D&D 5E New Unearthed Arcana: Wonders of the Multiverse

WotC has posted a new Unearthed Arcana featuring the Glitchling race, the Fate domain, and a handful of backgrounds, feats and spells.

In today’s Unearthed Arcana, we explore D&D character options from across the multiverse. This playtest document presents the glitchling race; the Fate Domain cleric subclass; and the gate warden, giant foundling, planar philosopher, and rune carver backgrounds. Additionally, a collection of new feats provide links to giants and other primordial forces of the planes, while a selection of new spells highlight the power of fate and chance.

Wonders of the Multiverse | Unearthed Arcana | Dungeons & Dragons

Explore character options related to the Wonders of the Multiverse! This playtest document presents a new race and subclass and a collection of new backgrounds, feats and spells, all for use in Dungeons & Dragons.

dnd.wizards.com

 

[Henadic Theologian]

So between 2022 & 2023 we're getting a Spelljammer, Dragonlance, and Planescape and most likely The First World setting.

When I first saw the card based options my first thought actually was oh we're getting a D&D conversion of the leaked upcoming MtG Wild West setting, because one of the alternate arts is based on playing cards. Then I realized that at least some of those abilities were tied to a specific deck, made it less likely.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Y'know, it's funny. You guys really can't have it both ways.

If WotC tries to add in any sort of flavor mechanics - stuff for outside of combat - they get absolutely dogpiled for trying to add mechanics where none are wanted. But, if they try to add combat mechanics, they get jumped on for not adding flavor.

They really can't win with some people.

God I absolutely loathe never ending, unceasing negativity about absolutely everything that WotC does. It's just so irritating.

I never said I didn't want out of combat mechanics. Quite the opposite. Level Up's work in that area is one of the things I love about that game.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I never said I didn't want out of combat mechanics. Quite the opposite. Level Up's work in that area is one of the things I love about that game.

Many other people have complained about abilities that are not used for combat.

 

[Parmandur]

So between 2022 & 2023 we're getting a Spelljammer, Dragonlance, and Planescape and most likely The First World setting.

When I first saw the card based options my first thought actually was oh we're getting a D&D conversion of the leaked upcoming MtG Wild West setting, because one of the alternate arts is based on playing cards. Then I realized that at least some of those abilities were tied to a specific deck, made it less likely.

Qell, actually...that still may be what the Cartomancy elements are for. That would be quite the twist.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Qell, actually...that still may be what the Cartomancy elements are for. That would be quite the twist.

Have you seen the prototype art for the setting? It's pretty cool.

 

[Parmandur]

Have you seen the prototype art for the setting? It's pretty cool.

I have not, need to check this out.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Many other people have complained about abilities that are not used for combat.

Well, for the record I disagree with those people. My issues lie in other areas.

 

[humble minion]

There's some individual bits and pieces i like in here, and some i dislike (though in general i think the concepts are much better than the implementations).

What I'm finding a bit strange is how un-adventurous and by-the-numbers it all is, mechanically speaking. I mean, we're 8(?) years into 5th ed, with a revision right around the corner. In later years of previous editions, D&D started to throw some more experimental concepts out there. Book of Nine Swords. Player's Option. Even the Warlock was originally a late-3e experiment that took off (Player's Handbook 2 i think?). Some of these ideas worked, and some ... didn't (played an Incarnum user lately? Or a Dragon Shaman?).

Surely UA gives WotC an ideal forum to try out wacky and weird ideas, to get an idea of community reaction and possible mechanical pain points before canonicising them in books? But everything in here is just so ... same same, heard it all before. Learn a cantrip and have one use of a 2nd level spell per long rest. Add 1d4 damage once per round. Impose disadvantage once per proficiency bonus per long rest. Yawn. Half of this could have been done with a random generator. The 5e design space seems to be becoming smaller as time passes, rather than larger.

 

[Tonguez]

I was never really into planar stuff but this kinda bored me, even the glitching is just a race with a built in jetpack and little else

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Y'know, it's funny. You guys really can't have it both ways.

If WotC tries to add in any sort of flavor mechanics - stuff for outside of combat - they get absolutely dogpiled for trying to add mechanics where none are wanted. But, if they try to add combat mechanics, they get jumped on for not adding flavor.

They really can't win with some people.

God I absolutely loathe never ending, unceasing negativity about absolutely everything that WotC does. It's just so irritating.

That's some insulting rubbish, frankly.

WotC absolutely can win with me, so you telling cheap lies that they "can't win" is just bad faith bollocks on your part. Hypocritical bad faith bollocks given your nonsense about "negativity". It's okay for you to be violently negative, but not others?

I've been extremely positive about a lot of WotC's products (Tasha's was fantastic for example, VRGtR was solid just with some poorly-advised inclusions, to name to recent ones I bought). Overall their direction has been good. This product is ghastly.

Let's be clear, I've never argued against "flavour mechanics" in backgrounds or Feats or the like. Please do not directly lie and say I have. I've only argued for them. Sometimes they're done well, sometimes they aren't. This time they're nonexistent when they should be present.

I'm not asking to have it "both ways". I've been incredibly clear about which way I want it. Don't quote me and me alone and say "you guys". I'm one person. You're telling cheap lies about my opinions and that's not okay.

God I absolutely loathe never ending, unceasing negativity about absolutely everything that WotC does. It's just so irritating.

I particularly want to highlight this absolute drivel of the first water. You're literally being given the thumbs up by people are are unceasingly positive about WotC's product and never have much, if any, of a criticism. And you're quoting someone who has been accused being a WotC defender (me lol) and claiming "unceasing negativity about absolutely everything". That's completely false and you ought to admit that.