You can steal one skill from any other class or subclass so long as that skill is acquired at a level equal to or lower then your current level at the time this Feat is taken. A skill that is dependent on a feature you do not have cannot be taken (ex a character without spell slots cannot take Divine Smite)
Shoul you only be able to take this feat one time, or no limit?
Too powerful?
As an example, any class could take, at level 4, the Expertise skill (a level 1 skill) from a Rogue or Action Surge from the Fighter (a level 2 skill)
Well, first, you don't really mean 'skill', right? Skills are things like Arcana, Deception, Stealth, etc. Expertise and Action Surge are various kinds of class/subclass features.
But if you open this up to any subclass feature, you're going to wind up with very odd things. For example, any class, at 4th level, could get a 'Pact Boon' from an otherworldly entity that the character has no pact with...because Pact Boon is a 3rd level feature of Warlock. So now the Druid, with no levels of Warlock, has a 'pact of the chain'...a pact, but there's nobody on the other end of the pact.
Even worse, 'Pact Magic' itself, the Warlock's ability to cast spells, is a feature of the Warlock. And they get that at 1st level. So anyone at 4th level could choose Pact Magic as a feature, and now have Warlock spellcasting?
You could just make a list of the specific things you'd like to allow--expertise, action surge, raging, etc. But at that point--what's the theme of the feat? Just 'get a cool thing'?
I'm not sure about powerful, for my own tastes I'd be concerned about it making sense for a given character. Is it just a mechanic to formally allow a character who ends up in melee a lot to gain a melee-relevant skill, like they might in the real world? Or is it a way to just supe up a character in a way that would be mechanically cool?
For example, if I'm the DM, I'm asking why your bookworm wizard who hasn't swung a melee weapon in 4 levels suddenly has Action Surge. :)
This seems like just a way to do some mild power-gaming, tbh. And, if taken too far, you'd end up with characters with no real distinctions from each other. One of the features of D&D is very distinct classes. If you start letting people slide around and blur the edges, you might as well play a system without classes, just skill-based.
Wow, this feat seems cool. Now, one Bard can be a multi-feat person, and have a crap load of different uses for Inspiration. Maybe make it so that you can choose it multiple times as long as you pick something different. Wouldn’t that be fun!
Also, what about expanded Spell lists? Could you choose those too?
It also solves the problem of Hexblade being pretty much the Number One warlock class (in terms of combat), as now a GOO can have Hexblade’s curse and hex warrior.
Ok, so that probably works best, so do we linit it to taking the feat only once, or as often as you like?
Do we limit to skills level 10 and under?
Maybe make it so that you can take it multiple times. The first time you take it, you get the lowest level subclass features of that subclass and each time you choose the same subclass, you get the next subclass feature. That essentially turns ASIs into a full level of multi-subclassing.
I haven't done a deep dive into this yet, but my gut says you should be able to take this feat multiple times. I don't see the need for a level restriction as long as you specify that the player must meet the feature's level requirement. Low-level players should have access to low level class features and high level players should have access to a wider range of features, yeah?
Now let's try to break this thing. What features would you add as a player to really min/max this feat?
Now let's try to break this thing. What features would you add as a player to really min/max this feat?
A moon druid with a land druid's natural recovery.
A battle master fighter with eldritch knight's spellcasting.
There are few other good ones, but these are the most min/maxed I could think of.
As for the BM taking spellcasting, that would only grant them 2 cantrips and 3 1st level spells, 2 slots, and it would never scale, but yeah, they could
So the feature you gained would be locked to your level when you gained it? Or would it be locked to the level of the feature? What would happen if a Battlemaster picked up Eldritch Knight's spellcasting at level 8 versus at level 4? And would the lack of scaling apply to all features or just spellcasting? I'm thinking of the way some Paladins' auras expand their range at level 18. Also keep in mind that for Arcane tricksters and Eldritch Knights to get much benefit from spellcasting, they still need to boost their INT scores, which carries its own cost.
You may select a feature from a different subclass within your class, as long as you meet that feature's level requirement. The feature you gain is locked to the level at which the feature is first gained and does not scale with future levels.
I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm not even disagreeing with you. I'm just trying to feel out the limits of the feature as you envision it.
Now let's try to break this thing. What features would you add as a player to really min/max this feat?
A moon druid with a land druid's natural recovery.
A battle master fighter with eldritch knight's spellcasting.
There are few other good ones, but these are the most min/maxed I could think of.
As for the BM taking spellcasting, that would only grant them 2 cantrips and 3 1st level spells, 2 slots, and it would never scale, but yeah, they could
Then an eldritch knight with battle master maneuvers.
And the level locking adds a lot of questions. If a cleric wanted different domain spells, would they only get the level 1 domain spells?
So the feature you gained would be locked to your level when you gained it? Or would it be locked to the level of the feature? What would happen if a Battlemaster picked up Eldritch Knight's spellcasting at level 8 versus at level 4? And would the lack of scaling apply to all features or just spellcasting? I'm thinking of the way some Paladins' auras expand their range at level 18. Also keep in mind that for Arcane tricksters and Eldritch Knights to get much benefit from spellcasting, they still need to boost their INT scores, which carries its own cost.
You may select a feature from a different subclass within your class, as long as you meet that feature's level requirement. The feature you gain is locked to the level at which the feature is first gained and does not scale with future levels.
I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm not even disagreeing with you. I'm just trying to feel out the limits of the feature as you envision it.
So to clarify, it would depend, in the case of the EK spellcasting, the cantrips, spell slots, and spell levels are based on the chart. So taking that feature, it grants you some spells, but you are not an EK, so your "level" in EK never raises, therefore you can never get higher levels of that feature.
In the case of the Paladin Aura, that is linked to overall class level, since you are a Paladin, it would increase.
So to clarify, it would depend, in the case of the EK spellcasting, the cantrips, spell slots, and spell levels are based on the chart. So taking that feature, it grants you some spells, but you are not an EK, so your "level" in EK never raises, therefore you can never get higher levels of that feature.
In the case of the Paladin Aura, that is linked to overall class level, since you are a Paladin, it would increase.
The eldritch knight's spell progression specifies fighter level not eldritch knight level.
So to clarify, it would depend, in the case of the EK spellcasting, the cantrips, spell slots, and spell levels are based on the chart. So taking that feature, it grants you some spells, but you are not an EK, so your "level" in EK never raises, therefore you can never get higher levels of that feature.
In the case of the Paladin Aura, that is linked to overall class level, since you are a Paladin, it would increase.
The eldritch knight's spell progression specifies fighter level not eldritch knight level.
All cantrips scale with character level, not class level, so they would also scale just like the way you are describing. I think spellcasting is a can of worms that we can maybe address through clever wording, or else by simply saying you cannot add the spellcasting feature. Blocking it outright doesn't feel like a very elegant solution though.
EDIT: the more I think about this, the less of a big deal I think spellcasting is since you can already add the magic initiate feat and do many of the things we are worried about with this feat.
Yeah, I have been discussing it with a buddy, I think I would just include a line about spellcasting, something along the lines of...
Spellcasting, such as the Eldritch Knight and Arcane Trickster can be taken, but do not scale with character level and grant only the initial ability as described.
You may select a feature from a different subclass within your class, as long as you meet that feature's level requirement. The feature you gain is locked to the level at which the feature is first gained and does not scale with future levels. Spells and abilities gained do not scale with your level, they remain at the level this feat was used.
This should take care of any scaling issues that may arise and still allows you to be able to track what was earned when. I believe this could be the "elegant" solution you were looking for. This also makes it so that Magic Initiate is still a viable choice and is not overshadowed by this new Feat.
Was thinking about a new feat, skill thief.
You can steal one skill from any other class or subclass so long as that skill is acquired at a level equal to or lower then your current level at the time this Feat is taken. A skill that is dependent on a feature you do not have cannot be taken (ex a character without spell slots cannot take Divine Smite)
Shoul you only be able to take this feat one time, or no limit?
Too powerful?
As an example, any class could take, at level 4, the Expertise skill (a level 1 skill) from a Rogue or Action Surge from the Fighter (a level 2 skill)
It might need some additional limitations. After all, spellcasting is also a level 1 class feature.
Well, first, you don't really mean 'skill', right? Skills are things like Arcana, Deception, Stealth, etc. Expertise and Action Surge are various kinds of class/subclass features.
But if you open this up to any subclass feature, you're going to wind up with very odd things. For example, any class, at 4th level, could get a 'Pact Boon' from an otherworldly entity that the character has no pact with...because Pact Boon is a 3rd level feature of Warlock. So now the Druid, with no levels of Warlock, has a 'pact of the chain'...a pact, but there's nobody on the other end of the pact.
Even worse, 'Pact Magic' itself, the Warlock's ability to cast spells, is a feature of the Warlock. And they get that at 1st level. So anyone at 4th level could choose Pact Magic as a feature, and now have Warlock spellcasting?
You could just make a list of the specific things you'd like to allow--expertise, action surge, raging, etc. But at that point--what's the theme of the feat? Just 'get a cool thing'?
I'm not sure about powerful, for my own tastes I'd be concerned about it making sense for a given character. Is it just a mechanic to formally allow a character who ends up in melee a lot to gain a melee-relevant skill, like they might in the real world? Or is it a way to just supe up a character in a way that would be mechanically cool?
For example, if I'm the DM, I'm asking why your bookworm wizard who hasn't swung a melee weapon in 4 levels suddenly has Action Surge. :)
This seems like just a way to do some mild power-gaming, tbh. And, if taken too far, you'd end up with characters with no real distinctions from each other. One of the features of D&D is very distinct classes. If you start letting people slide around and blur the edges, you might as well play a system without classes, just skill-based.
Looking for new subclasses, spells, magic items, feats, and races? Opinions welcome :)
Yeah, I know what you mean, was just a thought Perhaps tweak it...
Feature Savant...
You can select a feature from a different subclass within your class...etc
This is a more balanced approach and a good answer to the age-old problem of not being able to multiclass the same class for a different subclass.
Now you're onto something!
You can select a feature from a different subclass within your class, so long as you meet that feature's level requirement.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Ok, so that probably works best, so do we linit it to taking the feat only once, or as often as you like?
Do we limit to skills level 10 and under?
Wow, this feat seems cool. Now, one Bard can be a multi-feat person, and have a crap load of different uses for Inspiration. Maybe make it so that you can choose it multiple times as long as you pick something different. Wouldn’t that be fun!
Also, what about expanded Spell lists? Could you choose those too?
It also solves the problem of Hexblade being pretty much the Number One warlock class (in terms of combat), as now a GOO can have Hexblade’s curse and hex warrior.
Extended Signature! Yay! https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/3153-extended-signature-thread?page=2#c21
Haven’t used this account in forever. Still a big fan of crawling claws.
Maybe make it so that you can take it multiple times. The first time you take it, you get the lowest level subclass features of that subclass and each time you choose the same subclass, you get the next subclass feature. That essentially turns ASIs into a full level of multi-subclassing.
I haven't done a deep dive into this yet, but my gut says you should be able to take this feat multiple times. I don't see the need for a level restriction as long as you specify that the player must meet the feature's level requirement. Low-level players should have access to low level class features and high level players should have access to a wider range of features, yeah?
Now let's try to break this thing. What features would you add as a player to really min/max this feat?
"Not all those who wander are lost"
A moon druid with a land druid's natural recovery.
A battle master fighter with eldritch knight's spellcasting.
There are few other good ones, but these are the most min/maxed I could think of.
As for the BM taking spellcasting, that would only grant them 2 cantrips and 3 1st level spells, 2 slots, and it would never scale, but yeah, they could
So the feature you gained would be locked to your level when you gained it? Or would it be locked to the level of the feature? What would happen if a Battlemaster picked up Eldritch Knight's spellcasting at level 8 versus at level 4? And would the lack of scaling apply to all features or just spellcasting? I'm thinking of the way some Paladins' auras expand their range at level 18. Also keep in mind that for Arcane tricksters and Eldritch Knights to get much benefit from spellcasting, they still need to boost their INT scores, which carries its own cost.
You may select a feature from a different subclass within your class, as long as you meet that feature's level requirement. The feature you gain is locked to the level at which the feature is first gained and does not scale with future levels.
I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm not even disagreeing with you. I'm just trying to feel out the limits of the feature as you envision it.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Then an eldritch knight with battle master maneuvers.
And the level locking adds a lot of questions. If a cleric wanted different domain spells, would they only get the level 1 domain spells?
So to clarify, it would depend, in the case of the EK spellcasting, the cantrips, spell slots, and spell levels are based on the chart. So taking that feature, it grants you some spells, but you are not an EK, so your "level" in EK never raises, therefore you can never get higher levels of that feature.
In the case of the Paladin Aura, that is linked to overall class level, since you are a Paladin, it would increase.
The eldritch knight's spell progression specifies fighter level not eldritch knight level.
Actually, looking over the EK just now, it seems it is based on Fighter level, so I suppose your spell casting would go up.
All cantrips scale with character level, not class level, so they would also scale just like the way you are describing. I think spellcasting is a can of worms that we can maybe address through clever wording, or else by simply saying you cannot add the spellcasting feature. Blocking it outright doesn't feel like a very elegant solution though.
EDIT: the more I think about this, the less of a big deal I think spellcasting is since you can already add the magic initiate feat and do many of the things we are worried about with this feat.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Yeah, I have been discussing it with a buddy, I think I would just include a line about spellcasting, something along the lines of...
Spellcasting, such as the Eldritch Knight and Arcane Trickster can be taken, but do not scale with character level and grant only the initial ability as described.
You may select a feature from a different subclass within your class, as long as you meet that feature's level requirement. The feature you gain is locked to the level at which the feature is first gained and does not scale with future levels. Spells and abilities gained do not scale with your level, they remain at the level this feat was used.
This should take care of any scaling issues that may arise and still allows you to be able to track what was earned when. I believe this could be the "elegant" solution you were looking for. This also makes it so that Magic Initiate is still a viable choice and is not overshadowed by this new Feat.