D&D 5E Tasha's Optional Class Features - Using Them or Not?

[Stormonu]

I have the book, but none of the PCs are using content yet for their characters. We won't be using the race rules at all.

 

[Azzy]

I decided not to get/use Tasha's as some of the changes seem undesirable & disruptive.

"Disruptive"?

 

[MNblockhead]

If a player asked I would consider it. I bought Tasha's on D&D Beyond and all my players have access to it through my account. But currently noone is using any of the new character option.

Typically, new character options don't come into play until we start a new campaign, which means a 1-2 year lag from when rules are released and when they are used. Currently I'm running Rappan Athuk, which will likely be a 4-year campaign by the time it is all done.

 

[S'mon]

"Disruptive"?

Letting players put racial attribute bonuses wherever they want certainly disrupts play balance* and also disrupts the feel of the setting. A player asked for a Fighting style from Tasha's which looked a lot more powerful than the PHB ones. On balance I don't want to deal with the book.

*Eg I'm not using Feats, which are the main Human advantage, so already see mostly non-human PCs, this would really exacerbate it.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Letting players put racial attribute bonuses wherever they want certainly disrupts play balance* and also disrupts the feel of the setting. A player asked for a Fighting style from Tasha's which looked a lot more powerful than the PHB ones. On balance I don't want to deal with the book.

The ASI swapping is only unbalanced for Mountain Dwarves and Half-Elves (which is easily fixed by a DM aware of the issue). For everything else, it doesn't disrupt the game's balance at all.

The Fighting Styles also aren't really OP in comparison to the PHB fighting styles. Thrown Weapon Fighting is basically the same as Dueling, with a minor additional benefit necessary to playing a thrower. Blind Fighting just lets you play Daredevil. Unarmed Fighting lets you be a Fighter brawler, giving up a shield and weapon for a low damage dice, and Interception is just a better version of Protection (which IME is considered an underpowered fighting style).

 

[S'mon]

The Fighting Styles also aren't really OP in comparison to the PHB fighting styles. ...Interception is just a better version of Protection (which IME is considered an underpowered fighting style).

I rest my case.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

I rest my case.

Have you ever seen anyone take the Protection fighting style? Ever?
The Interception Fighting Style is better than the Protection fighting style in most cases, but that doesn't mean it's OP. The Battlemaster is better in damage than the Arcane Archer, but that doesn't make it OP.

Also, that was only one example. You said "they", implying that you think that multiple fighting styles from TCoE are better than the PHB options. You gave one example to back up "they", while I gave multiple examples to refute it.

 

[Stormonu]

Have you ever seen anyone take the Protection fighting style? Ever?

Raises hand. Multiple times, usually for a Paladin character. In one of the games I'm currently in, both me and the Champion Fighter have it (we both have ACs of 20 or better) and we often fight side-by-side. Mostly though, I use it to protect a squishy character.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Raises hand. Multiple times, usually for a Paladin character. In one of the games I'm currently in, both me and the Champion Fighter have it (we both have ACs of 20 or better) and we often fight side-by-side. Mostly though, I use it to protect a squishy character.

Interesting. I have never seen anyone take it or mention taking it in any campaign before. I'm assuming your character is more support oriented, am I right?

 

[Oofta]

Have you ever seen anyone take the Protection fighting style? Ever?
The Interception Fighting Style is better than the Protection fighting style in most cases, but that doesn't mean it's OP. The Battlemaster is better in damage than the Arcane Archer, but that doesn't make it OP.

Also, that was only one example. You said "they", implying that you think that multiple fighting styles from TCoE are better than the PHB options. You gave one example to back up "they", while I gave multiple examples to refute it.

I took it. Whether it's better or worse than interception ... I'm not sure. I think there are too many variables at play, it's going to depend on the opponent(s).