[5e] Wacky/interesting feat ideas

Will · August 31, 2014, 09:14:34 PM

So it occurs to me that feats in 5e aren't much different than 3e, except about twice as 'much.' (And focused on active boons rather than 'now you suck less')

A 3e>5e feat conversion could either be 'stick these two related feats together' or 'feat & +1 to related ability.'

With that in mind... what cool feats do people really like in 3e (or 4e, but I don't know it as well) that could be fun in 5e?

(I'm going to try to dig up some ideas, but a bit brain fried at the moment)

beejazz · August 31, 2014, 11:58:50 PM

I'm actually pretty surprised they did things as +2 every four levels instead of +1 every two. Could've given more feat slots to people who are into that stuff without changing much for those that aren't.

Anyway, you could probably house rule it that way and pull in a whole pile of feats from previous editions. Most were crap, but there were some cool ones.

Bloody Stupid Johnson · September 01, 2014, 08:03:01 PM

This question makes me rethink a bit. Previously if anyway asked if I liked/wanted feats in 5E, I would've said yes. Actually trying to think of feats I'd want in 5E I'm mostly drawing a blank though.
The first couple of things that mind that I liked (or at least often took) in 3E were Able Learner (buy cross-class skills at 1 point/rank) - not required due to background, move-and-full-attack things - not really required since anyone can do it though, and multiclass patches like Daring Outlaw or Swift Hunter (but lots of class features in 5E work off proficiency bonus or just raw stats anyway).

tl;dr - lot of feats in 3E give stuff that's already built in for 5E characters and so don't translate well.

beejazz · September 01, 2014, 10:23:00 PM

Quote from: Bloody Stupid Johnson;784311This question makes me rethink a bit. Previously if anyway asked if I liked/wanted feats in 5E, I would've said yes. Actually trying to think of feats I'd want in 5E I'm mostly drawing a blank though.
The first couple of things that mind that I liked (or at least often took) in 3E were Able Learner (buy cross-class skills at 1 point/rank) - not required due to background, move-and-full-attack things - not really required since anyone can do it though, and multiclass patches like Daring Outlaw or Swift Hunter (but lots of class features in 5E work off proficiency bonus or just raw stats anyway).

tl;dr - lot of feats in 3E give stuff that's already built in for 5E characters and so don't translate well.

I think the thing to look for is an in-game effect, or something that interacts with a rule that's still there. Adding spells from other lists, wielding a big weapon for a little extra damage, maybe a circumstantial or maneuver-like use of advantage/disadvantage. You could also bring back things that weren't feats, like lip reading from 3e (unless I'm misremembering that).

It might be better to think of what you want to be possible and find ways to express that mechanically, rather than look at a mechanic and wonder what it might represent.

Will · September 01, 2014, 10:33:24 PM

There were some weird wild feats, like 'sprint hugely fast once a day' and what not. Hmm.

Scent might be worth it.

Crabbyapples · September 01, 2014, 11:14:10 PM

I've always liked Mindsight from Lords of Madness.

Bloody Stupid Johnson · September 02, 2014, 12:34:45 AM

Hmm, how about a feat that lets you get the special effects of two "does stuff and also you get a +1 to a stat" half-feats, without the +1s? Maybe call it 'Versatile Learning' or something like that.

BarefootGaijin · September 02, 2014, 01:51:49 AM

Plenty of wacky ideas with The Hobo.