Talk:Heavy Armor Master, Variant (5e Feat)

This is an attempt to setup the regular Heavy Armor Master (HAM) feat (PHB-167) to level better. Reduces some of the effectiveness early on compared to the PHB HAM but don't forget that +1 Strength boost. The one thing the regular HAM feat is good for at higher levels is swarms and mobs dealing masses of tiny damage so I left a minimum damage of 1... so unlike the PHB HAM a mass of Rats, Bats and even Cats can still wear you down, you no longer laugh at a pack of Hyenas (or goats) and your pack camel can bite your arrogant arse. Damage reduction to level should be:

• 1-3 = -1
• 3-6 = -2
• 7-9 = -3
• 10-12 = -4
• 12-15 = -5
• 16-18 = -6
• 19-20 = -7

Alternate options a reviewer might consider:

• If damage reduction still seems too small make it a third of your level +1 for damage reduction
• you can use your armor to absorb up to half your level in hit points each turn which stops you laughing at mobs/swarms.
• Simply gives you resistance to non-magical bludgeoning, piercing and slashing (consider removing the "+1 Str" for this).
• Damage reduction is equal to your proficiency bonus. This fits in with other efforts to reduce arithmetic and streamline effects in 5e.

-- You forget that regular HAM works on every attack. It scales inherently: Name me a high level monster that does nonmagical bludgeoning, slashing or piercing damage that [i]doesn't[/i] use multiattack?

I agree with the above comment, that the existing Heavy Armor Master actually does balance well. But if you'd still like this alternate feat, I like the damage reduction equal to your proficiency bonus idea. Very simple and easy to understand. No calculationsCarcabob (talk) 23:22, 4 November 2016 (MDT)