D&D 5E Reduced standard array in exchange for a bonus feat at 1st.

[Greenstone.Walker]

I hold the contrary view. I think there are too many feats in play and I like rules that reduce the number of feats that players will choose.

 

[Charlaquin]

I think you could allow a variant on any race with this approach, even variant human because it balances at ability score generation which is the same for all PCs. My thinking is that, in accordance with variant human and the Skilled feat, a feat is worth three points in point-buy or in non-primary abilities and a skill proficiency is worth one.

If I was to implement it for my table, this option would replace your normal ability score generation method and would include your choice of feat, one skill proficiency of your choice, and one of the following ability score generation methods:

• 23 point point-buy using the normal rules (I don't see any need for a cap below 15. The variant human doesn't have one.),
• (Non)standard array of 15, 13, 12, 11, 10, 8,
• or roll 6d6 and discard the two lowest dice and the highest die (average 11.78) six times.

How do you figure a feat is worth 3 point-buy points and a skill is worth 1?

The way I see it, standard human is worth 9 points - 2 each for for the abilities you assign your 15 and 14, and 13, 1 each for the abilities you assign your 12, 10, and 8. Variant human is also worth 9 points - 2 each for the ability score increases (under the assumption that you will assign them to some combination of your 15, 14, and 13), 4 for the Feat, and 1 for the Skill.

 

[clearstream]

How do you figure a feat is worth 3 point-buy points and a skill is worth 1?

The way I see it, standard human is worth 9 points - 2 each for for the abilities you assign your 15 and 14, and 13, 1 each for the abilities you assign your 12, 10, and 8. Variant human is also worth 9 points - 2 each for the ability score increases (under the assumption that you will assign them to some combination of your 15, 14, and 13), 4 for the Feat, and 1 for the Skill.

I agree with you on 4 for a feat, 1 for a skill. A feat can take a 15 to a 16 and still give some other benefit on top of that.

However, I value standard human lower because - the way the game plays out - some of those points will end up having no worth. To give a clear example, the point taking the Monk's Int from 10 to 11. I might put standard human at 6 or 7 points - on the assumption that a player choosing one does so because they have a plethora of odd-numbered ability scores and or a MAD class in mind.

An option would be to give standard human's a couple of skills, or a feat from a shortlist of less strong options, or maybe expertise in one of the skills they will gain from race, background or class. Something worth 2-3 points.

 

[Charlaquin]

I agree with you on 4 for a feat, 1 for a skill. A feat can take a 15 to a 16 and still give some other benefit on top of that.

However, I value standard human lower because - the way the game plays out - some of those points will end up having no worth. To give a clear example, the point taking the Monk's Int from 10 to 11. I might put standard human at 6 or 7 points - on the assumption that a player choosing one does so because they have a plethora of odd-numbered ability scores and or a MAD class in mind.

I think this might be a more accurate measure of racial balance, by my assessment is based purely on trying to convert the ability score increases to point buy points. Raising a monk’s Int from 10 to 11 might be less valuable than raising their wisdom from 11 to 12, but each would cost 1 point to do in point buy.

An option would be to give standard human's a couple of skills, or a feat from a shortlist of less strong options, or maybe expertise in one of the skills they will gain from race, background or class. Something worth 2-3 points.

I think part of the appeal of the standard human is that it’s equally useful to characters of any class and involves no decision making. It’s the ultimate simple option, giving you a decent boost no matter what kind of character you want to play, without having to do any work or make any decisions. Giving them expertise in a skill or proficiency in a couple tools or languages or whatever would run counter to that design goal in my opinion.

 

[Hriston]

How do you figure a feat is worth 3 point-buy points and a skill is worth 1?

The way I see it, standard human is worth 9 points - 2 each for for the abilities you assign your 15 and 14, and 13, 1 each for the abilities you assign your 12, 10, and 8. Variant human is also worth 9 points - 2 each for the ability score increases (under the assumption that you will assign them to some combination of your 15, 14, and 13), 4 for the Feat, and 1 for the Skill.

This is a very persuasive argument. I agree with you that to do with point-buy what the 4 ASI points do that variant human doesn't get in exchange for a feat and a skill would require 5 points in point-buy because raising a 13 to a 14 costs two points in point-buy. But that isn't quite what we're discussing. We're discussing taking away some number of point-buy points that would raise scores up to something like the level of the standard array, so those two points might not have raised a 13 to a 14. They could just as easily have raised an 11 to a 13.

I think the best way to look at this is to compare end results. A standard human with the standard array has an array of 16, 15, 14, 13, 11, 9. The variant human with the standard array has an array of 16, 15, 13, 12, 10, 8. For the standard human to end up with the same array as the variant, it would need to start with an array of 15, 14, 12, 11, 9, 7, a 23 point array assuming dropping to 7 gives you an extra point. Now of course the variant could use one of its ASI points to raise its 13 to a 14, ending up with an array of 16, 14, 14, 12, 10, 8, for which the standard human would have needed to start with 15, 13, 13, 11, 9, 7, a 22 point array, but I don't think its a good idea to err on the side of being punitive. (Edit to add: Besides, I can't work out a good array for 22 points.)

I also don't agree that a feat equals four skills. The Skilled feat only gives you three skills, so I think that establishes a 3:1 skill to feat ratio. I wouldn't separate them in an option like this that's balanced with a diminished point-buy. The feat and the skill would come as a package because (IMO) the 4 ASI points aren't equally valued. (Further edit: Although, once they’d been converted into point buy, I suppose you could say that each of the 4 point-buy points was equal and that the feat was worth 3 and the skill worth 1. I still wouldn’t do it though because I find 24 point point-buy as unwieldy as 22 point.)