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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kinematics" data-source="post: 9432626" data-attributes="member: 6932123">Summary of Backgrounds:[spoiler="Summary of backgrounds"]AcolyteInt, Wis, Cha Magic Initiate (Cleric) Insight, Religion Calligrapher's ToolsArtisanStr, Dex, Int Crafter Investigation, Persuasion AnyCharlatanDex, Con, Cha Skilled Deception, Sleight of Hand Forgery KitCriminalDex, Con, Int Alert Sleight of Hand, Stealth Thieves' ToolsEntertainerStr, Dex, Cha Musician Acrobatics, Performance Musical InstrumentFarmerStr, Con, Wis Tough Animal Handling, Nature Carpenter's ToolsGuardStr, Int, Wis Alert Athletics, Perception Gaming SetGuideDex, Con, Wis Magic Initiate (Druid) Stealth, Survival Cartographer's ToolsHermitCon, Wis, Cha Healer Medicine, Relgion Herbalism KitMerchantCon, Int, Cha Lucky Animal Handling, Persuasion Navigator's ToolsNobleStr, Int, Cha Skilled History, Persuasion Gaming SetSageCon, Int, Wis Magic Initiate (Wizard) Arcana, History Calligrapher's SuppliesSailorStr, Dex, Wis Tavern Brawler Acrobatics, Perception Navigator's ToolsScribeDex, Int, Wis Skilled Investigation, Perception Calligrapher's SuppliesSoldierStr, Dex, Con Savage Attacker Athletics, Intimidation Gaming SetWarfarerDex, Wis, Cha Lucky Insight, Stealth Thieves' Tools[/spoiler]Summary of my impression of them, absent any attempt at optimization or evaluation of the origin feats:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Acolyte - Everything makes sense. Wouldn't change it.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Artisan - All but skills make sense. Not that many other skills would make sense, though, so whatever.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Charlatan - Con as a stat is iffy, but otherwise makes sense.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Criminal - Con as a stat is iffy, but otherwise makes sense.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Entertainer - I'd actually consider Con over Str here. Otherwise makes sense.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Farmer - Everything makes sense. Wouldn't change it.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Guard - Everything makes sense. Wouldn't change it.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Guide - Everything makes sense. Wouldn't change it.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Hermit - Cha seems iffy, but not sure what other stat makes sense to replace it with. Other stuff is fine.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Merchant - Everything makes sense except maybe Navigator's Tools.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Noble - Everything makes sense. Wouldn't change it.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Sage - Everything makes sense. Wouldn't change it.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Sailor - Everything makes sense. Wouldn't change it.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Scribe - Everything makes sense. Wouldn't change it.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Soldier - Everything makes sense. Wouldn't change it.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Wayfarer - Weird combination of Outlander and Urchin doesn't really work.</li> </ul>Wayfarer is the only one that actually seems "bad", in that what it provides doesn't make any sense when packaged together. A few others I have quibbles with. Most of them seem perfectly fine.Now, there are issues with the origin feats, where some seem good, and others seem kinda bad. But maybe that's being unduly influenced by YouTube optimizers?[spoiler=Crafter]Crafter seems kinda junk at first. Get three tool proficiencies, which hardly anyone ever uses in the first place, and 20% off non-magical purchases. Whoo!Still, a simple view allows crafting a suit of plate mail in 60 days with a friend's help, for a cost of 600 GP, rather than the old time of nearly a year. It feels like something you actually could accomplish in your downtime, rather than having to quit adventuring entirely to have the time for anything significant.The main problem is that it doesn't feel like it has a lot of utility outside of a few big items. It might save you a few gold on your starting weapons (let everyone start with simple weapons, and craft martial weapons), but once you're past that point, if you can't craft magic items, it feels like it's going to go obsolete very quickly unless the GM gets rid of item shops entirely, and you're largely dependent on what you can make for yourself.Which, to be fair, sounds like a fun campaign. But doesn't feel like something you can rely on.[/spoiler][spoiler="Savage Attacker"]Savage Attacker has always been viewed as weak. How weak has always been a bit vague.Since I was rebuilding my DPR spreadsheet for the new PHB, I decided to look at it.Note: I've only just started, and only have the barbarian done. This result reflects that limited sample space.Anyway, Savage Attacker actually is kinda good at low levels. It's like a 10%-15% boost to DPR when you're just getting started. However lots of things diminish its value.The more you add damage that doesn't come from dice on a single attack — Str, Rage, <s>Frenzy</s>, GWM, extra attacks, etc — the less value it has. By later levels it's down to around 3% or so.Coincidentally, I was also looking at unarmed fighting, and had put Tavern Brawler mechanics in. Turns out, Tavern Brawler's reroll has almost the same mechanical benefit as Savage Attacker.  Though TB also gives you an extra Shove, so it seems a little stronger?However Savage Attacker doesn't limit the number of dice you can reroll, only that you can only do so once per turn.Guess who likes to roll lots of dice once per turn?On a per roll basis, Savage Attacker is worth about +30% to expected damage via dice. For something like Sneak Attack, where the overwhelming majority of your damage comes from dice, that could be a pretty massive boost.Aside from that, if you can find ways to add to the damage dice you roll, it benefits Savage Attacker. Crits (Champion fighter), 2d6 weapons (greatsword or maul), Flame Tongue weapons (+2d6 fire damage), or for the truly obscene, Conjure Minor Elementals cast at a high level.Overall, Savage Attacker is fine for a newbie, or someone who wants a very simple character, or someone who can build for lots of dice being rolled on each attack. Most characters won't get much out of it, but that doesn't actually make it a bad feat.EDIT: Actually, I just realized that Savage Attacker should apply to the extra dice rolled for a Berserker's Frenzy ability — another once-per-turn bonus to dice rolled in a weapon attack. I'll need to look at that.EDIT 2: Updated spreadsheet shows that it maintains a good 10%-15% boost to damage compared to not having it, all the way to high levels, where before it dropped below 3%.[/spoiler]That should be plenty for one post, I think.Edit: Savage Attacker should apply to Frenzy. Added note.</blockquote>

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