D&D 5E What does it mean that a feat from the playtest if martial, magic or expert?

[zoroaster100]

I noticed on the playtest there are feats designated as "general", others as "magic", "martial" or "expert", but I couldn't find any reference to whether that means the feats are restricted to certain classes besides the restrictions listed in the prerequisites, or whether those are just descriptors to give you an idea of what they are generally for (fighting, skills, etc.)

Does anyone know what these descriptors mean, if anything? Can a paladin take Find Familiar, for example?

 

[Kobold Stew]

Martial feats are so designated because they represent a class of feat available to fighters at particular levels.

Expert feats are incorporated into Rogue schemes as bonus feats (though they aren't labeled as such, except in the introductory text).

I'd guess magic feats might end up offering a similar bonus to Sorcerers.

As categories, they are conceptually useful, even if the implementation in the current packet blurs the behind-the-scenes functions with the what-it-says-on-the-tin functions.

As for Paladins? Yes: they meet the prerequisite at level 1, and so can take the feat.

 

[Li Shenron]

I suppose for the moments they are just that: descriptors.

If no mechanic is attached, descriptors are supposed to help a player choose. Are you planning to pick your next feat to improve your combat skills? Look for martial feats. Do you want to improve spellcasting or add spellcasting to your PC? Look for magic feats. Are you looking for something to boost your skillfulness outside combat? Look for expert feats.

This is only useful if they retain the quick list page with each group of feats presented separately, because otherwise just going through a huge list of feats to look for a tiny label under the feat's name means to take a long time and to miss many of them.