"5 Stars. Exactly what I was looking for! Gives my players that extra flavor and utility while maintaining game balance. So many cool talents in here, I can't wait for the second book!" - Joshua C.
"4 stars. I want my players to be epic. I want them to be larger than life heroes. Adding talents give them another simple mechanic to give a bit more depth to the characters. All in all I really like this idea of lesser powered talents that can provide additional dimension to characters and I'm looking forward the the second one coming out." - Steve C.
Character Options: Talents offers variant rules for your 5th edition gaming. It does not change any of the existing rules. Instead, it provides you with additional options for character customization and development. It offers over 230 talents that you can choose from, enabling you to bring flavor, diversity, and much needed punch to your characters!
Click the image and take a look at the preview to get a good idea of what you can have!
I just looked at the preview, which is the first 12 pages or so. Initially, I saw that a lot of the first few pages had traits that were like: You get +1 to X saving throw or ability or attack. Which feels more like 4E to me, I don't really think any ability in 5E gives a static boost to anything. I think most thinks are a bonus equal to proficiency or a relevant modifier or your level or something.
So it just seems off and like it couldn't pass as official, not that you're trying to make it seem like it is official, but I mean that in the sense that I'll always know that it's homebrew. If that makes sense lol I sort of confused myself a little with that.
I just looked at the preview, which is the first 12 pages or so. Initially, I saw that a lot of the first few pages had traits that were like: You get +1 to X saving throw or ability or attack. Which feels more like 4E to me, I don't really think any ability in 5E gives a static boost to anything. I think most thinks are a bonus equal to proficiency or a relevant modifier or your level or something.
So it just seems off and like it couldn't pass as official, not that you're trying to make it seem like it is official, but I mean that in the sense that I'll always know that it's homebrew. If that makes sense lol I sort of confused myself a little with that.
Hi Squigs. The first few pages of the preview showcase the talents that affect ability scores. Hence, most of the talents there provide a static bonus. You are correct in thinking that they have more of a 4E feel (more so to 3E). But for the majority of the book, it is more aligned to the feats and bonuses of 5E. For example, allowing an extra use of a class or racial feature, allowing a reroll, gaining advantage on a roll when a trigger or requirement is met, and gaining or improving a current feature. There are hundreds though to choose from. The point of the book though, is to provide more character flexibility or expertise, and ultimately ownership of the character by the player through his or her choices of talents.
But as for any ability or feature in 5e that provides a static bonus, here are some examples:
Fighting Style (PHB p.72)
ARCHERY You gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls you make with ranged weapons.
DEFENSE While you are wearing armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC.
DUELING When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon.
Dual Wielder Feat (PHB p.165): One of the bonuses is You gain a +1 bonus to AC while you are wielding a separate melee weapon in each hand.
Forge Domain (Xanathar's p.20)
Blessing of the Forge grants a +1 bonus to AC if it’s armor or a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls if it’s a weapon.
Soul of the Forge While wearing heavy armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC.
Way of the Kensei (Xanathar's p.34)
Agile Parry. If you make an unarmed strike as part of the Attack action on your turn and are holding a kensei weapon, you can use it to defend yourself if it is a melee weapon. You gain a +2 bonus to AC until the start of your next turn, while the weapon is in your hand and you aren't incapacitated.
War Mage (Xanathar's p.59)
Arcane Deflection When you are hit by an attack or you fail a saving throw, you can use your reaction to gain a +2 bonus to your AC against that attack or a +4 bonus to that saving throw.
Durable Magic While you maintain concentration on a spell, you have a +2 bonus to AC and all saving throws.
Everything you said is correct, but I think I misspoke my initial point. AC is the main one that gets a static boost. If you remove your examples that use AC that only leaves Archery and Dueling. Both of which are fighting styles, so it's a little different than the traits. And even with your examples, none of them increase ability scores, which I guess is where my point of view comes from.
At the same token though, you can't create a book like yours, if you just do the same thing that's already been done. So it makes sense!
And even with your examples, none of them increase ability scores, which I guess is where my point of view comes from.
Sorry, just going to quickly correct you here. None of the talents in my books provide a bonus or increases an ability score. They either provide a bonus to the ability saving throw, or allows them reroll an ability check or saving throw roll.
"5 Stars. Exactly what I was looking for! Gives my players that extra flavor and utility while maintaining game balance. So many cool talents in here, I can't wait for the second book!" - Joshua C.
"4 stars. I want my players to be epic. I want them to be larger than life heroes. Adding talents give them another simple mechanic to give a bit more depth to the characters. All in all I really like this idea of lesser powered talents that can provide additional dimension to characters and I'm looking forward the the second one coming out." - Steve C.
Character Options: Talents offers variant rules for your 5th edition gaming. It does not change any of the existing rules. Instead, it provides you with additional options for character customization and development. It offers over 230 talents that you can choose from, enabling you to bring flavor, diversity, and much needed punch to your characters!
Click the image and take a look at the preview to get a good idea of what you can have!
DMG just started its Christmas at July Sale! Until July 20, 25% off on all titles, including Character Options: Talents, Character Options: Talents II, and DM Options Monster Talents!
I just looked at the preview, which is the first 12 pages or so. Initially, I saw that a lot of the first few pages had traits that were like: You get +1 to X saving throw or ability or attack. Which feels more like 4E to me, I don't really think any ability in 5E gives a static boost to anything. I think most thinks are a bonus equal to proficiency or a relevant modifier or your level or something.
So it just seems off and like it couldn't pass as official, not that you're trying to make it seem like it is official, but I mean that in the sense that I'll always know that it's homebrew. If that makes sense lol I sort of confused myself a little with that.
Published Subclasses
Hi Squigs. The first few pages of the preview showcase the talents that affect ability scores. Hence, most of the talents there provide a static bonus. You are correct in thinking that they have more of a 4E feel (more so to 3E). But for the majority of the book, it is more aligned to the feats and bonuses of 5E. For example, allowing an extra use of a class or racial feature, allowing a reroll, gaining advantage on a roll when a trigger or requirement is met, and gaining or improving a current feature. There are hundreds though to choose from. The point of the book though, is to provide more character flexibility or expertise, and ultimately ownership of the character by the player through his or her choices of talents.
But as for any ability or feature in 5e that provides a static bonus, here are some examples:
Fighting Style (PHB p.72)
Dual Wielder Feat (PHB p.165): One of the bonuses is You gain a +1 bonus to AC while you are wielding a separate melee weapon in each hand.
Forge Domain (Xanathar's p.20)
Way of the Kensei (Xanathar's p.34)
Agile Parry. If you make an unarmed strike as part of the Attack action on your turn and are holding a kensei weapon, you can use it to defend yourself if it is a melee weapon. You gain a +2 bonus to AC until the start of your next turn, while the weapon is in your hand and you aren't incapacitated.
War Mage (Xanathar's p.59)
Everything you said is correct, but I think I misspoke my initial point. AC is the main one that gets a static boost. If you remove your examples that use AC that only leaves Archery and Dueling. Both of which are fighting styles, so it's a little different than the traits. And even with your examples, none of them increase ability scores, which I guess is where my point of view comes from.
At the same token though, you can't create a book like yours, if you just do the same thing that's already been done. So it makes sense!
Published Subclasses
Sorry, just going to quickly correct you here. None of the talents in my books provide a bonus or increases an ability score. They either provide a bonus to the ability saving throw, or allows them reroll an ability check or saving throw roll.
CritAcademy did a podcast feature of Character Talents options!
print on demand please...