D&D (2024) New One D&D Weapons Table Shows 'Mastery' Traits

The weapons table from the upcoming Unearthed Arcana playtest for One D&D has made its way onto the internet via Indestructoboy on Twitter, and reveals some new mechanics. The mastery traits include Nick, Slow, Puncture, Flex, Cleave, Topple, Graze, and Push. These traits are accessible by the warrior classes.

 

[Bluenose]

You can't make a 1-1 comparison because the rest of the games are doing different things. However, what i do like is the idea that the weapon simply does more damage in the hands of those that are more skilled. I think that would be a good edition to 5e. Maybe make it a fighter feature.

No, you can't. But you can deliver a great deal more than just a tiny amount of extra damage. How many of the Master Effects that are proposed are impressive compared to what the BECM character could get? AD&D weapon specialisation delivers +1 to hit, +2 to damage and an attack every other round, if we've got to head in the AD&D direction and special weapon properties have to be kept as minimal as possible; and there were improved versions in one of the Skills and Powers books.

 

[tetrasodium]

No, you can't. But you can deliver a great deal more than just a tiny amount of extra damage. How many of the Master Effects that are proposed are impressive compared to what the BECM character could get? AD&D weapon specialisation delivers +1 to hit, +2 to damage and an attack every other round, if we've got to head in the AD&D direction and special weapon properties have to be kept as minimal as possible; and there were improved versions in one of the Skills and Powers books.

adding more than a single numerical dial to weapons like how 3.x had 3 plus meaningful damage type diversification would be better even if it was "ask your GM if they are using table A or table B weapons [and armor]".

 

[dave2008]

No, you can't. But you can deliver a great deal more than just a tiny amount of extra damage. How many of the Master Effects that are proposed are impressive compared to what the BECM character could get? AD&D weapon specialisation delivers +1 to hit, +2 to damage and an attack every other round, if we've got to head in the AD&D direction and special weapon properties have to be kept as minimal as possible; and there were improved versions in one of the Skills and Powers books.

Yes, but the 5e battlemaster gets a lot more than what is in BECMI, not including things like fighting styles and other features that classes get. This mastery is adding on top of that. I think the BECMI stuff is cool, that is the edition I started with. However, saying is better than what you get in 5e is a false comparison IMO.

 

[Lanefan]

I not saying that D&D can't be a game for new and casual players. I'm staying that official D&D shouldn't only be for new and casual players.

Yes it should.

And it should also be for experienced and more enegaged players.

How can it do both at once, you ask?

Two compatible-with-each-other versions. Let's call them Basic and Advanced, shall we, and set them up such that - should a DM desire - elements and-or subsystems from one can easily be ported into the other in either direction.

TSR made many mistakes back in the day, but having two versions in print at the same time was certainly not one of them.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Yes it should.

And it should also be for experienced and more enegaged players.

How can it do both at once, you ask?

Two compatible-with-each-other versions. Let's call them Basic and Advanced, shall we, and set them up such that - should a DM desire - elements and-or subsystems from one can easily be ported into the other in either direction.

TSR made many mistakes back in the day, but having two versions in print at the same time was certainly not one of them.

Basic and Advance would be fine if one slipped seamlessy into the other. The way TSR did them they were essentially FU's to Dave Arneson and spit their market.
The first of many business mistakes.

 

[OldSchoolGamerGirl]

I not saying that D&D can't be a game for new and casual players. I'm staying that official D&D shouldn't only be for new and casual players.

wow that is pretty gate keepery. I started my first D&D game as D&D starter.

 

[Minigiant]

wow that is pretty gate keepery. I started my first D&D game as D&D starter.

It's the opposite of gatekeeping.

Current official 5e is supports only casual play and beginner play.

I'm saying it should also support advanced play and hardcore play.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

wow that is pretty gate keepery. I started my first D&D game as D&D starter.

Although I often disagree with him, the post you quoted says that he is concerned about both.

 

[billd91]

It's the opposite of gatekeeping.

Current official 5e is supports only casual play and beginner play.

I'm saying it should also support advanced play and hardcore play.

I suppose that depends on how you define those terms. Considering many of the people I play with have more than 40 years of experience, we're not beginners. We're also not casual players either because we're concerned with far more than kicking in doors and looting bodies or playing for beer and pretzels.
Yet, we also feel that D&D 5e supports us just fine.

So what exactly is advanced play and hardcore play? Does it need lots more fiddly bits to be "advanced" or "hardcore" than it has now?

 

[Minigiant]

I suppose that depends on how you define those terms. Considering many of the people I play with have more than 40 years of experience, we're not beginners. We're also not casual players either because we're concerned with far more than kicking in doors and looting bodies or playing for beer and pretzels.
Yet, we also feel that D&D 5e supports us just fine.

So what exactly is advanced play and hardcore play? Does it need lots more fiddly bits to be "advanced" or "hardcore" than it has now?

Advanced play is play with rules designed to challenge players experienced and knowledgable of the game rules and its strengths

Hardcore play is play with rules designed to offer smaller amount of error in choices and high failure/death for taking poor options.