I've been toying a bit around with an idea for a feat that primarily benefits Two-Weapon Fighting players but still has application for players going Sword'n'Board, Duelist-style or using versatile weapons. It was also meant as a way to make an alternative to Great Weapon Master without straight copying the feat. With the UA and the new PHB coming out sometime in 2024, where WotC said they had intention to remove Great Weapon Master, this suggested feat becomes less relevant and I mainly post it here for feedback and suggestions for the creative process.
Prerequisite: Requires a character level of 4 or higher.
You have trained excessively with one-handed weapons, to the point where you can make better use of your physique in combat. Your attacks hit harder and in vulnerable spots on your opponent. Additionally you can find exposures in the enemy's guard when maneuvering around in a fight whilst keeping your guard up.
Whenever you attack with a melee weapon that you wield in one hand that you are proficient with, you may add half (rounded up) of your ability score modifier for Strength or Dexterity (your choice) to the damage rolls of that attack. You cannot use the same ability score modifier through this feat that you are already using for your attack.
Once per turn when you take the disengage action and move away from a creature within your reach, you may make a weapon attack against that creature with a melee weapon you wield in one hand that you are proficient with. You may use the rules for Two-Weapon Fighting for this attack as if you took the attack action, as long as you wield the other weapon in one hand and you are proficient with it.
Whenever you are attacked by an opportunity attack or an attack that uses a reaction, and it isn't a ranged attack, you have +1 AC for each weapon you wield in one hand that you are proficient with.
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At first glance this might look like a lot, but when you consider the requirement it mellows a bit out. Usually people don't want to invest in both Strength and Dexterity, so the feat naturally has some build drawbacks. I know that we have Warlock Pact of the Blade who can utilize their Charisma score modifier for weapon attacks instead, but they also don't get that many attacks, so I think it's fine that they get to circumvent that limit but they still need to increase two ability scores.
I'd expect people who were interested in the feat to go for full STR or DEX builds and then on character creation pick up 16 in the other score to basically get a +2 bonus to damage for one-handed weapons. Investing 4 more points into STR/DEX to get +3 instead, is a tad excessive. You could have the modifier be rounded down instead, with the caveat that a 12 score = +0 damage, 14 = +1, 18 = +2 and 20 = +2. Limiting the potential users significantly to basically only Fighters who go full damage.
The disengage attack and extra AC against Opportunity Attacks is mainly there to tempt players to utilize that action more and be less concerned with Opportunity Attacks for a frontliner who might need to position themselves differently, go for targets in the back, or to escape. And a potential +2 AC against Opportunity Attacks is not really significant to be a trouble maker, but is the equivalent for a TWF to have a shield for that attack.
Again with the probable removal of Great Weapon Master in the PHB 2024 edition, I think the need for a feat like this is lessened. But alas it was fun to create. What do you think?
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I've been toying a bit around with an idea for a feat that primarily benefits Two-Weapon Fighting players but still has application for players going Sword'n'Board, Duelist-style or using versatile weapons. It was also meant as a way to make an alternative to Great Weapon Master without straight copying the feat. With the UA and the new PHB coming out sometime in 2024, where WotC said they had intention to remove Great Weapon Master, this suggested feat becomes less relevant and I mainly post it here for feedback and suggestions for the creative process.
Link to the Feat on DnDBeyond
One-handed Prowess
You have trained excessively with one-handed weapons, to the point where you can make better use of your physique in combat. Your attacks hit harder and in vulnerable spots on your opponent. Additionally you can find exposures in the enemy's guard when maneuvering around in a fight whilst keeping your guard up.
'
At first glance this might look like a lot, but when you consider the requirement it mellows a bit out. Usually people don't want to invest in both Strength and Dexterity, so the feat naturally has some build drawbacks. I know that we have Warlock Pact of the Blade who can utilize their Charisma score modifier for weapon attacks instead, but they also don't get that many attacks, so I think it's fine that they get to circumvent that limit but they still need to increase two ability scores.
I'd expect people who were interested in the feat to go for full STR or DEX builds and then on character creation pick up 16 in the other score to basically get a +2 bonus to damage for one-handed weapons. Investing 4 more points into STR/DEX to get +3 instead, is a tad excessive. You could have the modifier be rounded down instead, with the caveat that a 12 score = +0 damage, 14 = +1, 18 = +2 and 20 = +2. Limiting the potential users significantly to basically only Fighters who go full damage.
The disengage attack and extra AC against Opportunity Attacks is mainly there to tempt players to utilize that action more and be less concerned with Opportunity Attacks for a frontliner who might need to position themselves differently, go for targets in the back, or to escape. And a potential +2 AC against Opportunity Attacks is not really significant to be a trouble maker, but is the equivalent for a TWF to have a shield for that attack.
Again with the probable removal of Great Weapon Master in the PHB 2024 edition, I think the need for a feat like this is lessened. But alas it was fun to create. What do you think?