D&D 5E Krynn's Free Feats: setting-specific or the future of the game?

[Kobold Stew]

The latest UA (Heroes of Krynn, rev) adds free feats at levels 1 and 4. Is this something specific for the high-action world of Dragonlance, or is this the direction the game is heading for the future, and soon everyone will have free feats?

Here are some arguments each way:

Setting-specific:

• There's precedent for setting-specific gimmes in Theros.
• It helps make Dragonlance play distinct (and more appealing)
• Feats are optional; no way they're going to change that.
• If it went mainstream, then that would reduce the number of (variant-)humans people played. That's a bad thing.

It's the future, and will be presented in the revised PHB (2024):

• It's a trend: first Theros, now here.
• More power, baby.
• Most people want to play with feats; this just normalizes existing practice.
• If it went mainstream, then that would reduce the number of (variant-)humans people played. That's a good thing.

What do you think?

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I voted 5.5 for sure, but I really mean "I think this is testing the waters for backgrounds to give more as you level in the 5.5/6/anniversary edition in 2024"

and I like it. they can even keep feats optional by just saying "as a feat you can take a different backgrounds benfit"

 

[Maxperson]

The latest UA (Heroes of Krynn, rev) adds free feats at levels 1 and 4. Is this something specific for the high-action world of Dragonlance, or is this the direction the game is heading for the future, and soon everyone will have free feats?

Here are some arguments each way:

Setting-specific:

• There's precedent for setting-specific gimmes in Theros.
• It helps make Dragonlance play distinct (and more appealing)
• Feats are optional; no way they're going to change that.
• If it went mainstream, then that would reduce the number of (variant-)humans people played. That's a bad thing.

It's the future, and will be presented in the revised PHB (2024):

• It's a trend: first Theros, now here.
• More power, baby.
• Most people want to play with feats; this just normalizes existing practice.
• If it went mainstream, then that would reduce the number of (variant-)humans people played. That's a good thing.

What do you think?

In the recent interview that Crawford tried to pass off as a Sage Advice he told us that background feats are something that they wanted to do going forward.

 

[delericho]

I expect they're probably here to stay.

I really hope that's not the case, at least at 1st level - IMO the fewer choices a player needs to make to create a starting character, the better. (Even beyond 1st level, I'd prefer players to be able to ignore feats if they want. But my objection is certainly less strong here.)

 

[Vaalingrade]

It is time for the days of Feats Optional to end.

 

[TwoSix]

Personally, I can see them expanding "Background Feats" all the way up to 16th or 19th level, thus making Background another entire axis of character customization.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I expect they're probably here to stay.

I really hope that's not the case, at least at 1st level - IMO the fewer choices a player needs to make to create a starting character, the better. (Even beyond 1st level, I'd prefer players to be able to ignore feats if they want. But my objection is certainly less strong here.)

i get what you mean, but if they are baked into the backgrounds isn't that still just 1 choice 'what background do I want'?

 

[OB1]

It is time for the days of Feats Optional to end.

I agree! Would love to see that implemented in one of the following ways in the revised/expanded PHB.

1. Remove the ASI option, players must choose a feat when they previously would have gotten and ABI (possible exception for the bonus ASIs for Fighters and Rogues)
2. Change ASI to be a +1 to any ability score + 1 feat

 

[Scribe]

Never good to make an absolute statement, but I would hope this is the way forward again.

I didn't like Feats as optional instead of the default assumption.

 

[Weiley31]

I want it from now on. Continue it on. Heck, pull a 3.0/3.5 and allow the free feat to be awarded every 4 levels. I don't think granting players 5 feats, especially if they decide to stick to ASIs all the way, is gonna butcher anything OR WoTC's precious Bounded Accuracy.
The new souped-up Backgrounds and Free Feat thing are my second favorite thing from this UA.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Heck, pull a 3.0/3.5 and

I just realized these feats come even to multi class characters...

base 5e a fighter 2 rogue 3 has 0 feats
in DL (and maybe in updated rules) a fighter 2 rogue 3 has 2 feats from background

 

[overgeeked]

5E is the everyone starts as a superhero edition, so of course it’s going to be free feats all around. And with feat chains returning, they need PCs with more than 5 after 20 levels.

 

[bedir than]

I suggested that they'll be setting specific, but in every setting. Strixhaven added magic; Ravenloft added curses; Theros added heroics; Dragonlance adds soldiering and survivors.
Every setting should have this as flavor.

 

[Weiley31]

I just realized these feats come even to multi class characters...

base 5e a fighter 2 rogue 3 has 0 feats
in DL (and maybe in updated rules) a fighter 2 rogue 3 has 2 feats from background

This is true. Which is why I like the idea of a Paladin/Warlock(Hexblade) multiclass having the Squire of Solamnia feat or the Mage/Adept Krynn feats as well.

 

[bedir than]

base 5e a fighter 2 rogue 3 has 0 feats
in DL (and maybe in updated rules) a fighter 2 rogue 3 has 2 feats from background

How does the background grant 2?

 

[GMforPowergamers]

5E is the everyone starts as a superhero edition, so of course it’s going to be free feats all around. And with feat chains returning, they need PCs with more than 5 after 20 levels.

yeah cause that fighter with 13hp and a +4 to hit for 1d8+2 damage is totally superman...

anyway, the feat chains if they limit them to most being 2 long and only 1 or 2 being 3 long (none 4+) then even giving 2 for background and 5 from levels lets you take 2 ABI and still have 2 chains and 1 stand alone

 

[GMforPowergamers]

This is true. Which is why I like the idea of a Paladin/Warlock(Hexblade) multiclass having the Squire of Solamnia feat or the Mage/Adept Krynn feats as well.

yes, a hexblade 3 Paladin 2 can have 2 feats (giving Supiriority dice and manuvers to stack with smites)

How does the background grant 2?

1 at 1st and 1 at 4th as per the new UA

 

[bedir than]

4th as per the new UA

The feat at 4th is for level and has no relationship to the background you selected

 

[GMforPowergamers]

The feat at 4th is for level and has no relationship to the background you selected

it comes with it... hence why it is in the background section.

 

[overgeeked]

How does the background grant 2?

You get 1 at 1st and 1 at 4th.