D&D 5E Unearthed Arcana: Draconic Options

The latest Unearthed Arcana from WotC is called Draconic Options. It includes three variant Dragonborn races and a new kobold race, as well as a handful of new spells and feats. Dragonlance fans might do a double-take when they see Fizban's platinum shield (two Forgotten Realms dragons are referenced in the spells, too -- Icingdeath and Raulothim -- as is the FR god of fey dragons, Nathair).

Harness the power of dragons in this installment of Unearthed Arcana! This playtest document presents race, feat, and spell options related to dragons in Dungeons & Dragons.

First is a trio of draconic race options presented as an alternative to the dragonborn race in the Player’s Handbook, as well as a fresh look at the kobold race. Then comes a handful of feat options that reflect a connection to draconic power. Finally, an assortment of spells—many of them bearing the names of famous or infamous dragons—offer a variety of approaches to manifesting dragon magic.

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[TwoSix]

Okay: I will admit that I do like the fact that you can use your Breath Attack to replace an attack ala the Tasha's Bladesinger Extra Attack/Cantrip. And the increased damage is a nice perk. Knowing me, if I was DMing and was using this option for my players, I'd replace the PHB Dragonborn Breath Attack damage with this UA version, and add the extra stuff on automatically OR as a special unlock for Dragonborn pcs.

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like these abilities that replace attacks (instead of being bonus actions, like they would have been in early 5e) are early trial balloons for revising the action economy in a future 6e.

I don't think they'll go down the road of "everyone gets 3 actions" like PF2, but I can see getting 2 and 3 attacks at higher levels being made universal, with more spells and other special actions replacing an attack.

 

[Marandahir]

I'm quite bothered by the lack of options for Purple, Brown, Grey, Iron, Steel, Cobalt, Mercury, Adamantine, Orium, and Mithral Dragons. Been bothered by their exclusion from monster books all edition, and am still quite bothered by their exclusion - far more than I was bothered by the lack of Gem Dragons.

As for Catastrophic Dragons, Plague Dragons, and Planar Dragons, those I don't mind not having here. But at least give us the full set of Chromatics and Metallics!

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

I'm quite bothered by the lack of options for Purple, Brown, Grey, Iron, Steel, Cobalt, Mercury, Adamantine, Orium, and Mithral Dragons.

What about Prismatic, Force, Styx, Yellow, Obsidian, Astral, Chaos, Ethereal, Radiant, Styx, Faerie, and Shadow Dragons?

Previous editions of D&D had a crap-ton of Dragons. WotC has to draw the line somewhere. They did it with elves (not including the Avariel, Wild Elves, and Lythari in Mordenkainen's) and Trolls. There's just too many, and a lot of them are redundant/unnecessary. (I'm not saying this about all of them. I quite like Steel Dragons, actually.)

 

[Parmandur]

"My sword is called Goblin-Cleaver."

"Mine is Blackrazor."

"This is Twinkle."

It sounds better in Common, lost in translation.

 

[Parmandur]

I'm quite bothered by the lack of options for Purple, Brown, Grey, Iron, Steel, Cobalt, Mercury, Adamantine, Orium, and Mithral Dragons. Been bothered by their exclusion from monster books all edition, and am still quite bothered by their exclusion - far more than I was bothered by the lack of Gem Dragons.

As for Catastrophic Dragons, Plague Dragons, and Planar Dragons, those I don't mind not having here. But at least give us the full set of Chromatics and Metallics!

Who says those won't be in the book? So they don't have Dragonborn connections, doesn't mean they won't be in the bestiary.

I would wager that we get large Volo's style write-ups about culture, behavior and so on for for the pentad of major Chromatic, Metallic, and Gem dragons each, along with Dragonborn (who are underdeveloped in the Lore) and a Kobold reboot. Then the Bestiary will have all sorts of esoteric Draconic minutiae.

 

[Parmandur]

Considering that we are getting "three" classic settings this year, Dragonlance seems more and more like a shoe-in at this point since we have these Draconic Options/Subclasses now, Council of Wyrms was released on the DMguilds, AND the fact that another Dragonlance novel is coming out. It would be surprising if they didn't do a tie-in book/Dragon related.

Winninger said they were working on three classic settings actively, he didn't give a timeframe. They work two years in advance, so I would say three classic Settings between this May and November 2022.

 

[Parmandur]

It's three classic settings in a two years period.

Indeed, and more beyond.

 

[Demetrios1453]

What about Prismatic, Force, Styx, Yellow, Obsidian, Astral, Chaos, Ethereal, Radiant, Styx, Faerie, and Shadow Dragons?

Previous editions of D&D had a crap-ton of Dragons. WotC has to draw the line somewhere. They did it with elves (not including the Avariel, Wild Elves, and Lythari in Mordenkainen's) and Trolls. There's just too many, and a lot of them are redundant/unnecessary. (I'm not saying this about all of them. I quite like Steel Dragons, actually.)

Technically, there's a steel dragon in Dungeon of the Mad Mage, but it's basically "use the silver dragon stat block with these changes"...

 

[Kurotowa]

Edit: Never mind, I'm slow.

 

[DariusArgent]

Still bummed that they completely removed the ABIs, languages and alignments instead of giving 'suggested' options. Everyone wins that way.