Say you were starting a game at level 3, and you wanted to play a strength based valor bard. Medium armor proficiency is a prerequisite to get the heavily armored feat, and a valor bard gets proficiency with medium armor at level 3 when they choose their college, but not at level 1 where character creation happens. So the question is whether there is anything in the rules that would prevent the variant human from “holding” his feat until level 3 and then choosing a feat he would not have had the prerequisites for at level 1?
If there is no rule on this, how would you rule this as a DM?
Variant human is meant to pick the feat at creation. I have seen a house rule some people use where you pick the feat at level one, but it doesn’t take effect until level four. Balance was the reason mentioned for this house rule.
There is no specific rule for it, but all characters are supposed to be built from level 1 up.
This is a bit like asking if a level 3 warlock can start with 4 level 2 spells. It can't, it should have at most 2 level 2 spells and 2 level 1 spells.
There is no specific rule for it, but all characters are supposed to be built from level 1 up.
This is a bit like asking if a level 3 warlock can start with 4 level 2 spells. It can't, it should have at most 2 level 2 spells and 2 level 1 spells.
Hmm that’s a good way to put it (though why a warlock would forgo hex is beyond me), but in this situation the rules specifically state when and how to choose spells, whereas for variant human it just says
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Feat
You gain one feat of your choice.
————————————————————————————————
the warlock rules:
Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher
At 1st level, you know two 1st-level spells of your choice from the warlock spell list.
The Spells Known column of the Warlock table shows when you learn more warlock spells of your choice of 1st level and higher. A spell you choose must be of a level no higher than what’s shown in the table’s Slot Level column for your level. When you reach 6th level, for example, you learn a new warlock spell, which can be 1st, 2nd, or 3rd level.
Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the warlock spells you know and replace it with another spell from the warlock spell list, which also must be of a level for which you have spell slots.
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looking for if there is somewhere else in the rules that would restrict this, and what people as feel about this as DMs (looks like 2 “not gonna fly”s so far)
The intent is that you start with the benefit of the feat at level 1. Personally I’d run it that way however, as always, it’s up to the DM of the game if they want to make any changes to that.
It's all up to DM to avoid ridiculous metagame situations. Imagine creating a higher lvl PC and being able to choose some magic items, then dumping your main stat and taking relevant item to boost it to 19+ ;-)
I mean - you could do that but try to explain to your DM how your Wizard was a moron before he got his band of intellect ;-)
As for the feat - I would probably agree on delaying it 100% of the time if the campaign started at lvl 1 (consider starting as Variant Human without their feat as the "tax") but if creating at higher level I'd need to analyze it on case by case basis (what makes sense and what doesn't).
I would probably say no as the DM and just tell you to get the feat at level four honestly and pick something different for starting feat. You'll get to level four within a few sessions anyway so wouldn't be a big deal.
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Say you were starting a game at level 3, and you wanted to play a strength based valor bard. Medium armor proficiency is a prerequisite to get the heavily armored feat, and a valor bard gets proficiency with medium armor at level 3 when they choose their college, but not at level 1 where character creation happens. So the question is whether there is anything in the rules that would prevent the variant human from “holding” his feat until level 3 and then choosing a feat he would not have had the prerequisites for at level 1?
If there is no rule on this, how would you rule this as a DM?
Variant human is meant to pick the feat at creation. I have seen a house rule some people use where you pick the feat at level one, but it doesn’t take effect until level four. Balance was the reason mentioned for this house rule.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
There is no specific rule for it, but all characters are supposed to be built from level 1 up.
This is a bit like asking if a level 3 warlock can start with 4 level 2 spells. It can't, it should have at most 2 level 2 spells and 2 level 1 spells.
Hmm that’s a good way to put it (though why a warlock would forgo hex is beyond me), but in this situation the rules specifically state when and how to choose spells, whereas for variant human it just says
————————————————————————————————
Feat
You gain one feat of your choice.
————————————————————————————————
the warlock rules:
Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher
At 1st level, you know two 1st-level spells of your choice from the warlock spell list.
The Spells Known column of the Warlock table shows when you learn more warlock spells of your choice of 1st level and higher. A spell you choose must be of a level no higher than what’s shown in the table’s Slot Level column for your level. When you reach 6th level, for example, you learn a new warlock spell, which can be 1st, 2nd, or 3rd level.
Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the warlock spells you know and replace it with another spell from the warlock spell list, which also must be of a level for which you have spell slots.
————————————————————————————————
looking for if there is somewhere else in the rules that would restrict this, and what people as feel about this as DMs (looks like 2 “not gonna fly”s so far)
The intent is that you start with the benefit of the feat at level 1. Personally I’d run it that way however, as always, it’s up to the DM of the game if they want to make any changes to that.
Please take a look at my homebrewed Spells, Magic Items, and Subclasses. Any feedback appreciated.
It's all up to DM to avoid ridiculous metagame situations. Imagine creating a higher lvl PC and being able to choose some magic items, then dumping your main stat and taking relevant item to boost it to 19+ ;-)
I mean - you could do that but try to explain to your DM how your Wizard was a moron before he got his band of intellect ;-)
As for the feat - I would probably agree on delaying it 100% of the time if the campaign started at lvl 1 (consider starting as Variant Human without their feat as the "tax") but if creating at higher level I'd need to analyze it on case by case basis (what makes sense and what doesn't).
I would probably say no as the DM and just tell you to get the feat at level four honestly and pick something different for starting feat. You'll get to level four within a few sessions anyway so wouldn't be a big deal.