New SCAG Info: Someone Got The Book

Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide hits preferred stores tomorrow (and everywhere else in a couple of weeks). However, some stores have jumped the gun - which only benefits us, as folks on social media are telling us all about it! Below is a compilation of that information. I'm sure come tomorrow, the amount of information on the book will increase dramatically.

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[h=4]Original Post[/h]
Thread is here, Gnunn and others are answering questions about it:

https://www.reddit.com/r/dndnext/comments/3pot39/call_your_local_stores_scag/

The info:

I'am trying to compile the answers here by those who have new information. The answers do not represent me in anyway I'am just passing on the information.

Q: Name all the subclasses (submitted by me)

A:

Not really interested in spoiling all of the specifics, but here's what I noticed to be new at first glance:
Races:
Gray Dwaves (Duergar)
Ghostwise Halflings
Deep Gnomes (Svirfneblin) -- also provides a new feat "Svirfneblin Magic" (same as EE)
Half-Elf Variants
Tiefling Variants


Classes (only new class options, not new classes):
Barbarian - Path of the Battlerager, new Totem Spirits
Bard - New musical instruments
Cleric - Arcana Domain
Fighter - Purple Dragon Knight
Monk - Way of the Long Death, Way of the Sun Soul
Paladin - Oath of the Crown
Ranger - Several paragraphs that amount to nothing
Rogue - Mastermind Swashbuckler
Sorcerer - Storm Sorcery
Warlock - The Undying
Wizard - Bladesinging


New cantrips for sorcerers, warlocks, and wizards
Booming blade, green-flame blade, lightning lure, sword burst.

Backgrounds:
City Watch
Clan Crafter
Cloistered Scholar
Courtier
Faction Agent
Far Traveler
Inheritor
Knight of the Order
Mercenary Veteran
Urban Bounty Hunter
Uthgardt Tribe Member
Waterdhavian Noble
This only covers about 50 pages of the almost 160 page book. There's a TON of info on the Sword Coast itself. I'm sure DMs who already have the book are salivating at the moment.



Q: No Bard, Ranger or Druid subclasses?

A: There are new bard colleges. I only listed non-flavor changes (in my opinion at least each one is paired with an existing class option so nothing new in terms of mechanics.

-Q2: Wait WHAT? So the Bard Colleges AND Druid Circles don't list fully new subclasses that offer new mechanics to that class? And no "spell-less" Ranger variant or anything?

-A2: Correct on all accounts.



Q: Monk Subclasses specifics

A: Sun Soul gives the monk methods of dealing radiant damage. Burning hands makes an appearance as well.It seems almost too obvious, but all of the Long Death abilities are triggered by death in some way - either yours or an enemy.



Q: Warlock the Undying

A: Hard to explain. It's Lich-like, but not undead it seems.



Q: Paladin Oath of the Crown

A: The new paladin oath is a straight up tank. They seem to have added a ton more detail for the paladin codes. Too much to go into here.



Q: Fighter Purple Dragon Knight

A:Party buffs/heals. Would be a good party leader out of combat as well.




Q: How do the Half elf and tiefling variants work?

A: Tiefling variants are pretty different. I'm not next to my book currently, but I believe there were three options. Half elf replaced the half elf skill dealy with a selection from the elf half. Like Drow magic replacing the skill selection for example.


Q: What does it say about Aasimar?

A: It basically just says, "See the DMG.

(I guess that makes Eldarin valid as well)

Edit 1: Did some cleaning, added cantrips and explanation that is not me giving the answers.

 

[psychophipps]

My main beef is how broken Bladesingers are. Holy frijole! Trances back after a short rest! AC higher than the Palladin (before adding +5 sporadically with Shield spell for complete ridiculousness)! Bonuses to concentrate checks! Extra movement! Extra attack like a fighter!

WotC went full-retard on this one, boys...

 

[MoonSong]

My main beef is how broken Bladesingers are. Holy frijole! Trances back after a short rest! AC higher than the Palladin (before adding +5 sporadically with Shield spell for complete ridiculousness)! Bonuses to concentrate checks! Extra movement! Extra attack like a fighter!

WotC went full-retard on this one, boys...

SO you say they made an overpowered wizard subclass -which had an overwhelming approval- and refused to let a sorcerer one be on equal terms with other casters? there is no justice.

 

[psychophipps]

SO you say they made an overpowered wizard subclass -which had an overwhelming approval- and refused to let a sorcerer one be on equal terms with other casters? there is no justice.

Pretty much the gist of it...

 

[carlbobo]

Horrible layout of the map

They need to release a free version of the map of the Sword Coast since the one in the book is screwed up.

 

[Zaran]

They need to release a free version of the map of the Sword Coast since the one in the book is screwed up.

Yeah, you can't even see many of the cities on the actual Coast.

 

[Prism]

My main beef is how broken Bladesingers are. Holy frijole! Trances back after a short rest! AC higher than the Palladin (before adding +5 sporadically with Shield spell for complete ridiculousness)! Bonuses to concentrate checks! Extra movement! Extra attack like a fighter!

WotC went full-retard on this one, boys...

I think you are over-reacting a bit. AC is likely to be lower than a fighter or paladin who typically have in the region of AC18 to 21 over the first 10 levels. If we assume that the blade singer casts mage armour and starts with a good INT and DEX (16 in each) then they might have AC19 to 21 for two encounters and then AC 16 for any others before they rest. However at the same time their hit points are bad as they would have a average CON (maybe 13) and 1d6 hit dice compared to a fighter or paladin with a decent CON and 1d10 hit dice.

Also while the bladesinger is playing around in combat they aren't casting spells which is an opportunity cost. Its often better and safer to cast a wizard cantrip than go into melee. The cantrip would likely hit more often and do as much damage. Its a lot better to cast a full spell.

And the main thing is you miss out on all the other cool wizard school features that you could of otherwise take.

Bladesinger is an interesting option, possibly a bit weak, but I still like it

 

[pukunui]

They need to release a free version of the map of the Sword Coast since the one in the book is screwed up.

What's wrong with the one in the book?

 

[Eric V]

Also while the bladesinger is playing around in combat they aren't casting spells which is an opportunity cost. Its often better and safer to cast a wizard cantrip than go into melee. The cantrip would likely hit more often and do as much damage. Its a lot better to cast a full spell.

And the main thing is you miss out on all the other cool wizard school features that you could of otherwise take.

Bladesinger is an interesting option, possibly a bit weak, but I still like it

Re: the bolded part above.

Why would a bladesinger have to play around in combat? Doesn't bladesong still give the same bonuses if I hang back and cast spells like a standard wizard?

 

[SkidAce]

Re: the bolded part above.

Why would a bladesinger have to play around in combat? Doesn't bladesong still give the same bonuses if I hang back and cast spells like a standard wizard?

/head explodes

 

[psychophipps]

I think you are over-reacting a bit. AC is likely to be lower than a fighter or paladin who typically have in the region of AC18 to 21 over the first 10 levels. If we assume that the blade singer casts mage armour and starts with a good INT and DEX (16 in each) then they might have AC19 to 21 for two encounters and then AC 16 for any others before they rest. However at the same time their hit points are bad as they would have a average CON (maybe 13) and 1d6 hit dice compared to a fighter or paladin with a decent CON and 1d10 hit dice.

Also while the bladesinger is playing around in combat they aren't casting spells which is an opportunity cost. Its often better and safer to cast a wizard cantrip than go into melee. The cantrip would likely hit more often and do as much damage. Its a lot better to cast a full spell.

And the main thing is you miss out on all the other cool wizard school features that you could of otherwise take.

Bladesinger is an interesting option, possibly a bit weak, but I still like it

One aspect to keep in mind is that one of the greatest dangers for a wizard is for the front line to collapse, forcing the Mage (Wizards and Sorcerers both suffer here) into melee combat. Low AC, low hit points, and opportunity attacks while casting don't exactly do you any favors in this regard.

With the above in mind, pretty much any player with even a smidgen of tactical acumen will realize that with a Bladesinger you hang back and cast just like a regular Mage. If things go south you then crank up the Trance and go to work with Improved Movement to disengage, double attack and ridiculous AC when you get stuck brawling, and improved Concentration saves if you need to risk casting in direct melee combat to support a teammate or get a particularly stubborn foe off of you.

Not a whole lot of direct negatives and whole lot of "It's like a Wizard, but without the negative parts!", IMO.