D&D 5E Why Should I Allow Feats

[Zardnaar]

We had 2 campaigns running and we made it to level 12. I have made the decision to start over at level 1 which the players will find out about at today's session. THe reason was their power level outstripped my ability or willingness to put up with the antics. I have 2 PCs with the sharpshooter feat and one of them has the crossbow expert feat. One is a ranger, the crossbow expert is a fighter.

The Cleric buffs them of course using bless and she has the alert feat (+5 initiative, can't be surprised) and the warcaster feat which makes breaking concentration difficult. Because ACs do not scale very well in this game both archers are more or less using powershot 100% of the time.

Fighter 4 attacks for 1d6+16 damage (+1 hand crossbow), action surge 7 attacks 1d6+16.
Ranger 2 attacks 1d8+1d6+17 damage (+2 bow)+1d8 colossus slayer on one attack.

Advantage is often supplied in various ways via spells or shield bash fighter. Basically they slaughter everything and I have spent the last 4 levels trying to figure out how to run encounters with mixed levels of success. They have slaughtered mobs, dragons, ranged combats, surprise rounds and Dragons of +6 CR above their level (twice).

The main offenders are the sharpshooter feats and in the other game Great Weapon Master feats as it is not that hard to offset the -5 to hit part of the feat. Polearm Masater is another semi borked feat that also combos with Great Weapon Master and Crossbow Expert is also borked.

So start over at level 1 no variant humans allowed, and very tempted to not use feats either.

 

[BigVanVader]

Because Tavern Brawler is the only reason to exist. I think I'm gonna give every character I ever have Tavern Brawler. Halfling Wizard, Tavern Brawler. Awakened Mouse Bard, Tavern Brawler. Monk who already has Martial Arts, Tavern Brawler.

I'm gonna get the description for Tavern Brawler tattooed on my face. I love that feat.

 

[seebs]

What are their to-hit bonuses? AC doesn't scale much, but it scales some, and usually the lack of stacking buffs keeps it reasonable to be cautious about the power attack or sharpshooter type stuff. Remember, also, that if you can do things that provide disadvantage, the advantage is gone.

I would be more than a little hesitant to spring "you guys got too powerful I'm starting over" on players. I'd first at least talk to them about the balance issues, or maybe make a rullng that nerfs things a bit to keep things balanced. Most players can handle "this is working too well and it needs a nerf to keep it from unbalancing things".

 

[The Myopic Sniper]

I was thinking of replacing the -5th/+10dmg parts of the offending feats with +1 to Dex (Sharpshooter) or +1 to Str (Great Weapon Master). I am not sure how I would handle this in an ongoing campaign with characters who have already taken those feats though.

 

[Zardnaar]

What are their to-hit bonuses? AC doesn't scale much, but it scales some, and usually the lack of stacking buffs keeps it reasonable to be cautious about the power attack or sharpshooter type stuff. Remember, also, that if you can do things that provide disadvantage, the advantage is gone.

I would be more than a little hesitant to spring "you guys got too powerful I'm starting over" on players. I'd first at least talk to them about the balance issues, or maybe make a rullng that nerfs things a bit to keep things balanced. Most players can handle "this is working too well and it needs a nerf to keep it from unbalancing things".

There is other things at higher level though as well. I do not find it much fun designing thinghs at that level and the 5E encounter guidelines do not work so well.

 

[Zardnaar]

I was thinking of replacing the -5th/+10dmg parts of the offending feats with +1 to Dex (Sharpshooter) or +1 to Str (Great Weapon Master). I am not sure how I would handle this in an ongoing campaign with characters who have already taken those feats though.

Might make them to good. -5/+10 but limited to once per round seems to be one of the better ideas I have seen mentioned.

 

[Riley37]

I have spent the last 4 levels trying to figure out how to run encounters with mixed levels of success.

Have you tried asking the players, what would be a challenge for them?

Have you tried telling them how much fun you are (or aren't) having as DM?
What would happen if you told them that you only enjoy DMing when the PCs have less than 100% success?

Accumulating resentment, and then discharging it all at once with powerful destructive rage, is for Barbarians, not for DMs.

 

[BigVanVader]

Have you tried asking the players, what would be a challenge for them?

Have you tried telling them how much fun you are (or aren't) having as DM?
What would happen if you told them that you only enjoy DMing when the PCs have less than 100% success?

Accumulating resentment, and then discharging it all at once with powerful destructive rage, is for Barbarians, not for DMs.

What if the DM is a Barbarian? Or Godzilla?

Or Godzilla with Barbarian levels?

 

[Sailor Moon]

Why not ask yourself this question?

Why not?

 

[pkt77242]

We had 2 campaigns running and we made it to level 12. I have made the decision to start over at level 1 which the players will find out about at today's session. THe reason was their power level outstripped my ability or willingness to put up with the antics. I have 2 PCs with the sharpshooter feat and one of them has the crossbow expert feat. One is a ranger, the crossbow expert is a fighter.

The Cleric buffs them of course using bless and she has the alert feat (+5 initiative, can't be surprised) and the warcaster feat which makes breaking concentration difficult. Because ACs do not scale very well in this game both archers are more or less using powershot 100% of the time.

Fighter 4 attacks for 1d6+16 damage (+1 hand crossbow), action surge 7 attacks 1d6+16.
Ranger 2 attacks 1d8+1d6+17 damage (+2 bow)+1d8 colossus slayer on one attack.

Advantage is often supplied in various ways via spells or shield bash fighter. Basically they slaughter everything and I have spent the last 4 levels trying to figure out how to run encounters with mixed levels of success. They have slaughtered mobs, dragons, ranged combats, surprise rounds and Dragons of +6 CR above their level (twice).

The main offenders are the sharpshooter feats and in the other game Great Weapon Master feats as it is not that hard to offset the -5 to hit part of the feat. Polearm Masater is another semi borked feat that also combos with Great Weapon Master and Crossbow Expert is also borked.

So start over at level 1 no variant humans allowed, and very tempted to not use feats either.

How does the fighter have 4 attacks at 12 level as you don't get the 4th attack till 19th (unless they are using two weapons).