D&D (2024) Are You Happy with the Selection of Subclasses?

[TwoSix]

The paucity of new subclasses is precisely why I'm not getting the new PHB, so no, not particularly happy with the choices.

 

[Remathilis]

I'm really not surprised at the lack of 'edge' in the subclass selection.

As I said, the warlock has seemed to suck up all the air for "spooky" characters (and even then, the warlock patrons are angels, fey, fiends, and aberrations, only one of those is truly evil, making them more of the "play as a monster" class that the Next Sorcerer was going for.) I guess Aberrant Sorcerers are kinda edgy, as are assassins, shadow monks, vengeance paladins, and gloomstalkers.

I think the biggest problem is there isn't enough spell support for edgy casters. PHB-only Necromancers have few options and need Xanathar at the minimum to be anything beyond "wizard who also casts animate dead". Maybe a future supplement with necromancer, undead warlock, grave cleric, spirit bard, shadow sorcerer, spore druid, and appropriate spell and feat support to make them worth while would be worth the wait.

 

[bedir than]

Merging the schools doesn't work. There are too many subclass abilities to fit (at least 25 abilities with lots of wordcount). It would take up almost the same pagecount as all 8 subclasses.

I wouldn't have the same set of abilities (meaning minor name changes like "Student of Necromancy")

 

[WanderingMystic]

So Crawford was talking about the necromancer months ago and how it will be the 24 edition. Since it was one of the favorite among the staff I can only assume that it was moved from the phb to the dmg and will be with Death, Oath breaker and I hope Undead warlock, Shadow sorcerer, and Whisper bards so that there is a selection of dark subclasses. The other option that they are working on a Shadowfell type supplement for 2025. With Vecna being a focus with the upcoming releases I do think that we will see a nice collection of dark/evil subtypes in print.

 

[WanderingMystic]

As far as other subclasses go I hope we see a drastic overhaul of the world tree or even better just the Ancients replace it for a defender barbarian.

Conceptually I do not like clockwork sorcerers unless they are trying to really lean into the planar aspect of a sorcerer but conceptually sorcerer are still in a bad place imo.

The Brawler is mechanically a waste of a subclass and I don't think will make it in book, I just don't see how they can make it meaningful with the rest of the fighters abilities.

They have doubled down on old spell schools for wizards where I thinking broader ideas like war wizard with its combination of abjuration and invocation abilities would have been a better way to go but that ship has sailed.

 

[DavyGreenwind]

I think the biggest problem is there isn't enough spell support for edgy casters. PHB-only Necromancers have few options and need Xanathar at the minimum to be anything beyond "wizard who also casts animate dead". Maybe a future supplement with necromancer, undead warlock, grave cleric, spirit bard, shadow sorcerer, spore druid, and appropriate spell and feat support to make them worth while would be worth the wait

Honestly we are due for an Undead themed book.

Abi Dalzim Presents: Scourge of the Undead. Or something

 

[Parmandur]

Well, we know all 48 options in the PHB (I think it's possible they will put some in the DMG as examples on how to build a Subclass and options that might be edgy enough to require DM buy-in).

I quite like what we got: each Class gets 4 options that take the base Class in a radically different directions, making it 48 solidly distinct base options to build a character around.

 

[Frozen_Heart]

making them more of the "play as a monster" class that the Next Sorcerer was going for.

Honestly I like this direction, though admittedly I'm not sure that the warlock is the best place for it. 5e has basically no options for 'play as the monster' characters, yet it's a common fantasy trope.

Would be a good reason for a draconic themed subclass...

 

[Mistwell]

I like the new ones, but I want all the old ones back too. Subclasses are pretty important for backwards compatibility. I hope they just keep showing us revamped old ones as they go.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Not really.

Sorcerer never had good subclasses and the tradition continues.

Wizards remain shackled and brainboxed to the outdated schools.

Champion continues taking up valuable oxygen and the Eldrich Knight is still Bladesinger but bad. Fighter still has just the one good subclass.

Bards and warlocks are the major winners of the new edition