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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
 Posted - 22 Nov 2004 : 23:33:41
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I've come to the hard conclusion that the regional feat system has too many problems. Not all of the feats are balanced against each other, and the fact that they aren't available later in play seems to take away from the idea of being part of a nation or region. Many have no reason as to why they aren't available later in life.
Also, the feats shown in The Shining South and referenced in the Player's Guide to Faerun from earlier books seem underpowered for the rules laid out in the latter, and those in the former seem on their own to suggest you can take them at any time you could normally take a feat, if not that you can take more than one.
I think that the regional feat system either needs to be changed -- again! -- or done away with entirely.
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36873 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2004 : 01:06:21
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| How does not being able to take a regional feat later take away from being part of a nation? Taking it from the beginning means you grew up there, and all. Not being able to take it afterwards means you either didn't learn growing up, or you aren't from that area. I see no problem with this. |
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2004 : 09:49:43
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There are things that you can learn from one area, and one only, that you can only learn later on. For instance, there's a Calishite Elementalist feat in RoF. I would want to make that a regional feat, but there's no reason that it should be taken only at first level.
In history, many people have gone to other countries to learn what can only be learned from that country. It's happening less these days, because of technology being able to bring those things to more and more places, but even so you'll find a lot of foreign nationals in British and American schools. Go back about a century and change, and you'll find people praising the German schools and sending their kids there.
There are plenty of regional feats that actually have to do with character creation. Bloodline of Fire has to do with specific ancestory. Bullheaded is a character trait that isn't necessarily inherited, but certainly can't be learned. But there are others that can in fact be learned, like Swift and Silent or Artist. Both of those are too powerful to just give out as a normal feat, but neither are really dependant on your childhood. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36873 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2004 : 15:25:45
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I can see that, I guess...
What I suppose I would do is look at the list of regional feats, and pick out certain ones that could be learned after first level. I'd then add some requirements to learning them, such as having to spend three continuous months in the area and be instructed by a native who has that feat. How's that for a workaround? |
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Capn Charlie
Senior Scribe
USA
418 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2004 : 15:33:39
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It comes back to game balance... the "regional feats" are often more powerful than a standard feat, and the balance agaisnt that is theri being able to only be taken once, and then only at first level.
What I would do is tinker with the regional feat rules, and allow a character to have a limit on One regional feat only, but able to be taken at any level. Then, I would go down the list of regional feats taking all of the ones I considered balanced for "standard feats" and add a prerequisite of "2 ranks in Knowledge(local) Region, or having spent a significgant portion of one's time there". |
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Lashan
Learned Scribe
USA
235 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2004 : 16:57:43
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| I don't like the idea of having someone not from an area gain a regional feat in that area. It's against the spirit of regional feats and allows someone to min/max a character by bypassing the rules. I don't think that someone who lives in an area for awhile should be allowed access to those regional feats. They really weren't brought up in that culture during developmental periods to gain that feat. It seems a way for a character to gain a cool feat from a region if they spend the skill points on it and spend some time in that region. |
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Capn Charlie
Senior Scribe
USA
418 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2004 : 17:13:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Lashan
It seems a way for a character to gain a cool feat from a region if they spend the skill points on it and spend some time in that region.
It is.
Quite frankly the idea of a regional feat is only slightly less disturbingto me than breaking down humans into "races" and giving them stat bonii/penalties.
And, I can think of several situations where a non min/maxer would possibly need to give a character a non home regional feat. For instance, say the character concept was of one who was exiled from theri lands in, say, cormyr and fled west until they came to the plains of the Tuigan and managed to win their trust, and spent two decades their living their way of life and embracing it, to the extent even they mastered a regional feat from there.
Under the right circumstances I, as DM, would allow a player to take a feat that I would normally deem too overpowered for campaign use, or allow them to take more than one regional feat, if I thought the reason was sufficient. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36873 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2004 : 17:27:08
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quote:
Originally posted by Capn Charlie
It comes back to game balance... the "regional feats" are often more powerful than a standard feat, and the balance agaisnt that is theri being able to only be taken once, and then only at first level.
What I would do is tinker with the regional feat rules, and allow a character to have a limit on One regional feat only, but able to be taken at any level. Then, I would go down the list of regional feats taking all of the ones I considered balanced for "standard feats" and add a prerequisite of "2 ranks in Knowledge(local) Region, or having spent a significgant portion of one's time there".
I like the idea of requuiring a couple of ranks in local Knowledge for that region...
But still, there are a few regional feats that I would allow after first level, and on top of other regional feats -- depending on the character concept.
If, for example, you start a campaign in the Underdark, and then move it to the surface after a serious amount of time spent below, at that point I would allow a drow character to work on obtaining Daylight Adaptation. |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2004 : 18:07:55
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
If, for example, you start a campaign in the Underdark, and then move it to the surface after a serious amount of time spent below, at that point I would allow a drow character to work on obtaining Daylight Adaptation.
WOTC agreed with you since they changed that feat in the Player's Guide errata after half the WOTC FR posters complained. :) |
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Lashan
Learned Scribe
USA
235 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2004 : 18:31:20
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I, personally, think it was great to break "humans" down into the various ethnicities and cultures that they are. I mean, if you can do it for elves, why not humans? I don't think you need to apply +/- to the various ethnicities, though. Greyhawk is a great example of having distinctive human cultures that work out great. Sure, FR isn't Greyhawk, but that doesn't mean they should toss out a good idea.
I like the idea of having special and regional feats that are only allowed to a character who is born in that area. I don't like breaking the rules for characters and think it's a decent distinction to have. Of course, it's just my humble opinion. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36873 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2004 : 18:36:28
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quote:
Originally posted by kuje31
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
If, for example, you start a campaign in the Underdark, and then move it to the surface after a serious amount of time spent below, at that point I would allow a drow character to work on obtaining Daylight Adaptation.
WOTC agreed with you since they changed that feat in the Player's Guide errata after half the WOTC FR posters complained. :)
Oops! I guess I either need to pay more attention to the errata, or choose a better example! |
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Capn Charlie
Senior Scribe
USA
418 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2004 : 18:44:24
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quote:
Originally posted by Lashan
I like the idea of having special and regional feats that are only allowed to a character who is born in that area.
Humans are eminently adaptable, I feel confident that given sufficient time and dedication there is nothign that one group of humans are taught to do from birth that another human cannot learn just as well over time.
quote:
Originally posted by Lashan
I don't like breaking the rules for characters and think it's a decent distinction to have. Of course, it's just my humble opinion.
The rules exist to serve me, not I them.
As DM when my ideas conflict with the rules, I win. Bending or breakign the rules as need neccescitates is a skill that has been as long touted as it is difficult to master. In 2e, if I needed a dwarf wizard for my story... well, by golly I got him. Halfling bards? If need be, yes.
Even today, I tinker with the rules endlessly adaptign them to suit the needs of me and my players. I create new weapon proficiency groups, new classes and feats, new magical items and spells... The rules are nice as is, but if I need a littlemore out of them, I wil lexpand or alter them as needed, any good DM will. |
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My first stab at realms fiction, here at candlekeep. Stop on by and tell me what you think. |
Edited by - Capn Charlie on 23 Nov 2004 18:48:20 |
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Lashan
Learned Scribe
USA
235 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2004 : 20:14:27
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| I am definatly more liberal in my interpretation of the rules and don't feel that anyone should be confined by them. I do say, though, that one thinks about what it is they want to change. Personally, what is the difference if anyone can get a regional feat? I know you say that it will take effort and a few skill points for people to get a regional feat that isn't theirs. Personally, I don't like it. I think it cheapens the whole thing. This is all my opinion, though. I am debating my opinion to perhaps influence another opinion on the matter. I don't disagree that you shouldn't change the rules in a way that is more favorable to the way you play. |
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2004 : 14:30:56
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Regional feats exist as a reward for grounding your character in the Realms. However, the system isn't really realistic. As I said, throughout history people have gone to other countries (or just different areas) to learn. If you were to apply this to real life -- not so hard to imagine, really -- then you would suddenly have a lot of hangups.
For instance, I recently learned about people from Sudan moving to Israel and within two years mastering computers. And I'm not talking about just learning how to websurf here. That's a huge culture leap to make, but they did it. If this can happen that quickly in real life, then -- even considering the fact that they probably had really good teachers and all the equipment necessary -- people in the game should be able to learn radically different ways of doing things as well, such as someone learning the Arcane Schooling feat after spending a few years working at it.
Don't get me wrong, though. Regionals are supposed to be something that you grow up with. It would take far less effort for a typical American child to learn to use a computer than someone who's never seen one before in his life. So, I say that characters with that region, chosen at first level, should be able to qualify for regionals far more easily than others would. Also, you can mix and match. For example, Swift and Silent, when taken at first level, works as normal. If taken later, you choose between being "swift and silent" or being "swift and stealthy" -- that is, the run penalty is removed for either Hide or Move Silently, but not both.
Another thing is that feats based on ancestory, like Bloodline of Fire, should be actually based on ancestory and not region. For instance, why exactly can't the full-blooded Calimshite son of two merchants who moved to Amn before he was born manifest the power of the efreeti? What exactly is it about growing up in Amn that somehow blocks such potential?
I'm certainly not proposing that you remove blocks and make it easy to get any regional feat. I don't even like the old prerequisite, where you needed two ranks in Knowledge (local (region)) -- I thought it was too easy to get, and that was when regional feats were pretty much no better than normal feats. But the current system just has too many rough edges. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36873 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2004 : 15:45:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Bookwyrm
Another thing is that feats based on ancestory, like Bloodline of Fire, should be actually based on ancestory and not region. For instance, why exactly can't the full-blooded Calimshite son of two merchants who moved to Amn before he was born manifest the power of the efreeti? What exactly is it about growing up in Amn that somehow blocks such potential?
I'm certainly not proposing that you remove blocks and make it easy to get any regional feat. I don't even like the old prerequisite, where you needed two ranks in Knowledge (local (region)) -- I thought it was too easy to get, and that was when regional feats were pretty much no better than normal feats. But the current system just has too many rough edges.
In your Amnian example, I'd say that since he was a Calishite by heritage, he could take Calishite regional feats.
Have you a solution for the regional feats problem? |
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2004 : 16:11:35
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| Not at the moment, which was why I started this topic. I wanted to get some input from other people here. |
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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2004 : 16:53:11
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The argument that the DM is king is moot here. This is a public forum, therefore one should back up his/her argument with concrete, design-level examples of why the current system is incorrect. For example saying that "character X has moved to country Y when he was young" is not a good validation for change: this is a metagaming reason, not a design flaw.
The rules, the regional systems designed by the FR team, are the only thing that binds us all together and provide for the common ground required for any discussion. All of us, as DM, are free to houserule away anything we see fit for our games. But this is not in question here. The question is "Is the regional system flawed at its very core, and why?"
I personally believe it is not. Therefore I implement it very rigidly in my games. It is very unforgiving of "oddball" characters, and I like that. If you play a werefrog from the Great Pinata of Chult, you SHOULD NOT have access to Cormyrean feats, sorry. I reserve the Cormyrean feats for the mature players who feel up to the challenge of roleplaying an actual NATIVE of Cormyr, like a farmboy who joined the Purple Dragons, or a merchant son who decided to help the War Wizards with its wealth and contacts within the bourgeoisie...
My two coppers anyhow... ;) |
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2004 : 18:43:59
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Gee, this must be my day to be insulted. 
May I repeat myself and say I am not suggesting throwing all prerequisites away. I also don't see anything wrong with saying "I see a problem here, and I'd like to hear your thoughts on it." Gee, no one told me I had to have a real fix for it before I suggested something needed to be changed. I had no idea that I could never complain if I didn't have an annotated, indexed solution. Sorry for ever bothering you.  |
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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2004 : 22:04:35
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Bookwyrm: you identified a design flaw with the FR Regional Feats system and requested input on the subject. I supported your inquiry by giving my opinion that the original question (i.e. yours) should be answered at the game design level rather than the metagaming level (i.e. at the character background/story level). Many answered your thread with metagaming arguments that frankly do not hold water. I merely attempted to steer and guide the conversation closer to your original request.
I am saddened that you failed to notice the attempt...  |
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Capn Charlie
Senior Scribe
USA
418 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2004 : 04:01:55
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Yeah, Bookwyrm, it was an attack on me, not you, it must have just been fired into melee and missed, or something.
As for the "mootness" of my statements of DM being king, I was defending the rights of a DM to alter the rules.
Now, mechanically, the rules "work". They do what they were designed to do, and perform quite admirably in their intended use...
I would, and do, just leave the regional feat rules alone for the most part. However I do on occasion wonder why a Sembian merchant who can take the Feat from there can be a better merchant than one from anywhere else in the world, despite similiar background, etc.
Quite the idea of regional feats is a bit too, well, eugenically minded for me. Background feats would have suited my tastes far more, as they are presented. But as it stands, they look more like "stereotype" feats than regional feats.
Call it "metagame thinking" if you wish, but I alter the rules to fit the story, not vice versa. That mentality affects all of my suggestions on rules, and my advice, and my opinions in matters like this. |
Shadows of War: Tales of a Mercenary
My first stab at realms fiction, here at candlekeep. Stop on by and tell me what you think. |
Edited by - Capn Charlie on 26 Nov 2004 04:05:45 |
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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2004 : 16:11:30
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The regional system could indeed be called a perpetuator of stereotypes, as it will undoubtedly lead to more PCs being created with those feats, which will lead to a gamer's perception that people from region X are good at doing Y. This is not entirely bad, as it fleshes out the world and breathes life into it.
I completely agree that there are, say, good merchants or good riders in every culture. For example, Waterdeep is a shining example of entrepreneurial success, despite not having access to all the "Sembian/Merchant" feats. However, one must keep in mind that the Regional Feats system has been created first and foremost for the PCs (the actual player-controlled characters, the adventurers) and thus could also represent the challenges surrounding one's land, not only the internal socio-economic factors. Yes there are successful adventuring merchants in Waterdeep, but not as many as in Sembia, one could advance. This could explain the Regional Feat discrepancy (or not, which is why I argued that the system could not be evaluated on a metagaming perspective).
As Charlie said, however, the rules are mechanically sound. Also, there's nothing stopping someone from taking regular PHB feats over those Regional ones (especially true when planning character progression in the long-term, as some PrC prerequisite feats not being taken at 1st level could lead to 3 more levels of waiting in order to qualify) |
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Lashan
Learned Scribe
USA
235 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2004 : 21:54:42
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Bookwyrm, I am not saying that someone can't move from one area and learn things in that area. I believe that characters and NPCs can travel across FR and learn all sorts of classes, spells, languages, and even PrC's that were not available to them in their native lands. People are very open and adaptable.
What I believe is attempted with regional feats is that some things are more then a basic skill set. There are certain cultural traits that just can't be learned unless one grew up in that culture.
Let's use Sembia as an example. Someone can move there and learn many things about their culture. They can learn about the money trade. They can learn craft professions. They might even get PrC's that deal with trade, Waukeen, or any number of other things. The merchant regional feats, though would not be allowed to them. They really didnt' spend formative years in this culture and have that mindset really hammered home as one who was born and raised in Sembia. Sure, you could have someone who had great scores and put lots of skill points into various skills and be as good as sembian merchant, but the sembian merchant has the option to take that regional feat, and be a better merchant, even with the same skills and same stats. Why? Because sembian merchants are just better then other merchants......even those that have spent a long time in Sembia and learned their ways.
Now, if you had someone who was born in Thesk, but moved to Sembia as a child, I could say that you can take the Sembian feats.
I think that the reason they are aviable only at lvl one is because you either are a certain type of person, or you are not. I mean, if you are born in Sembia, you are either really good with trade and numbers and all that, or you aren't. It's not something that you learn later. The idea that if you take one of these feats during character creation, then you are almost a paragon of your culture. You are one of those people who really learned some core values and skills of your culture and took them to heart. If you grew up as a shepard boy in Sembia, you may not be an expert number cruncher. If you later learn more about trade and whatnot, you didn't get the same level of intense training at a younger age that the money-changer's kid did. With regional feats, you either are or are not a paragon of your culture. You can't move somewhere, live a few years, and be considered a native.
That's an in-game reason for why I like regional feats. The meta-game reason I like them was presented by Purple Dragon Knight. They help foster stereo types, which further immerses you in the game. |
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2004 : 19:16:50
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quote:
Originally posted by Purple Dragon Knight
Bookwyrm: you identified a design flaw with the FR Regional Feats system and requested input on the subject. I supported your inquiry by giving my opinion that the original question (i.e. yours) should be answered at the game design level rather than the metagaming level (i.e. at the character background/story level). Many answered your thread with metagaming arguments that frankly do not hold water. I merely attempted to steer and guide the conversation closer to your original request.
I am saddened that you failed to notice the attempt...
It still looks like you were speaking to me, but please accept my apology. Obviously there's some communication problem, which pops up every so often when you use text all the time . . . . |
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warlockco
Master of Realmslore
USA
1695 Posts |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4692 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2005 : 14:19:31
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quote:
Originally posted by warlockco
Only problem I really see with the Regional Feat system is some Regions have more Feats than others. One Region had 3 Feats, while another had 6 feats.
I do not see this as a bug, it is rather I would think a feature.
These feats appear to me to be cultural rather then heriditary. A more diverse culture would have more diverse posibility of reginoal feat. I view regional feats as feats more commonly used by the culture/region , thus easier to learn them (a good supply of able teachers).
As for if they are unbalanced, that often can be teue of other feats some are certainly better then others it is very hard to have each feat provide the same value.
I can see regional feats being learned if a character becomes acepted by the culture of a region. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36873 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2005 : 15:41:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal
I can see regional feats being learned if a character becomes acepted by the culture of a region.
As I've said elsewhere, I can see this, too -- but not for all regional feats. Some of them, yes, but there are those that are hereditary. Further, if I was going to allow a character to learn a regional feat from another area, I'd require him to spend a lot of time in that area (months, at the least) and have to be trained in the feat's use by a native. |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4692 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2005 : 17:30:56
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal
I can see regional feats being learned if a character becomes acepted by the culture of a region.
As I've said elsewhere, I can see this, too -- but not for all regional feats. Some of them, yes, but there are those that are hereditary. Further, if I was going to allow a character to learn a regional feat from another area, I'd require him to spend a lot of time in that area (months, at the least) and have to be trained in the feat's use by a native.
Actually, scaning the candlekeep feat lists so far only found a few that might be region inherited, many are race restictive (which could be a type of hereditary as well).
" Ethran [Regional] human female (Rashemen, obviously!);"
"Halruaan Adept [Regional] Human [halruaan]"
Of course it is implied that an individual grew up in the region in order to qualify for a regioninal feat (espcially take at 1st level) and it is unlikely that the tribes (which over tribal feats) would take in many (if any) outsiders.
As for race in referenence to hereditary this certainly applies to other feats, no race that does not startout with darkvision would have a need or desire to consider daylight adaptation.
A more detail look at the entire regional feat descriptions, might indicate that others are based on whom your parents were as oposed to just where you grew up. The summary provided however does not show this directly. Sometimes the need to be a specific race in a specific region is indicated.
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2005 : 17:38:34
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First, darkvision has nothing to do with Daylight Adaptation. Even if it did, it is no longer a regional feat -- see the PGtF errata.
Ethran is open only to female Rashemis -- not because of a need to be a particular type for the magic, but rather because the magic is only taught to female Rashemis by female Rashemis. Halruaan Adept might be the same, but I see no reason for it to only be taken at first level -- it's much less powerful than Ethran.
As for being a specific race in a specific region, all regional feats are like that. |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4692 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2005 : 18:08:27
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quote:
Originally posted by Bookwyrm
First, darkvision has nothing to do with Daylight Adaptation. Even if it did, it is no longer a regional feat -- see the PGtF errata.
I knew that. The feat is however stil listed as regional on that list, I did not notice that before. I had selected Daylight Adaptation as an example of a General feat, that no race that did not have darkvision would consider using. There are many non regional feats that are designed for some races and of no use to others (even if they do qualify for them in all ways).
quote:
Ethran is open only to female Rashemis -- not because of a need to be a particular type for the magic, but rather because the magic is only taught to female Rashemis by female Rashemis. Halruaan Adept might be the same, but I see no reason for it to only be taken at first level -- it's much less powerful than Ethran.
Which brings us to how many regional feats are hereditary as oposed to culture. The nature vs. nurture. I can argue that a female foundling could be raised by Rashemis but not born one, qualifing for the Ethran feat. I do not see the reginal feats being a matter whom parents were. I see them as feats that can be learned if accepted into the culture. This does not mean that just living in a region means aceptance into a culture. Tribes rarely will acept outsiders into a tribal culture is one example. A female could live with Rashemis for 20 years and not be acepted into the culture enough (if at all) to be taught Ethran.
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As for being a specific race in a specific region, all regional feats are like that.
Yes some list 4 to 5 races, a few list only one race. I was thinking of the later where the hereditary of race became the qualifing restriction. |
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warlockco
Master of Realmslore
USA
1695 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2005 : 01:35:37
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Originally posted by Kentinal
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Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
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Originally posted by Kentinal
I can see regional feats being learned if a character becomes acepted by the culture of a region.
As I've said elsewhere, I can see this, too -- but not for all regional feats. Some of them, yes, but there are those that are hereditary. Further, if I was going to allow a character to learn a regional feat from another area, I'd require him to spend a lot of time in that area (months, at the least) and have to be trained in the feat's use by a native.
Actually, scaning the candlekeep feat lists so far only found a few that might be region inherited, many are race restictive (which could be a type of hereditary as well).
" Ethran [Regional] human female (Rashemen, obviously!);"
"Halruaan Adept [Regional] Human [halruaan]"
Of course it is implied that an individual grew up in the region in order to qualify for a regioninal feat (espcially take at 1st level) and it is unlikely that the tribes (which over tribal feats) would take in many (if any) outsiders.
As for race in referenence to hereditary this certainly applies to other feats, no race that does not startout with darkvision would have a need or desire to consider daylight adaptation.
A more detail look at the entire regional feat descriptions, might indicate that others are based on whom your parents were as oposed to just where you grew up. The summary provided however does not show this directly. Sometimes the need to be a specific race in a specific region is indicated.
Jotunbrud is a hereditary feat that should be allowed only at 1st level, since it makes you a Very Big Person. |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4692 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2005 : 02:04:35
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Originally posted by warlockco
Jotunbrud is a hereditary feat that should be allowed only at 1st level, since it makes you a Very Big Person.
" Jotunbrud [General] Damaran or Illuskan human; Regions: Damara, the North; Benefit: Treated as Large when a modifier based on size on an opposed roll. Also, considered Large when determining whether a monster's special attacks based on size affect character"
Perhaps the candlekeep feats list needs an edit as this clearly appears to be regional feat (though The North is a very large region ;-) ) and does appear to require at least one parent (if not both) to be Damaran or Illuskan human.
However this feat does not make a qualified human "a Very Big Person", it just teaches on how to act as if they are large when such is to their advantage. And as such it should be learnable at a later point in life. The changing of parents however certainly much harder to do then even living in a region for even 100 years.
So I do concede this is an hereditary feat in all senses of the word. Short of 1st level rule, what however should pervent a 2nd level learning the feat? Example: gypsies steal a Damaran infant and after a time (past 1st level) child/person discovers where home and family is. Long lost might indeed be welcomed home and taught the feat as if never was taken. This feat appears to be teachable, though certainly only teachable to certain human bloodlines. |
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Regional Feats
