D&D (2024) Classes: What changes do you predict?

[Ruin Explorer]

Based upon what we have seen and heard so far about One D&D, what class and subclass changes do you expect or predict for the One D&D playtest?

I mean, this is kind of a hard question, because there are two different questions really:

1) What changes will WotC suggest to classes/subclasses.

2) What changes will actually end up getting made, based on feedback, WotC randomly changing their mind at the last minute, and so on.

For me, 2 makes it hard to answer your question with much certainty.

I'm sure WotC will propose significant changes to the baseline for:

Ranger
Sorcerer
Monk

All three basically need a full re-write, and Sorcerer needs a reason to exist beyond having stolen all the metamagic and being the spontaneous-caster version of the Wizard. Whether the neo-grogs 5E has bred will allow any of these changes is another question (I'm picturing them as kind of Uruk-Hai, which I guess makes us old grogs just basic-ass Tolkien orcs/goblins!).

I expect they will tweak and or speculatively suggest major baseline changes to:

Fighters
Paladins
Bards
Druids
Rogues
Warlocks

I expect they will barely touch:

Wizards
Clerics
Barbarians

I think we'll see some different subclasses in 1D&D PHB, a lot of replacements. Most of it isn't worth speculating about until we're a bit further a long, but I do expect some fairly obvious stuff like integrating some Hexblade stuff into Pact of the Blade to make it less of a trap option.

and that Wizards will get a much-needed power boost.

ROFL brutal but quite likely. Wizards have very little design space because they're so OP already, so I'd be unsurprised if someone at WotC decides that it's fine if they get even more OP in order to have more design space.

 

[Art Waring]

I predict that they will make a space clown jugallo subclass for the rogue

 

[Horwath]

Sorcerers getting spell points system by default.

 

[Charlaquin]

Sorcerers getting spell points system by default.

That would be quite a bold change, but I would love to see it!

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Hmm...

1. I think they have to do something about the short rest / long rest imbalance. A lot of the issues in class balance are actually just issues with parties that have a mix of short rest classes and long rest classes, but don't take enough short rests. They either have to expand short rest mechanics (so that every class has at least some reason to want to take it), or they have to provide the classes that are heavily dependent on it (Monk, Warlock, Fighter) expanded, "long rest" equivalent resources.

2. They will probably use this as an opportunity finally release a perfected Ranger of some kind.

3. They will likely continue to keep the artificer out of the core rules.

4. Finally, they will get rid of the Bard. Now, that's a consummation devoutly to be wish'd!

 

[Horwath]

Hmm...

1. I think they have to do something about the short rest / long rest imbalance. A lot of the issues in class balance are actually just issues with parties that have a mix of short rest classes and long rest classes, but don't take enough short rests. They either have to expand short rest mechanics (so that every class has at least some reason to want to take it), or they have to provide the classes that are heavily dependent on it (Monk, Warlock, Fighter) expanded, "long rest" equivalent resources.

best way would be to either leave short rest only for spending HD or using some ability during short rest that is only usable 1/long rest. Like wizards arcane recovery. Or reduce short rest to 1-5 min duration.

2. They will probably use this as an opportunity finally release a perfected Ranger of some kind.

3.0 ranger was worst class, 3.5 was quite good. 3.75(PF1) really good

3. They will likely continue to keep the artificer out of the core rules.

I hope not, no reason to keep it out, outside page count

4. Finally, they will get rid of the Bard. Now, that's a consummation devoutly to be wish'd!

if they reduce bard to 2/3 or 1/2 casting, I would be interested in keeping bard. With more expert(ise) abilities.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I hope not, no reason to keep it out, outside page count

There are loads of reasons to keep it out, as I specified upthread. Not least that it is drastically more full of traps and potential ways to make your character not work well than any other D&D class, and the base power level without optimization is lower than most classes (whereas with optimization it's very high). Compared to all the PHB classes it's complicated, fiddly, confusing, and likely to go wrong.

 

[Horwath]

There are loads of reasons to keep it out, as I specified upthread. Not least that it is drastically more full of traps and potential ways to make your character not work well than any other D&D class, and the base power level without optimization is lower than most classes (whereas with optimization it's very high). Compared to all the PHB classes it's complicated, fiddly, confusing, and likely to go wrong.

so basically, problem with artificer is L2P.
Just dont suggest it to new players.

Same with tiefling wildfire druid with shadow touched, fey touched and telekinetic feats.
too many spells for new player to use optimally.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

Extra attack will be worded differently:

During your turn, you can take an extra action which you can only use to take the attack action.

This makes it so much more easy to work with dragon breath, multiclass and will allow a fighter to be so much more versatile in combat. Especially when he has 4 actions at level 20.
Maybe the fighter will also be allowed to do more shiny things with their third action, like dodge or dash.

This is exactly what I had in mind when I saw the dragonborn's breath thing!

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

• Rewording Extra attack (Another action used only for a single attack/cast a cantrip for some archetypes)
• Removing school restrictions on EK and AT
• Build-in Tasha's features.
• More ''scholar'' features for the Wizard (the ''brain'' class) and better theme definition in their subclasses.
• Assassin with better non-crit sneak attacks and poison features. Maybe an Initiative boost to go with the new Surprise rules.
• Reworked monk and 4E archetypes (I'd say closer to the previous playtest)
• Berserker with either an HP or HD cost to use Fury instead of exhaustion (or a modified Exhaustion chart)
• Bard's Inspiration will recharge on short-rest (or the new recharge paradigm for short rests) or have way more uses at 1st level.
• Hopefully Fighters will have a few more features.
• The Champion will steal some features from the UA Brutes who was shot down because it was a better Champion than the Champion!
• Battlemaster will have the same recharge as the Psi-Knight (Psionic Energy dice, which are each a d6. You have a number of these dice equal to twice your proficiency bonus, and they fuel various psionic powers you have, which are detailed below. Some of your powers expend the Psionic Energy die they use, as specified in a power's description, and you can't use a power if it requires you to use a die when your dice are all expended. You regain all your expended Psionic Energy dice when you finish a long rest. In addition, as a bonus action, you can regain one expended Psionic Energy die, but you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.) and gaining extra die will not be considered as a feature, leaving space to add more thematic feature.