D&D 5E Unearthed Arcana: 16 New Feats

"Today’s Unearthed Arcana presents a selection of new feats for Dungeons & Dragons. Each feat offers a way to become better at something or to gain a whole new ability."

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The feats include Artificer Initiate, Chef, Crusher, Eldritch Adept, Fey Touched, Fighting Initiate, Gunner, Metamagic Adept, Poisoner, Piercer, Practiced Expert, Shadow Touched, Shield Training, Slasher, Tandem Tactician, and Tracker.

 

[Minigiant]

Currently, the only fighting styles that can work at the same time is a weapon fighting style and multiple defense fighting style (Protection, Defense or Mariner (UA) Tunnel Tighing (UA)).

None of the weapon fighting styles stack. So classes that already get a FS would be taking Fighting Initiate for a second weapon or doubling up defense.

The low bonuses for stacking defenses is not worth it the power loss. It would just be flavor.

Multiple offensive FS is not worth it either as you would usually be better served by taking a feat that focuses on that style already like Sharpshooter, Great Weapon Master, Defensive Duelist, etc...

It would require new ultra specific FSs that offer many strong bonuses.

 

[Parmandur]

I suspect not - firstly because I think that would be too late for a November book, and secondly because it would be a hate magnet.

Well, we know the publishing timeframe for anything further, from Ravnica (Crawford detailed it on the Dragon+ stream at the time): about the next month or so. They would probably want the data from even the hate magnet, honestly: it is a big shift to do without any run by the public, which isn't WotC style.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Currently, the only fighting styles that can work at the same time is a weapon fighting style and multiple defense fighting style (Protection, Defense or Mariner (UA) Tunnel Tighing (UA)).

Mariner are Tunnel Fighting are dead.

But Superior Technique, Blind Fighting, Interception and Unarmed Fighting stack, and those are in the UA containing content for the same book.

It's also worth noting that Rangers do not get Great Weapon, and paladins do not get Two Weapon Fighting, without this new feat.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

Yah Whirling whatnow? That's not a fighting style I can find anywhere. As for Defense, that's garbage.

Great Weapon Fighting is the one rangers might want to pick up, since it works with anything that gives you extra damage dice, such as Hunter's Mark. (Also paladin smite, Divine Strike, Booming Blade, Hex and critical hits). Use your remaining style for Druidic Warrior.

As per sage advice:
If you use Great Weapon Fighting with a feature like Divine Smite or a spell like hex, do you get to reroll any 1 or 2 you roll for the extra damage?

"The Great Weapon Fighting feature—which is shared by fighters and paladins—is meant to benefit only the damage roll of the weapon used with the feature. For example, if you use a greatsword with the feature, you can reroll any 1 or 2 you roll on the weapon’s 2d6. If you’re a paladin and use Divine Smite with the greatsword, Great Weapon Fighting doesn’t let you reroll a 1 or 2 that you roll for the damage of Divine Smite."

So clearly the reason a ranger should want great weapon fighting is not for mechanical advantage, It's so that he can be Aragorn.

 

[Chaosmancer]

They have the same AC, lower DPS, no bonus action remaining and two less ASIs.

Sounds pretty bad to me.

How do they have lower DPS?

If they are using the Dual-Style Feat they are hitting for (at level 5, with a +4 mod) 3d8+12 compared to 2d8+12. That is literally more DPS, no way around it.

And yes, they used their bonus action... that isn't a bad thing.

Now, I will grant you the ASIs, that could make a big difference, or the Sword and Board could have been using their ASIs for different feats. I'm just saying it isn't a trash build. It is a decent one.

 

[Undrave]

Praises for this UA sent!

 

[Minigiant]

Mariner are Tunnel Fighting are dead.

Well that's sad
Going full defensive is tougher now.

What's your predicted list of new Fighting Styles?

But Superior Technique, Blind Fighting, Interception and Unarmed Fighting stack, and those are in the UA containing content for the same book.

They work at the same time. They don't really stack on top of each other.

It's also worth noting that Rangers do not get Great Weapon, and paladins do not get Two Weapon Fighting, without this new feat.

And that might be the only reason one takes it powerwise.

Barbarians and Rangers taking GWF
Rangers taking ThrWF (Thrown Weapon Fighting)
Paladins and Rogues taking TWF

I expect an eventual dual wielding Path of the Whirlwind Barbarian so I think that path would give TWF or ThrWF at level 3.

Beyond that, I can't see anyone taking it outside of flavor.

 

[Ashrym]

So clearly the reason a ranger should want great weapon fighting is not for mechanical advantage, It's so that he can be Aragorn

If I want a ranger with a great sword I take GWM. It's a option that already exists. GWF enhances it.

I would rather build to concept than build to mechanics as well. I'm all for feats that help with the concept.

Some of the comments in these threads look like players are specifically looking for power increases instead of flavor, which was the intended use for feats as I recall.

I think flavor is the better reason than a mechanical advantage. It doesn't hurt power gamers to have flavor feats for everyone else. ;-)

 

[Minigiant]

If I want a ranger with a great sword I take GWM. It's a option that already exists. GWF enhances it.

I would rather build to concept than build to mechanics as well. I'm all for feats that help with the concept.

Some of the comments in these threads look like players are specifically looking for power increases instead of flavor, which was the intended use for feats as I recall.

I think flavor is the better reason than a mechanical advantage. It doesn't hurt power gamers to have flavor feats for everyone else. ;-)

Aint nothing wrong with building for flavor or concept.

I think the issue being discussed is that Fighting Styles are basically mini-feats and many of them already have a feat.

So if you want the concept or flavor, the question is whether you take Fighting Initiate or Master feats (GWM/SS/DW/DD/HAM/MAM)

For the most part, only GWF and TWF match the Master feats. And of the UA FS, only Thrown Weapon Master is not pure flavor nor covered by another feat conceptwise.

 

[Weiley31]

I filled the survey out and gushed about it. Mentioned how Eldritch Adept and Fighting Initiate should offer a +1 to an ability. It's not gonna break the game. I even mentioned that there should be MORE Half-Feats that reflect or add-on/support characters like how Eldritch Adept and Warlock are great together. So Barbarians and Monks should get something as well.

But I loved all these feats.