Clarification Request On Obtaining Feats - Rules & Game Mechanics

Maybe your like

Collections

My Characters

My Campaigns

Beta

My Encounters

My Homebrew Collection

My Homebrew Creations

My Dice

Homebrew

Create Spell

Create Monster

Create Magic Item

Create Background

Create Feat

Create Species

Create Subclass

Browse Spells

Browse Monsters

Browse Magic Items

Browse Backgrounds

Browse Feats

Browse Species

Browse Subclasses

Game Rules

Classes

Backgrounds

Species

Feats

Spells

Equipment

Magic Items

Monsters

Library

Tools

Character Builder

Sigil 3D VTT

Beta

Maps VTT

Beta

Encounters

Mobile App

Avrae Discord Bot

Media

Community Update

Twitch

Youtube

Changelog

Forums

Learn to Play

Marketplace

This thread was marked as Locked by Sedge.

#1 Apr 12, 2017 InsanityRocks
InsanityRocks
- View User Profile
- View Posts
- Send Message
- (Perfect)
- Join Date: 3/20/2017
- Posts: 107
- Member Details
Hello everyone! *waves*

I was wondering if someone would help me better understand feats and this "optional feat rule". First, I found this reference in the Human traits section of the PHB:

VARIANT HUMAN TRAITSIf your campaign uses the optional feat rules from chapter 5, your Dungeon Master might allow these variant traits, all of which replace the human's Ability Score Increase trait.Ability Score Increase. Two different ability scores of your choice increase by 1.Skills. You gain proficiency in one skill of your choice.Feat. You gain one feat of your choice.

Ok, that kind of makes sense to me; never mind Chapter 5 deals with equipment and Feats are in Chapter 6.

The question I have is, and yes I know as DM I can bend/modify/ignore rules as is necessary, what about non-Human races?

What do other DMs do in this regard?

Also, without this variant rule, how would a PC get a Feat?

Thanks!
Rollback Post to Revision RollBack
I wear pants, short pants.

I also ask a lot of questions; insatiably curious
#2 Apr 12, 2017 filcat
filcat
- View User Profile
- View Posts
- Send Message
- (Perfect)
- Join Date: 3/20/2017
- Posts: 16,498
- Member Details
Non-human races can gain feats with the Ability score improvement feature (level 4, 9, 13, 16, 19). With this feature, you can choose to increment two ability score by 1 or one ability score by 2 or choose one feat.

That is the official rule. Only humans get that variant trait (also official)
Last edited by filcat: Apr 12, 2017 Rollback Post to Revision RollBack
#3 Apr 12, 2017 InsanityRocks
InsanityRocks
- View User Profile
- View Posts
- Send Message
- (Perfect)
- Join Date: 3/20/2017
- Posts: 107
- Member Details
Quote from filcat >>
Non-human races can gain feats with the Ability score improvement feature (level 4, 9, 13, 16, 19). With this feature, you can choose to increment two ability score by 1 or one ability score by 2 or choose one feat.

That is the official rule. Only humans get that variant trait (also official)

Thank you for the clarification. I missed that. Rollback Post to Revision RollBack
I wear pants, short pants.

I also ask a lot of questions; insatiably curious
#4 Apr 12, 2017 sloporion
sloporion
- View User Profile
- View Posts
- Send Message
- Lancer
- Join Date: 3/20/2017
- Posts: 410
- Member Details
This is a total house-rule, but you can also think about granting feats as rewards (like you would with magical items or boons). The only problem with this is finding the right reason to grant the feat (how they learned it, who taught them, why did they learn it, etc...)
Rollback Post to Revision RollBack
Click Here to Download my Lancer Class w/ Dragoon and Legionnaire Archetypes via DM's Guild - Pay What You Want

Click Here to Download the Mind Flayer: Thoon Hulk converted from 4e via DM's Guild

“It is a better world. A place where we are responsible for our actions, where we can be kind to one another because we want to and because it is the right thing to do instead of being frightened into behaving by the threat of divine punishment.” ― Oramis, Eldest by Christopher Paolini.
#5 Apr 12, 2017 InsanityRocks
InsanityRocks
- View User Profile
- View Posts
- Send Message
- (Perfect)
- Join Date: 3/20/2017
- Posts: 107
- Member Details
Quote from sloporion >>
This is a total house-rule, but you can also think about granting feats as rewards (like you would with magical items or boons). The only problem with this is finding the right reason to grant the feat (how they learned it, who taught them, why did they learn it, etc...)

That's an interesting approach. Thanks for the tip! +1 Rollback Post to Revision RollBack
I wear pants, short pants.

I also ask a lot of questions; insatiably curious
#6 Apr 12, 2017 Rexx
Rexx
- View User Profile
- View Posts
- Send Message
- Tracker
- Join Date: 3/20/2017
- Posts: 108
- Member Details
Feats are metagame crunch available at first level, giving PCs a leg up on the competition that normally cannot think of a Feat until 4th Level. Because of this, Variant Human have become the #1 race choice of players in my games. I haven't seen so many torches and bulls-eye lanterns in a marching order since the days of 1E!
Rollback Post to Revision RollBack
We all leave footprints in the sands of time.
#7 Apr 12, 2017 sloporion
sloporion
- View User Profile
- View Posts
- Send Message
- Lancer
- Join Date: 3/20/2017
- Posts: 410
- Member Details
Quote from Rexx >>
Feats are metagame crunch available at first level, giving PCs a leg up on the competition that normally cannot think of a Feat until 4th Level. Because of this, Variant Human have become the #1 race choice of players in my games. I haven't seen so many torches and bulls-eye lanterns in a marching order since the days of 1E!

Idk, 3e feats were pretty stupid good and humans got them for free then (I think they got them in 4e too, but can't remember). 3e Human Fighter was the way to go Rollback Post to Revision RollBack
Click Here to Download my Lancer Class w/ Dragoon and Legionnaire Archetypes via DM's Guild - Pay What You Want

Click Here to Download the Mind Flayer: Thoon Hulk converted from 4e via DM's Guild

“It is a better world. A place where we are responsible for our actions, where we can be kind to one another because we want to and because it is the right thing to do instead of being frightened into behaving by the threat of divine punishment.” ― Oramis, Eldest by Christopher Paolini.
#8 Apr 12, 2017 Rexx
Rexx
- View User Profile
- View Posts
- Send Message
- Tracker
- Join Date: 3/20/2017
- Posts: 108
- Member Details
But it took several Feats built along the "Feat Tree". Feats in 5E are 3-4 3.x Feats built into one now. And some give you an ability score increase too?!
Rollback Post to Revision RollBack
We all leave footprints in the sands of time.
#9 Jul 27, 2018 TheFoolSfC
TheFoolSfC
- View User Profile
- View Posts
- Send Message
- Adventurer
- Join Date: 7/24/2018
- Posts: 1
- Member Details
I have been toying with the idea of Feat tombs. Especially concerning the racial feats. Example : Hofiba the Dragonborn Wizard was drawn to the tomb which lay open upon the table. In Draconic text the title reads " Skalval bloody Claws " insert paragraph or two short story and wolla a Dragonborn reader is granted the Dragon Hide racial feat.
Last edited by TheFoolSfC: Jul 27, 2018 Rollback Post to Revision RollBack
#11 Mar 6, 2020 StMikol17
StMikol17
- View User Profile
- View Posts
- Send Message
- Adventurer
- Join Date: 3/5/2019
- Posts: 3
- Member Details
But on roll20 the human variant list of feats that have halfing or Dragonborn prerequisites how do those races get them then?
Rollback Post to Revision RollBack
#12 Mar 6, 2020 drag0n_77
drag0n_77
- View User Profile
- View Posts
- Send Message
- (Perfect)
- Join Date: 3/5/2019
- Posts: 813
- Member Details
Quote from StMikol17 >>
But on roll20 the human variant list of feats that have halfing or Dragonborn prerequisites how do those races get them then?

Instead of taking an Ability Score Increase, they choose that Feat. The Variant Human is just special because it gets to pick a Feat at level 1. And it gives up a few things to do that, because some Feats are really strong.

Sounds like a weakness in Roll20, showing things as available when it shouldn't.
Rollback Post to Revision RollBack
#13 Mar 7, 2020 StMikol17
StMikol17
- View User Profile
- View Posts
- Send Message
- Adventurer
- Join Date: 3/5/2019
- Posts: 3
- Member Details
That’s how its supposed to work it again Roll20 will not let you select the feat option, its grayed out and no matter what you do stays that way! I played with with all different races too! Oh well, thanks for the input
Rollback Post to Revision RollBack
#14 Mar 7, 2020 David42
David42
- View User Profile
- View Posts
- Send Message
- (Perfect)
- Join Date: 8/15/2017
- Posts: 3,348
- Member Details
Variant human gets a bonus feat at level 1.

Everyone receives ASIs at various levels depending on the class they are. Base classes typically get ASIs at levels 4, 8, 12, 16, and 19. Fighters get extra ASIs at levels 6 and 14. Rogues get an extra ASI at level 10.

Whenever a character receives an ASI they can choose to take a feat instead. (Assuming the DM is using feats in their game). Some feats have racial requirements. However, in order to take ANY feat you have to have received an ASI with which to get the feat.

In terms of it not working in D&D Beyond ... are you trying to choose feats with non-variant human races at level 1? Since they don't have any ASIs they can't choose any feats. However, if you make the character level 4, 8 etc then they should be able to choose a feat instead of taking the ASI to increase stats.
Rollback Post to Revision RollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.