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.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

What do other class groups get?

All warriors get a Fighting Style? Will Martial Arts and Reckless Attack become Fighting Styles?

Hopefully, they all get Maneuvers. I seriously doubt that this is going to happen, but it would be great, IMO.

All priests get Channel? Will Wildshape become Channel Primality: Wildshape?

Wildshape already works really similarly to Channel Divinity.

All mages get Arcane Recovery?

If so, then Warlocks need to change quite a bit. They already get their spell slots back on a short rest. Maybe Metamagic? They've already leaned into making Metamagic accessible to other spellcasting classes through the Metamagic Adept feat in TCoE.

 

[Minigiant]

If so, then Warlocks need to change quite a bit. They already get their spell slots back on a short rest. Maybe Metamagic? They've already leaned into making Metamagic accessible to other spellcasting classes through the Metamagic Adept feat in TCoE.

If it's Arcane Recovery, Warlocks only have to change a little. Warlocks would just get one more spell slot. Sorcerers and Wizards get 1/2 their level in spells slots.

If it's Metamagic, all three mages have to change a LOT. Metamagic runs on points which only Sorcerers get.

 

[Minigiant]

Warrior: Fighter Barbarian Monk.

They'll all get maneuvers like BM/ ToB. Barbs will have tanky/ hit stuff hard manouvers. Monks will have speed/ mobility and fancy stuff. Fighters will have a bit of both.

(please let this be true, and give these guys ToB stuff)

I think it will be Fighting styles and everyone will get Superior Technique as an option to get maneuvers. Then Martial Adept feat will have the Warrior and level 4 prerequisites.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

I think it will be Fighting styles and everyone will get Superior Technique as an option to get maneuvers. Then Martial Adept feat will have the Warrior and level 4 prerequisites.

That sounds very much like something Wizards of the Coast would do. It doesn't go as far as I wish it did in this direction (I personally think that Martial Adept is pretty weak unless you're a Battlemaster), but that seems pretty likely to me.

We'll have to wait and see how Fighting Styles work for Rangers. Hopefully they change a bit.

 

[JEB]

• Suggested ASI becoming a feat on these forums a while back, once I saw the tide of where feats were going, so clearly Wizards is specifically listening to me.
• As noted, 1 = Inspiration was a popular suggestion, so hard to say if that came from paying attention to internet discussions, overwhelming survey feedback, both of the above, or an incredible coincidence.
• If they flipped the crit rules back to 2014 core, that suggests any design changes they planned to monsters as far as recharge abilities weren't just about compensating for lost crits.
• Capstones moving from 20 to 18 might suggest they feel pretty confident that most PCs don't get that far, and therefore most existing PCs won't have to be reworked. Also note that fighters and sorcerers also get their subclass capstones at level 18, which suggests subclass realignment may be happening.
• Making epic boons core is interesting. Creates some symmetry with the level 1 feat. Also echoes 4E's epic destinies.
• 48 subclasses might sound like four per class, but I'm betting it'll be pretty close to the balance in the 2014 PHB.
• They're keeping artificer in mind, but the above changes suggest reworking, so I bet on some kind of expansion book not long after 2024 that includes it. Could be an Eberron update, could be a Tasha's style book. (If any formerly core subclasses wind up cut, they'll surely be in the latter book.)

EDIT: If you get your class capstone at level 18, and an epic boon at level 20, what do you get at level 19?

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

I wish we just folded ASI into regular feats, so you wouldn't have to pick between expected power curve and getting fun gimmicks.

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

EDIT: If you get your class capstone at level 18, and an epic boon at level 20, what do you get at level 19?

The warm feeling of knowing you're one of the 3 people playing at that level!

 

[Minigiant]

EDIT: If you get your class capstone at level 18, and an epic boon at level 20, what do you get at level 19?

Level 19 was your last ASI/Feat level in 2014 classes.

 

[Raith5]

They should be able to set up a magical perimeter that alerts them silently in their mind if it’s crossed, without casting a spell?

No. But you can make alarms with just some string and traps with wood and rope in the real world. That sounds like a ranger thing while magical alarms and traps sound like a mage kind of thing IMO.

 

[Michael Linke]

I wonder if expert warrior arcane and divne classes is going to be the 4e roles redefined

It’s roughly the same class groups from 2nd Edition. Rogue has been renamed Expert, and Ranger has moved out of Warrior.