Finesse Fighter (feat) If a target is imposing disadvantage you can use your reaction to bypass it until the end of your current turn
Before you make a melee attack with a finesse weapon that you are proficient with, you can choose to take a -5 penalty to the attack roll. If the attack hits, you add +10 to the attack's damage.
i made this feat as a way for dex melee martials to keep up with GWM and SS. Before anyone comes in and says dex doesnt need it they already have so much! if a dex martial wanted to be optimal they would only use a crossbow and be no where near the front lines if you have anything else to say tho id love to hear it
This feat certainly puts Dex-based melee builds on par with Strength-based melee builds.
At the same time, though, it just makes the builds play identically. If the only difference between a master fencer in leather armor and a greataxe master in clanging plate is the flavour text describing them—if they aren't playing different roles with different strengths and weaknesses—I think the game sorta flattens into a straight line: "Be a martial -> take the -5/+10 feat -> take the bonus action attack feat -> spam the Attack action for big damage".
How about instead of focusing on damage, the finesse feat offers defense, battlefield control, mobility or status effects?
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My homebrew. Let me know what you think and what I can add!
This feat certainly puts Dex-based melee builds on par with Strength-based melee builds.
At the same time, though, it just makes the builds play identically. If the only difference between a master fencer in leather armor and a greataxe master in clanging plate is the flavour text describing them—if they aren't playing different roles with different strengths and weaknesses—I think the game sorta flattens into a straight line: "Be a martial -> take the -5/+10 feat -> take the bonus action attack feat -> spam the Attack action for big damage".
How about instead of focusing on damage, the finesse feat offers defense, battlefield control, mobility or status effects?
thats fair and i did think about a defensive version but there was already Defensive Duelist
If Defensive Duelist were a strong enough feat for Dex melee martials, you wouldnt be trying to brainstorm a feat to put them on par with their Str counterparts! There's definitely room for another defensive feat for finesse weapons, or an upgraded version of Defensive Duelist.
Alternatively, there's definitely room for feats offering battlefield control, mobility and status effects.
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My homebrew. Let me know what you think and what I can add!
Think of how knife fights and fencing duels go in movies. The fighters don't just stand and trade blows. They use the threat of their weapons—clashed against or waving near their enemies—to hold their enemies in place and push them around. Combine that with the fancy footwork to lunge, leap, bob and weave around the battlefield, and you have a character who can control enemy movement while bypassing enemy control.
Master Duelist
You have learned to combine fine weaponry with fancy footwork to carve your way across the battlefield and prod your enemies wherever you choose. You gain the following benefits while you are wielding a melee weapon with the finesse property.
When you either hit a target with a melee weapon attack or successfully disarm or shove a target while wielding a melee weapon, your target is grappled by you. You do not need a free hand to grapple a target in this way. Instead, your grapple ends when you either attack another target or release your melee weapon.
When you use your action to make at least one melee attack, you can use your bonus action to Dash or Disengage.
When you would use your reaction to make a melee weapon attack, you can choose to make a disarm attempt or shove attempt instead.
Finesse Fighter (feat)
If a target is imposing disadvantage you can use your reaction to bypass it until the end of your current turn
Before you make a melee attack with a finesse weapon that you are proficient with, you can choose to take a -5 penalty to the attack roll. If the attack hits, you add +10 to the attack's damage.
i made this feat as a way for dex melee martials to keep up with GWM and SS. Before anyone comes in and says dex doesnt need it they already have so much! if a dex martial wanted to be optimal they would only use a crossbow and be no where near the front lines
if you have anything else to say tho id love to hear it
This feat certainly puts Dex-based melee builds on par with Strength-based melee builds.
At the same time, though, it just makes the builds play identically. If the only difference between a master fencer in leather armor and a greataxe master in clanging plate is the flavour text describing them—if they aren't playing different roles with different strengths and weaknesses—I think the game sorta flattens into a straight line: "Be a martial -> take the -5/+10 feat -> take the bonus action attack feat -> spam the Attack action for big damage".
How about instead of focusing on damage, the finesse feat offers defense, battlefield control, mobility or status effects?
My homebrew. Let me know what you think and what I can add!
thats fair and i did think about a defensive version but there was already Defensive Duelist
If Defensive Duelist were a strong enough feat for Dex melee martials, you wouldnt be trying to brainstorm a feat to put them on par with their Str counterparts! There's definitely room for another defensive feat for finesse weapons, or an upgraded version of Defensive Duelist.
Alternatively, there's definitely room for feats offering battlefield control, mobility and status effects.
My homebrew. Let me know what you think and what I can add!
how would battlefield control even work?
Think of how knife fights and fencing duels go in movies. The fighters don't just stand and trade blows. They use the threat of their weapons—clashed against or waving near their enemies—to hold their enemies in place and push them around. Combine that with the fancy footwork to lunge, leap, bob and weave around the battlefield, and you have a character who can control enemy movement while bypassing enemy control.
Master Duelist
You have learned to combine fine weaponry with fancy footwork to carve your way across the battlefield and prod your enemies wherever you choose. You gain the following benefits while you are wielding a melee weapon with the finesse property.
When you either hit a target with a melee weapon attack or successfully disarm or shove a target while wielding a melee weapon, your target is grappled by you. You do not need a free hand to grapple a target in this way. Instead, your grapple ends when you either attack another target or release your melee weapon.
When you use your action to make at least one melee attack, you can use your bonus action to Dash or Disengage.
When you would use your reaction to make a melee weapon attack, you can choose to make a disarm attempt or shove attempt instead.
My homebrew. Let me know what you think and what I can add!