Mearls got asked about balancing feats & had an interesting speculation, lets help !

[Tetrasodium]

So Mike Mearls has been doing a "happy fun hour" thing where he makes subclasses to kind of show how they do it along with a lot of commentary about balance concerns and whatnot.
I could, and should, do an entire month of Happy Fun Hour episodes on feats. They're probably the trickiest piece to design for D&
D. (https://twitter.com/mikemearls/status/963933394978484224) At one point he asked for names of subclass suggestions. Lets give him a hasnd to start rolling with feats!

[Willie the Duck]

At one point he asked for names of subclass suggestions. Lets give him a hasnd to start rolling with feats!

Wait, are you suggesting we come up with subclass names, or feat names?

[Tetrasodium]

Wait, are you suggesting we come up with subclass names, or feat names?

Feats of course :D

[Aett_Thorn]

1) A Feat aimed at thrown-weapon users

2) A Feat akin to Elemental Adept, but for Enchantment/Illusion Spells

3) Legit racial feats for Volo's races

[Lord8Ball]

1. Metamagic version of martial adept(potent bloodline)
2. feat for invocation(Forbidden lore)

[the secret fire]

1) A Feat aimed at thrown-weapon users

2) A Feat akin to Elemental Adept, but for Enchantment/Illusion Spells

3) Legit racial feats for Volo's races

Those are terrible feat names. Here are some good ones!

1. Chocomancer
2. Primal Indignation
3. Food Fighter
4. Hag Baby

[Dudewithknives]

Weapon Focus

Weapon Specialization

Spell Focus

Spell Specialization

Diverse Training

At Home in the Dark

Supernatural Conduit

Expert Thrower

Einhander


Some of those should have been there day 1.

[Mister_Squinty]

Trying to think of things that are worth sacrificing the ASI for, without being overpowered, is tough, but these might hit the sweet spot:


Martial Study: A feat that would allow a character to choose a Fighting Style.
Dark Power: A Warlock feat that allows a character to choose an additional (1 or 2?) Invocation(s).
Mighty: A racial feat for Goliaths and Firbolgs (races with double lifting strength) allowing one-handed wielding of Greatswords, Greataxes, and Mauls.


Edited to meet requirements.

[the_brazenburn]

I think we should have class-specific feats in general.

How about a feat allowing Barbs to rage in full armor, or a wizard feat giving you some extra slots?

[MrStabby]

Dirty fighter
battle-scarred
Primal
God-touched
Dancer
Boldest of the Bold
Calculating duelist
Zen wrestler
Grove Guardian
Fey-pledged
Fat
Bounty Hunter
Desecrator

[MrStabby]

Gladiator
Lookout
Arcanist
Paragon
Executioner
Vandal
Hell-raiser
Grim
Articulate

[Willie the Duck]

Those are terrible feat names. Here are some good ones!


I dislike the way you phrased that, but...


Trying to think of things that are worth sacrificing the ASI for, without being overpowered, is tough, but these might hit the sweet spot:


A feat that would allow a character to choose a Fighting Style.
A Warlock feat that allows a character to choose an additional (1 or 2?) Invocation(s).
A racial feat for Goliaths and Firbolgs (races with double lifting strength) allowing one-handed wielding of Greatswords, Greataxes, and Mauls.


...apparently it is necessary.
Mearls has stated that he wants names, not ideas. If you want to get him to address a concept, you need to come up with a name which would cause him to address that concept.

[Tanarii]

Horse Archer
Phalanx Warrior
Tactician
Favored of the Gods
Risk Taker
Shadow Shifter
Snake Oil Salesman
Silver Tongued
Guide
Loremaster


Fat
Which can later be swapped out for "Exercise Junkie". :smallbiggrin:

[Tetrasodium]

Arcane/divine/cultural historian
Blade-slinger
Lich
Missionary

[Trippic]

twin familiar
greater familiar
invocation training
metamagic training
greater companion
augment summons

[Tanarii]

twin familiar
greater familiar
invocation training
metamagic training
greater companion
augment summons
5e Feats are mostly named as a descriptive label for what they the turn the character into. Not just what they do.

[Coffee_Dragon]

Elemental Substitution
Improved Augmentation
Increased Enhancement
Greater Benefit
Optimal

[Anonymouswizard]

Acrobat
Social Engineer
Arcane Warrior
Diplomat
Weapon Specialist
Comedian
Master Builder (no clue what this feat would be, but I would be sad if it didn't include Prerequisite: your miniature must be a lego minifigure)

[rbstr]

Sword Breaker
Impalcable
Wary Fighter

[LeonBH]

Amnesiac
Olympiad
Visionary
Savant
Comedian

[KorvinStarmast]

Lets give him a hasnd to start rolling with feats!
Good, since we don't need anymore sub classes.

We need him to try again on spear master. It was a good first try in UA, how about we try that one again.

[UrielAwakened]

This is not the way you go about it.

A subclass would begin with a name because it needs to be an easy-to-understand concept. Subclasses are generally top-down design.

Feats are the opposite. The name does not usually summarize what the feat does to the same extent. Feats in 5e especially are a collection of different mechanical benefits and you need to design with respect to what those are.

You'll notice he didn't ask for feat names for that reason: It doesn't help.

[Inchoroi]

Weapon Focus

Weapon Specialization

Spell Focus

Spell Specialization

Diverse Training

At Home in the Dark

Supernatural Conduit

Expert Thrower

Einhander


Some of those should have been there day 1.

What kind of things would these do, you think? What would Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization add to the game, other than just +1s?

[alchahest]

Underperformer
Eye for Detail
Fatal Drop
Dire Laugh
Mathemagician
Abracadancer
Hocus Focus
Sensory Overload
Determination
Knuckle Sandwich

[bid]

What kind of things would these do, you think? What would Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization add to the game, other than just +1s?
And there's already the weapon feats from UA to show what could be done.

[Dudewithknives]

What kind of things would these do, you think? What would Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization add to the game, other than just +1s?

Weapon Focus: When using one specific weapon, such as a long sword or a shortbow you gain +1 to hit and +1 damage

Weapon Specialization: When using the weapon for which you have Weapon Focus in, you increase its critical hit range by 1, and when you critically hit you also add your stat modifier to the critical damage.

Spell Focus: Pick one spell you can cast, if it requires an attack roll your to hit is increased by +1, if it requires a save, increase the DC by +1.

Spell Specialization: Once per short rest when casting your spell focus spell you may give yourself advantage on the attack roll or give a number of enemies up to your casting modifier disadvantage on the save.

Diverse Training: You gain training in one weapon, one skill, and learn one cantrip.

At Home in the Dark: +1 Int or Wis, you gain dark vision to a distance of 30 feet. If you already have dark vision increase this range by 15 feet.

Supernatural Conduit: You may see things in the ethereal plane and are not effected by disadvantage due to effects of spells or vision.

Expert Thrower: If you throw a weapon on your turn you may immediately draw another weapon with the thrown property, increase the range of all thrown weapons by 10/30 feet, and you may ignore 1/2 and 3/4 cover with your thrown weapon attacks if the target is in your close range.

Einhander: When wielding a weapon in one hand and are wielding no other weapon or shield you gain +1 to hit, damage and ac.

[No brains]

Harnischfechten (Fighting in harness(full armor))
(Rules) Lawyer
GET OVER HERE!
Boarding Crew
Dual Concentration
Negative Energy Mastery
Competitive Eater
Picard Speech (working title; something for making dramatic scenes)
Thrown Weapon Expert
Escapologist
Master Improvisor

[GlenSmash!]

Acrobat
Master Builder (no clue what this feat would be, but I would be sad if it didn't include Prerequisite: your miniature must be a lego minifigure)

I'm pretty sure it lets you build a Double Decker couch.

[JackPhoenix]

Versatile Combatant (ideally something that work for a single one-handed weapon too)
Thrown Weapon Expert for xth time.

[Angelalex242]

Weapon Focus: When using one specific weapon, such as a long sword or a shortbow you gain +1 to hit and +1 damage

Weapon Specialization: When using the weapon for which you have Weapon Focus in, you increase its critical hit range by 1, and when you critically hit you also add your stat modifier to the critical damage.

Spell Focus: Pick one spell you can cast, if it requires an attack roll your to hit is increased by +1, if it requires a save, increase the DC by +1.

Spell Specialization: Once per short rest when casting your spell focus spell you may give yourself advantage on the attack roll or give a number of enemies up to your casting modifier disadvantage on the save.

Diverse Training: You gain training in one weapon, one skill, and learn one cantrip.

At Home in the Dark: +1 Int or Wis, you gain dark vision to a distance of 30 feet. If you already have dark vision increase this range by 15 feet.

Supernatural Conduit: You may see things in the ethereal plane and are not effected by disadvantage due to effects of spells or vision.

Expert Thrower: If you throw a weapon on your turn you may immediately draw another weapon with the thrown property, increase the range of all thrown weapons by 10/30 feet, and you may ignore 1/2 and 3/4 cover with your thrown weapon attacks if the target is in your close range.

Einhander: When wielding a weapon in one hand and are wielding no other weapon or shield you gain +1 to hit, damage and ac.

Weapon focus is inferior to ASI +2 strength. Weapon Spec needs more oomph.

[Waterdeep Merch]

Indecisive
Extra Pretty
Rather Handsome Actually
Functionally Literate
Humorless Ponce
Astronaut, Who May Have Entered the D&D Multiverse Through a Tear in Space, or Might Be Having a Fever Dream While Comatose, Even Odds I'd Say
Dancing Queen
Dangerously Cheesy

[LaserFace]

fun

Heeder of the Call
Battlefield Visionary
Taste of the Wild
A Touch of Class
Smell of Triumph

[Jama7301]

Weapon Focus: When using one specific weapon, such as a long sword or a shortbow you gain +1 to hit and +1 damage

Weapon Specialization: When using the weapon for which you have Weapon Focus in, you increase its critical hit range by 1, and when you critically hit you also add your stat modifier to the critical damage.

Spell Focus: Pick one spell you can cast, if it requires an attack roll your to hit is increased by +1, if it requires a save, increase the DC by +1.

Einhander: When wielding a weapon in one hand and are wielding no other weapon or shield you gain +1 to hit, damage and ac.

Don't flat bonuses and stacking modifiers go against the main design philosophy of 5th edition?

Edit: Some of these feat names in this thread sound like they could be Magic the Gathering cards. :smallbiggrin:

[Dudewithknives]

Don't flat bonuses and stacking modifiers go against the main design philosophy of 5th edition?

Edit: Some of these feat names in this thread sound like they could be Magic the Gathering cards. :smallbiggrin:

Didn't stop them from letting magic arrows and magic bows stack.

Or rings/cloak of protection with normal ac?

Or the dual wielding AC bonus stacking with a defensive fighting style bonus

Or the bladesinger from getting two different stats and wearable armor to their AC when dancing

Archery alone can stack a plus 2 to hit from the archery style plus two to damage from a cheap magic item plus to hit and damage from a magic bow and plus to hit and damage from Magic arrows and still can get Feats that specifically enhance archery on top of all of that like sharp shooter and crossbow expert

[bc56]

I did some lizardfolk racial feats once.
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?547579-Lizardfolk-racial-feats

Aquatic Reptile
Venomous Bite

[TMac9000]

Apes of Wrath

[Mister_Squinty]

Weapon Focus: When using one specific weapon, such as a long sword or a shortbow you gain +1 to hit and +1 damage

Given that an ASI in the primary attack stat would include this, but for all weapons, is it worth it? Could one just skip this to Weapon Specialization?

[Dudewithknives]

Given that an ASI in the primary attack stat would include this, but for all weapons, is it worth it? Could one just skip this to Weapon Specialization?

It helps if you already have a 20 in the stat.

[Specter]

Off the top of my head:

Master Thrower
Einhander
Unyielding
War Tactician

[Trippic]

twin familiar
greater familiar
invocation training
metamagic training
greater companion
augment summons



5e Feats are mostly named as a descriptive label for what they the turn the character into. Not just what they do.

brood master
bond mage
invocation adept
metamagic adept
pack master
summoner

dervish, ill tempered, divine adept, multimind

[Tanarii]

brood master
bond mage
invocation adept
metamagic adept
pack master
summonerNice.


multimindGives you multiple personalities, letting you concentrate on two spells at once? :smallbiggrin:

[Lord8Ball]

Practised artisan

[Coffee_Dragon]

Party Face
Additional Pylon
Blood God