D&D 5E Thoughts on giving level 4 ASI / Feat at level 1 instead of 4?

[plisnithus8]

One game I played in, the DM allowed non-humans to trade in their +2 racial stat boost for a feat at 1st level. I did that with my PC and it worked out just fine.

If seems too costly to be human in that scenario.
Take high elf: +1 Int, 1 feat, 3 languages, darkvision, trance, fey ancestory, keen senses, elf weapon training, wizard cantrip.
Compared to variant human: +1 to 2 abilities, 1 feat, 2 languages, 1 skill.

 

[pukunui]

Maybe on paper, but I don't think it played out that way. Most of the PCs were human, iirc. I can't actually remember what race my character was.

 

[Hrothgar Rannúlfr]

One of my houserules is that every character gets a bonus feat at 1st level.

They still get all of their feats or ability score increases, normally.

The only feat that we've really had discussions about not allowing too often is the Lucky feat. Personally, it doesn't bother me, but one of my players suggested that it was too powerful. Basically, we agreed that if it became an issue that too many characters were taking it, we'd restrict it. So far, it hasn't been an issue.... So far...

 

[Elon Tusk]

I home-brewed an Asian campaign and give all my players home-brewed martial arts feats at first level for fluff reasons. It's worked fine because most of the NPCs they run into also have these.

 

[Ashkelon]

I would allow it, but I would limit the feats to only the new racial feats and new skill feats from the last few unearthed arcana. Those feats aren't exceptionally powerful but they are quite flavorful.

Another option is to allow players to roll stats or use point buy and get a free feat. Rolled stats average higher overall attributes than point buy so Balance will be about the same on average. Especially given the tendency for low stat PCs to suicide themselves..

 

[FrogReaver]

One of my houserules is that every character gets a bonus feat at 1st level.

They still get all of their feats or ability score increases, normally.

The only feat that we've really had discussions about not allowing too often is the Lucky feat. Personally, it doesn't bother me, but one of my players suggested that it was too powerful. Basically, we agreed that if it became an issue that too many characters were taking it, we'd restrict it. So far, it hasn't been an issue.... So far...

No idea how one looks at all the feats available and come away thinking lucky is the one too powerful LOL.

 

[FrogReaver]

I think allowing a feat in exchange for -2 to the highest stat may actually be a better alternative. Or if 2 stats are tied you can take -1 from each.

 

[Ganymede81]

I do like the idea of allowing every PC to take a single feat at character creation.

It would necessitate some changes. For one, I'd like to see a removal of the Variant Human (to eliminate double feats at first level) as well as a tweak to regular humans: perhaps regular humans get +1 in all stats but also get the free skill and language of the variant human.

Secondly, it'd likely require that feats be rebalanced so people don't automatically spring for the big combat feats. It might also require the removal or tweaking of half-feats so players can't use them in tandem with racial bonuses to achieve otherwise unavailable stats.

 

[Li Shenron]

Would it be terrible to go ahead and give the ASI / Feat that is normally gotten at level 4 at character creation and to have level 4 be a dead level?

The dead level would be bad, and possibly encourage unnecessary multiclassing.

I would give the feat at 1st level in exchange for removing the equivalent of an ASI from the character. Or just give the feat for free to anyone...

 

[Yunru]

Some of the feats (especially the racial ones) don't make much sense to only get beyond 1st level.