So with feats being a variant rule over a +2 to an ability score or +1 to two ability scores, knowing how a feat compares to a plain ability score improvement will be very important when min/maxing. As time goes consensus on the meta will arise spontaneously, and magic items could be a part of this debate, but let's get ahead and try to evaluate.
I don't have too much free time right now, so I will write about just a few of them. Please add other feats to the discussion.
Also, some guides over at wotc forums have suggested feats already, here is the list:
http://community.wizards.com/forum/player-help/threads/4138726First of all, keep in mind that I've had only one 5e session so I am strongly biased by 3.5 standards.
Alert:
Action economy, b****es! Bonus to initiative seems pretty high, but usefulness depends on how long combat tends to be. I'd say if combat usually lasts more than three or four rounds, this is not as good as it seems. Never being surprised seems situational if you are good at perception, good if you're not. Not giving advantage to attacks from hidden creatures... I think it really depends on how many monsters will use this tactic.
Has anyone played up to mid levels? Do you think this scales well? Do combats get longer at high levels?
Athlete:
Apart from the +1 to Strength or Dexterity, this seems a meh feat. Climbing doesn't happen often in combat, and prone is usually a player's tactic more than a monster's one (or is it?). Can we do combos with the running long jump after only 5 feet of movement?
Actor:
Lots of flavor, and that's that.
Charger:
Could be good if you don't rely on extra attack do deal decent damage. It's a trap if you can dash as a bonus action, as this feat specifically requires you to use your action. The bonus damage doesn't scale at all, so it's worthless at high levels. What about the pushing 10 feet instead of 5? Does this feat allows you to knock prone AND push 10 feet?
Crossbow expert:
Use extra attack with crossbow, can do the flavorful "shoot with an already loaded crossbow held in a single hand" thing as a bonus action.
The extra damage a crossbow has over a normal bow is not worth taking this feat. Magic items could make the bonus attack useful if you can use effects that you only want to fire once per combat, I guess.
That's it for me now, gotta go.