Unearthed Arcana Unearthed Arcana: Barbarian and Monk

Unearthed Arcana makes an unexpected return (the last one was back in May) with a three-page PDF containing two subclasses -- Path of the Wild Soul for the barbarian, and Way of the Astral Self for the monk.

 

[Charlaquin]

Is it just me, or is the Astral Monk a stand user?

-So The Way of the Astral Self can attack 6 times in a round with Complete Astral Self (Astral Barrage) and Arms of the Astral Self?

Ora, Ora, Ora, Ora, Ora, Ora!

 

[MechaTarrasque]

I really like the Astral Monk...seems pretty well balanced as well as being flavorful.

My opposition to the Wild Barbarian is mainly that I am having a difficult time wrapping my brain around the concept.

Outside of

Ugh.

The Astral Monk ... whatever. fine.

But the Wild Soul Barbarian? A magic-infused Barbarian? Have we just given up on classes altogether? Did I miss that memo?

How about the Angry Wizard? You know, the Wizard subclass that specializes in melee and raging?

No?

How about the Smard? It's a Smug Bard, that takes an Oath to, um, Smite evildoers with his lute?

No?

How about the Healing Warlock, which ... oh, wait ....

Most of the barbarian subclasses are magic infused--primal magic for the totem, elemental magic for the storm herald, necromancy for the ancestral spirit, and divine for the zealot. The spikey dwarf and the berserker are actually the outliers. Also, as I have pointed out before, the barbarian isn't even particularly "nature-based" (outside of the totem) anymore. It is basically the "short term performance enhanced melee" class, and it has been that way for a couple of years. [Must resist the urge to make a Roid Rage joke.]

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[MechaTarrasque]

I really like the Astral Monk...seems pretty well balanced as well as being flavorful.

My opposition to the Wild Barbarian is mainly that I am having a difficult time wrapping my brain around the concept.

I think it is basically the melee wild magic sorcerer. You are full of magic but don't have any casting ability to channel it into spells (or else you would be the sorcerer), so it manifests in more subconscious fashion.

 

[Parmandur]

They don't feel like something I'd associate with Eberron. Though the most obvious subclasses such as Inquisitive Rogue and the Celestial (Silver Flame) Warlock have already been published. These classes could be linked to another MtG setting too.

Well, we know there is an Eberron hardcover coming in November, though we have scant details. There is a new M:tG setting in the next Set, but I doubt they would do two full setting hardcovers, and they have not UA tested any other Planeshift material.

So, this is either for Eberron this year, or something else set for next year.

 

[TwoSix]

This...this right here! I feel the exact same way!!

Time to get out of the '80s, guys. Conan may be a Barbarian, but the Barbarian motif can encompass concepts well beyond the Conan type.

 

[R_J_K75]

This is just ridiculous, a Flumph, really? Whatever happened to Barbarians hating magic? The longer I play D&D the more its seems that classes are just a bunch of powers/classes features. They should just give players a race and a set number of points per level with which you can buy whatever features you want. Theyve already gotten rid of race and ability score requirements and max level restrictions; I think its time to get rid of the class system all together. Itd be interesting to see the class features from the PHB compiled by level with a numeric point buy assigned and see what a 3rd or 4th level character built from a few fighter, rogue, and wizard features would look and play like. This is something that Ive thought about doing for awhile but just havent.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Parmandur]

This is just ridiculous, a Flumph, really? Whatever happened to Barbarians hating magic? The longer I play D&D the more its seems that classes are just a bunch of powers/classes features. They should just give players a race and a set number of points per level with which you can buy whatever features you want. Theyve already gotten rid of race and ability score requirements and max level restrictions; I think its time to get rid of the class system all together. Itd be interesting to see the class features from the PHB compiled by level with a numeric point buy assigned and see what a 3rd or 4th level character built from a few fighter, rogue, and wizard features would look and play like. This is something that Ive thought about doing for awhile but just havent.

Not all that secretly, yes, WotC has basically done that, but with nicely presented packages. I wouldn't be surprised if there is something like that by the end of the edition.

 

[Dausuul]

Wild Soul Barbarian: The wild surge when you rage is kind of nifty. Magic Reserves fairly screams "abuse me!" (If anyone in the party can cast Cure Wounds, you can do an infinite loop and recharge the entire party in minutes.) Arcane Rebuke is very solid, I like that bit.

Astral Self Monk: The low level abilities cost too much ki for the benefits they offer. It all comes together at level 11, but do you really want to wait that long for your subclass to start doing its thing?