D&D 5E Survey Three Subclasses

[MechaTarrasque]

Sorry if someone else has already posted this (it has been a busy couple of days, so no time for enworlding), but there is a survey for the three subclasses UA.


Last time, Unearthed Arcana presented three new subclasses to try out: the Circle of Spores for the druid, the Brute for the fighter, and the School of Invention for the wizard. Now that you’ve had a chance to read and ponder these options from last time, we’re ready for you to give us your feedback about them in the following survey. This survey will remain open for about three weeks.
This Is Unofficial Material
The material in Unearthed Arcana is presented for playtesting and to spark your imagination. These game mechanics are in draft form, usable in your campaign but not refined by final game development and editing. They are not officially part of the game. For these reasons, material in this column is not legal in D&D Adventurers League events.

http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/unearthed-arcana/survey-three-subclasses

 

[Mr. Wilson]

I took the survey and my general responses are as follows:

Circle of Spores Druid: It's a thematically tight subtheme that mostly does what it is intended to do. I'm not particularly interested in it as a PC, but I would use it for NPCs.

The Brute: This feels just like the Champion fighter v2.0. I mean, sure it's slightly better than a Champion, but I'd rather them fix the Champion than introduce another (slightly) better version under a different name.

School of Invention: Two subclasses smashed together, including 1 that should be a sorcerer and one that should really be an artificer. Thematically, I love the idea of the class. However, half of the abilities are more like CHAOS! (and should be a sorcerer subtheme) while the other half actually deal with the inventor theme. Also, the inventor doesn't actually do much inventing. I'd hope the armor could be upgraded to Breastplate for thematic reasons. Specifically, I don't ever think spending a spell slot on Reckless casting is an appropriate use of your limited spell slots, especially at low level. I really like the Inventor theme and hope they expand on it.

 

[Irda Ranger]

Circle of Spores Druid: It's a thematically tight subtheme that mostly does what it is intended to do.

The Brute: This feels just the Champion fighter v2.0. I'd rather them fix the Champion than introduce another (slightly) better version under a different name.

School of Invention: Two subclasses smashed together, including 1 that should be a sorcerer and one that should really be an artificer. Thematically, I love the idea of the class. However, half of the abilities are more like CHAOS! (and should be a sorcerer subtheme) while the other half actually deal with the inventor theme. Also, the inventor doesn't actually do much inventing. I'd hope the armor could be upgraded to Breastplate for thematic reasons. Specifically, I don't ever think spending a spell slot on Reckless casting is an appropriate use of your limited spell slots, especially at low level. I really like the Inventor theme and hope they expand on it.

This is ... word for word exactly the same thing I said in the Survey. I hope they get the message on Brute and Invention.

 

[Olrox17]

Circle of Spores Druid: There is literally no reason to have reactions that can only be used on your own turn. Halo of spores should be a bonus action or no action at all.

Brute: Good simple fighter, much better than the champion subclass. One problem: Right now you can be a Dexterity based Brute, or even a ranged based Brute. Makes no sense, make it so the brute force feature only works with strength based attack, like a barbarian rage bonus damage.

School of Invention: This one is just bad. Leave the wild magic to the sorcerer, at least it makes some sense there.

 

[gyor]

To keep it brief Circle of Spores YES!, Brute Fighter Mah needs more flavour, and the School of Invention is two wizard subclasses and the wild magic sorcerer all smashed together, so no.

 

[Li Shenron]

I took the survey and my general responses are as follows:

Circle of Spores Druid: It's a thematically tight subtheme that mostly does what it is intended to do. I'm not particularly interested in it as a PC, but I would use it for NPCs.

The Brute: This feels just like the Champion fighter v2.0. I mean, sure it's slightly better than a Champion, but I'd rather them fix the Champion than introduce another (slightly) better version under a different name.

School of Invention: Two subclasses smashed together, including 1 that should be a sorcerer and one that should really be an artificer. Thematically, I love the idea of the class. However, half of the abilities are more like CHAOS! (and should be a sorcerer subtheme) while the other half actually deal with the inventor theme. Also, the inventor doesn't actually do much inventing. I'd hope the armor could be upgraded to Breastplate for thematic reasons. Specifically, I don't ever think spending a spell slot on Reckless casting is an appropriate use of your limited spell slots, especially at low level. I really like the Inventor theme and hope they expand on it.

You totally nailed why they totally botched it

It was so disappointing to read "school of invention", getting excited about what you could invent, and find out that you invent... nothing at all. The augmented armor could really only be a new magic item. The metamagic steals the stick from the Sorcerer. The swapping of prepared spells breaks the fundamental only limit of wizards. The random spells have the same problems of the chaos mage, minus the funny random effects table, there is zero fun in this new take.

There is only one thing to salvage from this UA: the 1hp zombie spawning. It might have issues, but it has the potential to support a necromancer type with lots of (weak) minions. Should probably be a wizard or evil clericbhowever... we can't seriously have a Druid be the best necromancer option in the game :/

 

[pukunui]

Sorry if someone else has already posted this (it has been a busy couple of days, so no time for enworlding), but there is a survey for the three subclasses UA.

No, you haven't missed a previous posting. I saw Jeremy post the link a few days ago and debated whether or not I should post about it here but decided to wait and see how long it took for someone else to do it.


My responses:

Spore druid: It's cool. I just didn't like the "reaction on your turn" thing. It should either be a real reaction (perhaps to a creature moving within 10 feet of you) or a bonus action. [I suspect this was Mearls' way of testing getting rid of bonus actions.]

Brute fighter: Incredibly boring. All it does is add more numbers (either in the form of static bonuses or extra dice). I suggested they make it so Brute Force only works with non-light/finesse melee weapons. A Dex-based brute makes no sense.

Invention wizard: Bad bad bad. Bring back the Lore Master!

 

[Blue]

Thanks for the link to the Survey - I've had a couple closed by the time I tried to reply so this was good.

Circle of Spores: How does Animate Dead fit in the circle of life theme? Really dislike "last hit" powers since your allies can unintentionally kill steal, especially one that does so little damage (especially at high levels). Reactions have triggers, it isn't a reaction.

Brute: Reasonable mechanically, lacks any flavor outside combat, overlaps very heavily with Champion. Would rather see it as additional Champion options (like SCAG added Totem Barb options).

School of Invention: HATE the armor. Two features require it, including one of your best. Blocks bracer of defense/robes of the archmagi/any other magic armor. Stops multiclassing ideas that use better armor. USES UP Attunement. Reckless Casting & Controlled Chaos would make a great "wild mage lite". Alchemical Casting is stealing the definine characteristic of sorcerers, filing off the serial numbers, and giving it. In that case, just standardize the system and give sorcerers something new their own. Oh, and don't require wearing that horrid armor.

 

[TheCosmicKid]

The Brute: This feels just like the Champion fighter v2.0. I mean, sure it's slightly better than a Champion, but I'd rather them fix the Champion than introduce another (slightly) better version under a different name.

The Brute is what "fixing the Champion" looks like. Why use the same name and thereby implicitly invalidate what's printed in the PHB? No reason to do that when they can just do this. My concern is not that "Brute" is a different name and concept, but that it's an unappealing name and concept compared to its predecessor. I would rather they'd stuck with something more positive and heroic to be semi-synonymous with "Champion".

Brute: Reasonable mechanically, lacks any flavor outside combat, overlaps very heavily with Champion. Would rather see it as additional Champion options (like SCAG added Totem Barb options).

I think that would undermine the idea of the Champion/Brute as "the simple one".

 

[Charlaquin]

Spores: Overall Very Satisfied, with a mix of Satisfied, Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied, and Very Satisfied. In the additional comments I said that I love the concept and flavor, and want to see the specific execution iterated on more. Halo of Spores is interesting, but the reaction on your turn to use it is awkward and should probably be either a bonus action or a off-turn reaction in response to a trigger such as a creature entering or starting its turn in the radius. Zombies are very cool, but triggering on killing a creature with halo of Spores makes it too difficult to pull off.

Brute: Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied across the board. In the additional comments I said this is very obviously a second attempt at the Champion, and that it’s all fine, if boring. Also, the damage output looks a little high, but I’m sure they’ll balance that out if they decide to move forward with the subclass.

Incentor: Very Dissatisfied across the board. No additional comments. I strongly dislike it and I don’t feel like spending a ton of energy unpacking why.