency in heavy armor, shields, all simple weapons, and three martial weapons of your choice.

 

[jaelis]

Well heck if people aren't complaining that these are overpowered then I haven't done my job

How about:

Combat Veteran
(no prereq!)
- Increase your Strength or Dexterity score by 1 to a maximum of 20
- Gain proficiency in light armor, medium armor, shields, and all simple weapons.

Master of Arms
Prerequisite: Proficiency with medium armor and shields
- Increase your Strength or Dexterity score by 1 to a maximum of 20
- Gain proficiency in heavy armor, all simple weapons, and all martial weapons.

 

[Hawk Diesel]

I think the main issue I have with the armor proficiency feats is that they are IMO just boring. If you already have the proficiency, you wouldn't take it. If you don't have proficiency, then you probably aren't the type that would be in melee anyways and wouldn't necessarily benefit from armor or weapon proficiencies.

I feel like feats should be more about adding interesting benefits that would both add flair to your character as well as have some active component to them. Abilities that are purely passive or mechanical may be solid choices, but they aren't necessarily the fun choices.

 

[jaelis]

So your vote would be, get rid of armor prof feats altogether? I kind of feel like there is a place in the game for them, for people who want an armored wizard or a rogue with a shield. Forcing those people to multiclass seems off to me, but maybe that's just me

 

[Hawk Diesel]

So your vote would be, get rid of armor prof feats altogether? I kind of feel like there is a place in the game for them, for people who want an armored wizard or a rogue with a shield. Forcing those people to multiclass seems off to me, but maybe that's just me

No, just saying that the focus of the feats should not be the armor proficiency. I think the feats would function better if that was a secondary perk, enticing all players to consider the feats even if they already have proficiency. Because honestly, I think it is much more cost effective to dip a level in fighter if you want those proficiencies.

 

[Quartz]

One change I would make is that Heavy Armour Master reduces damage by your proficiency bonus. This makes it more useful at higher levels (Combat tier). I would also make it negate the Disadvantage it gives to various rolls (Exploration tier).

Right now, HAM is a feat you would have a Champion Fighter henchman select. Useful but boring.

 

[jgsugden]

The answer to getting the armor proficiency is almost always better off as a multiclass. The feats, as they exist, are a nice fallback should you want the armor, but not have the ability to multiclass. However, adding a level of healing cleric gives you four spells known, heavy armor proficiency, advances the efficacy of your healing, and 3 cantrips (in addition to advancing your spell slots). Then, you can still take a feat one level later as your ASI level is still one away in your prior class.

What you need to build is a feat that challenges that in efficacy.

Trained Soldier
No prerequisite.
- Gain proficiency in all armor, shields, and weapons (including siege weapons).
- As a bonus action you may issue a battlefield command. Pick a target that can see and hear you within 30 feet. That target gains advantage on their next saving throw, ability check or attack roll before the end of your next turn. You may use this ability three times. Those uses recharge on a long rest.

Players would select that feat, but it would not be an automatic take for all PCs. The secondary ability is inferior to something like Lucky, but is useful to any PC.

 

[jaelis]

No, just saying that the focus of the feats should not be the armor proficiency. I think the feats would function better if that was a secondary perk, enticing all players to consider the feats even if they already have proficiency. Because honestly, I think it is much more cost effective to dip a level in fighter if you want those proficiencies.

Ah, so something like add proficiency to heavy armor master, that kind of thing?

 

[Hawk Diesel]

Ah, so something like add proficiency to heavy armor master, that kind of thing?

I mean that's one way to handle it. But once again I think it would be better or more interesting for players to gain active abilities rather than passive ones. [MENTION=2629]jgsugden[/MENTION] provides a rather nice example of that.

 

[DEFCON 1]

So your vote would be, get rid of armor prof feats altogether? I kind of feel like there is a place in the game for them, for people who want an armored wizard or a rogue with a shield. Forcing those people to multiclass seems off to me, but maybe that's just me

I agree with you that there is a place for an armored wizard or a rogue with a shield. The problem though is that those are for the most part flavored reasons for doing so. So for instance, most wizards are going to use Mage Armor or get magical items to raise their AC because its the easiest way to do it and tends to be the most effective anyway. If one chooses to put on armor, it's not because they have no choice in the matter, it's because the player thinks "You know, it'd be kinda cool for my character's story and identity to wear armor." But the PC isn't going to really gain much of anything by doing that then if they had just gone about getting a higher AC the normal way for a wizard. And thus, forcing them to spend a feat slot to do so seems rather harsh. Nevermind the fact that something like this won't actually come into play for most PCs until 4th level at a minimum-- which means by that point they've already established how they are as a combatant and there'd be little to reason to switch over to wearing armor at that point anyway.

In truth, I personally see proficiencies as so mundane and unimportant to balancing that there's no reason to not just give them "for free" via things like Backgrounds. "If you take the Soldier background, you gain proficiency in light and medium armors and simple weapons." There... now someone who wants to do the odd character choice can do so, because their background explains how/why the can. And you can be this type of character from the beginning and also not waste a feat slot for what is essentially a flavor decision.