D&D 5E (2014) New Favoured Soul vs Old Favoured Soul

[gyor]

Which Favoured Soul do you prefer, the Old Favoured Soul from the modifying classes UA article, or the New Favoured Soul from the sorceror UA?

 

[tuxgeo]

I voted old, but what I would really prefer is a combination of the two, as follows:
At 1st level, "Chosen of the Gods" from the older version: Choose a Domain, learn the granted spells.
At 1st level, "Favored by the Gods" from the newer version: once per short or long rest, you can roll 2d4 when you miss with an attack roll or fail a saving throw, and thereby possibly change the outcome.
At 6th level, "Blessed Countenance" from the newer version: one appearance "ribbon" feature, and double proficiency where your proficiency applies to a CHA check. (Not the "Extra Attack" from the older version, because Clerics mostly don't get those in 5E. If you want it that much, go Cleric with the War Domain.)
At 14th level, "Divine Wings" from the older version: Be able to manifest a set of wings (is says "pair") and gain a flying speed. (Not the immunities of the newer version, because unbalanced.)
At 18th level, "Power of the Chosen" from the older version, because you don't have to be "bloodied" to use it, so you have more control over that.

 

[pukunui]

I think the first version captures the essence of the 3.5 favored soul class better. The new version has a similar concept but is a different class and should thus have a different name.

That being said, the 3.5 favored soul could not cast arcane spells. What I would prefer is to stick with the original version but change it so it uses the cleric spell list instead of the sorcerer spell list. You could potentially make it so you still choose a domain and can add the domain's spells to your spell list without actually getting them as extra spells known, like a warlock.

In fact, I wonder how the favored soul concept would work as a warlock subclass? I would like to see a version of 3.5's celestial-themed warlock prestige class, the Enlightened Spirit. (The Undying Light patron doesn't quite fit the bill.)

 

[MoonSong]

I'm at odds. I like the previous favored soul more as well a favored soul, that one paints the right picture of the favored soul, weapon wielding winged divine caster. But I like the flexibility of the new favored soul, how it expands your options when picking spells. In a way I like the new one the more, but that is not a favored soul. I would prefer to have both just the second one with a different name.

 

[Mercule]

New Favored Soul.

I've always been lukewarm to the class as a "divine sorcerer", even in 3E. The latest version finally makes me want to see one in play, arcane spells and all. So, I guess I'd say they finally got it right, or nearly so.

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

I like the new version, but think it should include adding the spells from one domain to your spell list.

 

[gyor]

I don't know if the spells you pick from the Sorceror spell list count as arcane or divine, (personally I'd count them as divine, they power source is still your divine spark) I'm pretty sure the ones who pick from the cleric spell list are divine, I mean they out right call it Divine Magic.

I hope in the final product they can use holy symbols to cast spells like other none primal divine casters.

 

[gyor]

I voted old, but what I would really prefer is a combination of the two, as follows:
At 1st level, "Chosen of the Gods" from the older version: Choose a Domain, learn the granted spells.
At 1st level, "Favored by the Gods" from the newer version: once per short or long rest, you can roll 2d4 when you miss with an attack roll or fail a saving throw, and thereby possibly change the outcome.
At 6th level, "Blessed Countenance" from the newer version: one appearance "ribbon" feature, and double proficiency where your proficiency applies to a CHA check. (Not the "Extra Attack" from the older version, because Clerics mostly don't get those in 5E. If you want it that much, go Cleric with the War Domain.)
At 14th level, "Divine Wings" from the older version: Be able to manifest a set of wings (is says "pair") and gain a flying speed. (Not the immunities of the newer version, because unbalanced.)
At 18th level, "Power of the Chosen" from the older version, because you don't have to be "bloodied" to use it, so you have more control over that.

if I was going to mix the two, the only thing I'd keep from the old one is the wings.

Although I'd change the cap stone to provide healing to yourself when every you use a sorcery points to power metamagic or to create new spell slots.

 

[gyor]

I'm at odds. I like the previous favored soul more as well a favored soul, that one paints the right picture of the favored soul, weapon wielding winged divine caster. But I like the flexibility of the new favored soul, how it expands your options when picking spells. In a way I like the new one the more, but that is not a favored soul. I would prefer to have both just the second one with a different name.

Honestly the first favoured soul was awful as a warrior, weapons did not provide anything worth using, and Greenflame Blade and Booming Blade we're better then using extra attack because the weapon choices we're so poor.

With Mage Armour, Green Flame and Booming Blade, and a Staff the new Favoured Soul is actually better in melee combat then a Old Favoured Soul armed with light armour, a spear, and extra attack. New Favoured Soul has +1 more AC, can use it's weapon as an implement to cast spells, +1 hp per level, and Favour of the Gods over the Old Favoured Soul. Either way if you wanted a good fighter, you need to dip into the fighter class for 1 level, which gets you all the good weapons, heavy armour, shields, second wind, a fighting style.

And the Quarter St

 

[gyor]

Also that wings don't work well with armour anyways.