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

[Ruin Explorer]

Do they actually need design space, though?

Yes.

You can't have a Wizard-like class that can actually DO anything EXCEPT cast spells, because Wizards don't have any design space. So you somehow have to make that class "worse at spells" in order to justify class features at all, which is hard, because D&D doesn't like that.

Given that people hate having their toys taken away, surely the better answer is to try to bring everyone else up to meet the Wizard?

You can't easily do that, because there's no design space. Wizards are just "ALL OF THE SPELLS NO ALL OF THEM!!!" and nothing else except an increasingly unpopular casting method (which 5E almost turns into spontaneous casting anyway).

You can see this with Sorcerers particularly, who have less design space than they should, because it's difficult to make them "bad at spells", and it's why people get mad about the 5E Bard, because it is very slightly overstuffed design-space-wise, even with its godawful spell list.

Of course, that's easier said that done

Exactly. It's not completely impossible, but it's very hard. If Wizards had like actual class features and an actual class identity it'd be a lot easier.

But there's no point worrying because there is literally no chance Wizards of the Coast is going to let anyone even slightly nerf Wizards. It's much more likely they'll get some cool stuff on top of what they have, with no compensation to other classes. Maybe in 7E/D&D Refresh they'll pull the other classes up a bit.

The "Arcane" spell list presents a future problem here. If all Wizard spells are on the Arcane list, then Sorcerers and Bards get access to a bunch of new stuff which frankly will make them a bit more powerful even with limited spells known. If not, then Wizard will have to have additional spells from class, which would be a bit weird.

 

[delericho]

You can see this with Sorcerers particularly, who have less design space than they should, because it's difficult to make them "bad at spells"

Except that, as you noted, Sorcerers have a vastly reduced access to spells compared to Wizards. The big problem with them is that WotC underestimated the amount of design space they should have had.

 

[Undrave]

So they delimit what you can do with a caster, and also demand a design that's both unengaging and powerful, and benefits heavily from system mastery.

Wouldn't have been able to put it better myself!

I can't believe the most empty class is the one that got EIGHT bloody subclasses in the PHB and all of them except maybe the Diviner were boring as heck.

Do they actually need design space, though? They're a really fun class to play as-is, even without class features, and they don't actually need any more subclasses. Plus, there's plenty of Wizard-adjacent design space - every time a new Arcane spell is added, the Wizard gets more toys to play with.

YES they do! The fact they are 'fun' has little to no bearing on wether they are problematic or not. Let's not kid ourselves: The Wizard class is incredibly bland but people say it's still fun? That's because people like to be OP, not because it's engaging. Wizard players just get their rocks off by telling the GM “Hold it right there! I have a SPELL prepared for that!”, and they like to do it more than anybody else around the table. It’s not a healthy fun. It's like the player equivalent of the 'Gotcha!' DM.

You can see this with Sorcerers particularly, who have less design space than they should, because it's difficult to make them "bad at spells", and it's why people get mad about the 5E Bard, because it is very slightly overstuffed design-space-wise, even with its godawful spell list.

Remember Spell Flexibility? If Wizards had something other than their damn Spellbook as a class feature the Wizard players wouldn't have raised such a stink about it.

 

[Zubatcarteira]

I imagine something like this for their Monk rework.

 

[clearstream]

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

All classes will be reconceptualised as Bard sub-classes.

Bardbarian
Bard-bard
Prayer-bard
Beast-bard
Fighting-bard
Martial-bardist
Pal-bard
Wandering-bard
Sorca-bard
Bardlock
Wiz-bard

One edition will rock!

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Martial-bardist

 

[payn]

Rad.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

-I suspect Way of the Elements Monk will get something like offensive cantrips which can be cast as a bonus action or part of an attack, and other abilities will cost less Ki.
-Wild Mage Sorcerer's Tides of Chaos recharge will be initiated by the Player rather than the DM, maybe it's prof bonus per day or sorcery points. Rolling for a chance at having a Wild Surge will be done after casting any spell 1st level or higher.
-Necromancer's Wizard will not have a potentially large number of Undead Thralls under their control, because Animate Dead or Undead Thralls will change.

 

[MoonSong]

Except that, as you noted, Sorcerers have a vastly reduced access to spells compared to Wizards. The big problem with them is that WotC underestimated the amount of design space they should have had.

The problem is there has never been a point in history were WotC hasn't severely preventive handicapped the class. The class by itself has a lot of possible design space if only thematic, but everybody on WotC seems afraid of the class becoming overpowered and it is always saddled with pointless restrictions that prevent it not only from being overpowered, but from being actually any good. Most of the time the best we can hope is for it to be mediocre.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Rad.

Do you think your Wu-Tang guitar can defeat me?