House Rules - Feats

Loosened Restrictions

When it comes to feats that give a +1 ability increase in specific abilities, I am willing to allow players to pick any of the six abilities, there might be edge cases where I won't allow it.

When it comes to feats that are limited to certain races, etc. I am willing to allow players to pick them whatever their race, etc. But it depends on if it breaks anything and if it makes thematic sense (if it's all based on your character being small, you can't pick it if you play a 7' half-orc).

Changes to 2014 Feats

Crossbow Expert

Being within 5 feet of a hostile creature doesn't impose disadvantage on your ranged attack rolls when using a crossbow.

Elemental Adept

Changed to 2024 version:

Ability Score Increase. Increase your Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma by 1, to a maximum of 20. Energy Mastery. Choose one of the following damage types: Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning, or Thunder. Spells you cast ignore Resistance to damage of the chosen type. In addition, when you roll damage for a spell you cast that deals damage of that type, you can treat any 1 on a damage die as a 2. Repeatable. You can take this feat more than once, but you must choose a different damage type each time for Energy Mastery.

Great Weapon Master

Removed.

Inspiring Leader

Changed to 2024 version:

Ability Score Increase. Increase your Wisdom or Charisma by 1, to a maximum of 20. Bolstering Performance. When you finish a Short or Long Rest, you can give an inspiring performance: a speech, song, or dance. When you do so, choose up to six allies (which can include yourself) within 30 feet of yourself who witness the performance. The chosen creatures each gain Temporary Hit Points equal to your character level plus the modifier of the ability you increased with this feat.

Keen Mind

Changed to 2024 version:

Ability Score Increase. Increase your Intelligence score by 1, to a maximum of 20. Lore Knowledge. Choose one of the following skills: Arcana, History, Investigation, Nature, or Religion. If you lack proficiency in the chosen skill, you gain proficiency in it, and if you already have proficiency in it, you gain Expertise in it. Quick Study. You can take the Study action as a Bonus Action.

Lightly Armored

Also gives training with shields, as the 2024 version.

Lucky

Changed to 2024 version:

Luck Points. You have a number of Luck Points equal to your Proficiency Bonus and can spend the points on the benefits below. You regain your expended Luck Points when you finish a Long Rest. Advantage. When you roll a d20 for a D20 Test, you can spend 1 Luck Point to give yourself Advantage on the roll. Disadvantage. When a creature rolls a d20 for an attack roll against you, you can spend 1 Luck Point to impose Disadvantage on that roll.

Mage Slayer

Changed to 2024 version:

Ability Score Increase. Increase your Strength or Dexterity by 1, to a maximum of 20. Concentration Breaker. When you damage a creature that is Concentrating, it has Disadvantage on the saving throw it makes to maintain Concentration. Guarded Mind. If you fail an Intelligence, a Wisdom, or a Charisma saving throw, you can cause yourself to succeed instead. Once you use this benefit, you can't use it again until you finish a Short or Long Rest.

Medium Armor Master

Changed to 2024 version:

Ability Score Increase. Increase your Strength or Dexterity by 1, to a maximum of 20. Dexterous Wearer. While you're wearing Medium armor, you can add 3, rather than 2 to your AC if you have a Dexterity score of 16 or higher.

Moderately Armored

No longer gives training with shields, that now comes with Lightly Armored, see above.

Polearm Master

Removed.

Sentinel

Changed to 2024 version:

Ability Score Increase. Increase your Strength or Dexterity by 1, to a maximum of 20. Guardian. Immediately after a creature within 5 feet of you takes the Disengage action or hits a target other than you with an attack, you can make an Opportunity Attack against that creature. Halt. When you hit a creature with an Opportunity Attack, the creature's Speed becomes 0 for the rest of the current turn.

Sharpshooter

Changed to 2024 version:

Ability Score Increase. Increase your Dexterity score by 1, to a maximum of 20. Bypass Cover. Your ranged attacks with weapons ignore Half Cover and Three-Quarters Cover. Firing in Melee. Being within 5 feet of an enemy doesn't impose Disadvantage on your attack rolls with Ranged weapons. Long Shots. Attacking at long range doesn't impose Disadvantage on your attack rolls with Ranged weapons.

Changed to 2024 version:

Changed to 2024 version:

Changed to 2024 version:

Additional Feats

These feats are also allowed next to those from the 2014 PHB.

Aberrant Dragonmark

Maybe, but will need some real discussion with the DM and won’t involve dragons in any way.

Prerequisite: No other dragonmark

You have manifested an aberrant dragonmark. Determine its appearance and the flaw associated with it. You gain the following benefits: Increase your Constitution score by 1, to a maximum of 20. You learn a cantrip of your choice from the sorcerer spell list. In addition, choose a 1st-level spell from the sorcerer spell list. You learn that spell and can cast it through your mark. Once you cast it, you must finish a short or long rest before you can cast it again through the mark. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells. When you cast the 1st-level spell through your mark, you can expend one of your Hit Dice and roll it. If you roll an even number, you gain a number of temporary hit points equal to the number rolled. If you roll an odd number, one random creature within 30 feet of you (not including you) takes force damage equal to the number rolled. If no other creatures are in range, you take the damage. You also develop a random flaw from the Aberrant Dragonmark Flaws table. Aberrant Dragonmark Flaws d8 Flaw 1 Your mark is a source of constant physical pain. 2 Your mark whispers to you. Its meaning can be unclear. 3 When you're stressed, the mark hisses audibly. 4 The skin around the mark is burned, scaly, or withered. 5 Animals are uneasy around you. 6 You have a mood swing any time you use your mark. 7 Your looks change slightly whenever you use the mark. 8 You have horrific nightmares after you use your mark.

Bountiful Luck

Prerequisite: Halfling

Your people have extraordinary luck, which you have learned to mystically lend to your companions when you see them falter. You're not sure how you do it; you just wish it, and it happens. Surely a sign of fortune's favor! When an ally you can see within 30 feet of you rolls a 1 on the d20 for an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw, you can use your reaction to let the ally reroll the die. The ally must use the new roll. When you use this ability, you can't use your Lucky racial trait before the end of your next turn.

Source: XGE, page 73

Cartomancer

You have learned to channel your magic through a deck of cards. You can use a card deck as your spellcasting focus, and you gain the following benefits: Card Tricks. You learn the Prestidigitation cantrip and can use it to create illusions that duplicate the effects of stage magic. When you use Prestidigitation in this way, you can conceal the verbal and somatic components of the spell as ordinary conversation and card handling. Hidden Ace. When you finish a long rest, you can choose one spell from your class's spell list and imbue that spell into a card. The chosen spell must have a casting time of 1 action, and it must be a level for which you have spell slots. The card remains imbued with this spell for 8 hours. While the card is imbued with the spell, you can use a bonus action to flourish the card and cast the spell within. The card then immediately loses its magic.

Source: BMT, page 49

Chef

Time spent mastering the culinary arts has paid off, granting you the following benefits: Increase your Constitution or Wisdom by 1, to a maximum of 20. You gain proficiency with cook's utensils if you don't already have it. As part of a short rest, you can cook special food, provided you have ingredients and cook's utensils on hand. You can prepare enough of this food for a number of creatures equal to 4 + your proficiency bonus. At the end of the short rest, any creature who eats the food and spends one or more Hit Dice to regain hit points regains an extra 1d8 hit points. With one hour of work or when you finish a long rest, you can cook a number of treats equal to your proficiency bonus. These special treats last 8 hours after being made. A creature can use a bonus action to eat one of those treats to gain temporary hit points equal to your proficiency bonus.

Source: TCE, page 79. Reprinted as Chef in PHB'24

Crafter

Note, the Discount ability has been removed.

You gain the following benefits. Tool Proficiency. You gain proficiency with three different Artisan's Tools of your choice from the Fast Crafting table. Fast Crafting. When you finish a Long Rest, you can craft one piece of gear from the Fast Crafting table, provided you have the Artisan's Tools associated with that item and have proficiency with those tools. The item lasts until you finish another Long Rest, at which point the item falls apart. Fast Crafting Artisan's Tools Crafted Gear Carpenter's Tools Ladder, Torch Leatherworker's Tools Crossbow Bolt Case, Map or Scroll Case, Pouch Mason's Tools Block and Tackle Potter's Tools Jug, Lamp Smith's Tools Ball Bearings, Bucket, Caltrops, Grappling Hook, Iron Pot Tinker's Tools Bell, Shovel, Tinderbox Weaver's Tools Basket, Rope, Net, Tent Woodcarver's Tools Club, Greatclub, Quarterstaff

Source: PHB'24, page 200

Divinely Favored; will be specifically tailored to a deity from the setting, with a cantrip and spell that fit well.

Dwarven Fortitude

Eldritch Adept; for anyone except warlocks. Comes with some hefty story stuff and in game consequences. Invocation can't be changed.

Elven Accuracy

Fade Away

Fey Teleportation

Fey Touched; only if your character has actually spent a lot of time, months, in the Feywild.

Fighting Initiate; only if you don’t already have a Fighting Style. You can’t change the style unless you find a trainer again and invest time and money.

Flames of Phlegethos

Infernal Constitution

Knight of the Crown; only if your character is a member of a fitting organization.

Knight of the Rose; only if your character is a member of a fitting organization.

Orcish Fury

Prodigy

Second Chance

Shadow Touched; only if your character has actually spent a lot of time, months, in the Shadowfell.

Skill Expert

Squat Nimbleness

Strixhaven Initiate; will be adapted to an organization in the world, with fitting the spells granted.

Telepathic

Wood Elf Magic