This chapter offers a collection of feats, which are special features not tied to a character class.
I interpret “not tied to” as meaning not only acquired through class progression (i.e., obtained via other sources), but this does not imply feats gained via classes are not class features—otherwise, wouldn’t that be as absurd as claiming spells gained through classes aren’t class spells?
The rules do not support any of the above ideas though.
Feats are always just feats. They are never class features. Feats have their own rules. As already quoted, they are "special features not tied to a character class". The idea here is that you could be a member of many different classes and still acquire a given Feat. This is generally not true of class Features. For example, you must be a Barbarian to acquire the class Feature called "Rage". Other classes do not have access to that feature since it is a class Feature belonging to Barbarians. Feats do not work that way. They are not class Features.
The "source of the Feat" does not matter at all in determining if the Feat is a class Feature. That's because a Feat is never a class Feature.
otherwise, wouldn’t that be as absurd as claiming spells gained through classes aren’t class spells?
As a matter of fact, this is certainly possible. Whether or not you gain a spell through a class is actually irrelevant in determining if that spell is a class spell. The ONLY thing that matters for determining if a spell is a class spell is if it appears on the class spell list. Or, if a feature explicitly says that the spell counts as a [class] spell for you.
This is precisely the issue with the Warlock invocations. These invocations sometimes allow a character to gain a spell "through their Warlock class", but that doesn't make them Warlock spells. A spell is only a Warlock spell when the rules state that it is a Warlock spell.
Reading the Converting to System Reference Document 5.2.1, maybe this helps regarding the discussion about whether feats (e.g. Ability Score Improvement) are considered class features or a separate thing:
Feats
Feats “Feats” includes the following new and revised elements, which are presented in the order in which they appear in that section.
Feat Descriptions [New Rule]
Feats are now divided into categories, including Origin, General, Fighting Style, and Epic Boon. All feats in this section are new except for the following revised rules.
Ability Score Improvement [Revised Rule]
This rule is now a feat rather than a class feature.
Grappler [Revised Rule]
This feat is revised and is now a General feat.
Fighting Style Feats [Revised Rule]
These rules are now feats rather than class features.
Reading the Converting to System Reference Document 5.2.1, maybe this helps regarding the discussion about whether feats (e.g. Ability Score Improvement) are considered class features or a separate thing:
Ability Score Improvement [Revised Rule]
This rule is now a feat rather than a class feature.
Fighting Style Feats [Revised Rule]
These rules are now feats rather than class features.
All right, I think you are right.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
The rules do not support any of the above ideas though.
Feats are always just feats. They are never class features. Feats have their own rules. As already quoted, they are "special features not tied to a character class". The idea here is that you could be a member of many different classes and still acquire a given Feat. This is generally not true of class Features. For example, you must be a Barbarian to acquire the class Feature called "Rage". Other classes do not have access to that feature since it is a class Feature belonging to Barbarians. Feats do not work that way. They are not class Features.
The "source of the Feat" does not matter at all in determining if the Feat is a class Feature. That's because a Feat is never a class Feature.
As for this above thought:
As a matter of fact, this is certainly possible. Whether or not you gain a spell through a class is actually irrelevant in determining if that spell is a class spell. The ONLY thing that matters for determining if a spell is a class spell is if it appears on the class spell list. Or, if a feature explicitly says that the spell counts as a [class] spell for you.
This is precisely the issue with the Warlock invocations. These invocations sometimes allow a character to gain a spell "through their Warlock class", but that doesn't make them Warlock spells. A spell is only a Warlock spell when the rules state that it is a Warlock spell.
Thanks everyone, just as I thought it worked but needed confirmation 😁
Reading the Converting to System Reference Document 5.2.1, maybe this helps regarding the discussion about whether feats (e.g. Ability Score Improvement) are considered class features or a separate thing:
All right, I think you are right.