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.

 

[vpuigdoller]

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 ....

Now I want an angry Wizard to go with it lol!

 

[Aldarc]

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.

Yeah, I'm not really getting an Eberron-vibe from these subclasses.

I'm not familiar with any monastic tradition in Eberron that really gels with what the Astral Self monks are doing here. Kalashtar are more about the Path of Light and Dal Quor (the Plane of Dreams) rather than anything to do with the Astral Plane. I don't exactly see much connection with the Quori with this subclass.

 

[Garthanos]

I will admit, that like @lowkey13 my initial thought was that the 1e barbarian must be spinning in his grave (as the magic-hating magic-item destroying fellow). But that was mostly just funny to me.

I actually created a solid context for having one of those 1e style barbarian in 4e, very quirky conceptually but it rather works (via martial practices no less)

 

[Garthanos]

sigh

Yes, it is true that Barbarians, like everything else in 5e, is getting DA MAGIC.

Just because something is already a little bad, doesn't mean we can't complain when they make it worse, right?

You know this is one of those you find me agreeing with you moments

 

[BookBarbarian]

Honestly, I feel like people who don't understand the idea of a "magic barbarian" haven't seen the newest version of She-Ra.

I understand the idea.

I just wish there were non-magical options that didn't have pointless huge drawbacks.

All those magic Barbarians like Totem Warriors, Zealots, Ancestral Guardians and Storm Heralds actually justify the Barbarian existing as a class on it's own rather than being a sub-class of Fighter. There's only room for about 2 or 3 concepts at the most, for non-magical Barbarians.

Bah!

For the fighter there are Champion, Battlemaster, Cavalier, Samurai, PDK, Brute, Scout, Monster Hunter and probably other official and UA fighters I am forgetting.

Barbarians could have more than 2-3 themes without always dipping into magic.

But if the 2-3 number is true that makes it all the more imperative to have a non-magical option that is better than the Berserker or Battlerager.

 

[Garthanos]

Now I want an angry Wizard to go with it lol!

The berserker mage is probably one of my favorite concepts (I think I wanted this one since 1980)

 

[Kobold Avenger]

For the fighter there are Champion, Battlemaster, Cavalier, Samurai, PDK, Brute, Scout, Monster Hunter and probably other official and UA fighters I am forgetting.

And that's the Fighter's (and Rogue's) thing, they can have a bunch of concepts that are non-magical because their identities are more open than the Barbarian.

 

[TwoSix]

I understand the idea.

I just wish there were non-magical options that didn't have pointless huge drawbacks.

Sure, but that's a critique of the release model as a whole, not a problem with the subclass as written, right?

"What do you think of this sandwich? Not much, because I ordered a pizza" is a valid complaint about the restaurant, but doesn't say much about the quality of the sandwich.

 

[BookBarbarian]

Sure, but that's a critique of the release model as a whole, not a problem with the subclass as written, right?

"What do you think of this sandwich? Not much, because I ordered a pizza" is a valid complaint about the restaurant, but doesn't say much about the quality of the sandwich.

Fair enough.

I'm totally going to complain about the quality of this restaurant on the survey for this sandwich though.

 

[BookBarbarian]

And that's the Fighter's (and Rogue's) thing, they can have a bunch of concepts that are non-magical because their identities are more open than the Barbarian.

Yup, guy who gets mad does have an inherent identity problem. I would have loved for the berserker to be a fighter subclass (and not to unnecessarily punish itself) but here we are.