D&D (2024) Upcoming One D&D: Unearthed Arcana 'Expert' Classes (Bard, Ranger, Rogue)

WotC has posted a video describing the upcoming Unearthed Arcana playtest document which will feature three of the core character classes, each with a single subclass.

This document is the second in a series of Unearthed Arcana articles that present material designed for the next version of the Player's Handbook. The material here uses the rules in the

2014 Player's Handbook, except where noted. Providing feedback on this document is one way you can help shape the next generation of D&D!

Inside you'll find the following content:

Expert Classes. Three Classes appear in this document, each one a member of the Expert Group: the Bard, the Ranger, and the Rogue. Each Class appears with one Subclass. More Subclasses will appear in Unearthed Arcana in the months ahead.

Feats. Feats follow the Class descriptions, particularly feats available to the classes in this document.

Spell Lists. Three Spell lists-the Arcane, Divine, and Primal lists-are featured here. The Ranger uses the Primal list, and the Bard potentially uses all three, thanks to the Magical Secrets feature.

Rules Glossary. In this document, any term in the body text that is underlined appears in a glossary at the end. The glossary defines game terms that have been clarified or redefined for this playtest or that don't appear in the 2014 Player's Handbook.

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

40k people did the survey.
On the one hand it's great to have this much engagement/feedback. On the other hand, I doubt the D&D team has the resources to meaningfully consider written answers for this many surveys, and in many cases, I feel like the reasoning presented there is more important than the approval ratings.

They never were going to read random Internet people's game design thoughts... But marketing is happy to see how many people engaged with the survey!

 

[FallenRX]

Significantly redesigned I can see, but I wager both archetypes will still be in the PHB.

4 Elements definitely, but honestly if they just retread Tasha's Beast Master, with most Beast Spirit options, i feel like people would be pretty happy.

 

[darjr]

They never were going to read random Internet people's game design thoughts... But marketing is happy to see how many people engaged with the survey!

During the next playtest they read the survey comments.

D&D 5E - D&D Next playtest post mortem by Mike Mearls and Rodney Thompson. From seven years ago.

I'm surprised this hasn't been posted before. At PAX Mike and Rodney gave a post mortem about the D&D Next playtest. It's in seven parts about twenty minutes a piece. It's pretty detailed and discusses what they found and what they did based upon their interoperation of the data. I think it's...

www.enworld.org

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

And also: we have not seen what non-casters get to compensate for the lack of spells. Good chance that they receive a significant buff.

My expectations are around... an extra feat. They get an extra feat. Maybe another somewhere in the teen levels.

And then people will still go 'martials sure get a LOT of feats!' like it was the 3e Fighter.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

They never were going to read random Internet people's game design thoughts... But marketing is happy to see how many people engaged with the survey!

Sounds like a very pessimistic thing to think. Depressing...

Or do you have special insight?

 

[Sacrosanct]

And also: we have not seen what non-casters get to compensate for the lack of spells. Good chance that they receive a significant buff.

Armor. And hit points. And more effective combat. I don't think we need a non-caster to have "powers that are just like spells but I swear we aren't calling them that" to be effective in the game. i.e., they don't necessarily need anything extra to compensate for lack of spells because they've already got class features that account for that and always have.

 

[Zaukrie]

They never were going to read random Internet people's game design thoughts... But marketing is happy to see how many people engaged with the survey!

As a former product manager, I can almost guarantee they are reading all the comments. No one cares about the scores, really.

Excited to see the next packet. I like the groups/roles/whatever they want to call it idea.

 

[Sir Brennen]

So we’re back to paladins hoarding spell slots for Critical Smites? And uber sneak attacks on a Crit? That’s… unfortunate

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

they don't necessarily need anything extra to compensate for lack of spells because they've already got class features that account for that and always have.

Everyone in the game can conduct themselves in combat, because it's a combat-centric game. That's not what martials do any better than others.

Relatedly, Bard has no business being in the Expert category. They're a full caster that does caster things, and should've never gotten Expertise to begin with. But, it's not like they could leave a possible niche for martials.

 

[Vael]

So the Bard is going to show how classes will interact with the new Primal/Arcane/Divine spell lists, which will be interesting.

Looks like the Ranger is getting a substantial rework, I think grouping them in the Expert classes will help define them a little more, this should be a good change.