D&D (2024) One D&D Expert Classes Playtest Document Is Live

The One D&D Expert Class playest document is now available to download. You can access it by signing into your D&D Beyond account at the link below. It contains three classes -- bard, rogue, and ranger, along with three associated subclasses (College of Lore, Thief, and Hunter), plus a number of feats.

Unearthed Arcana Playtest

Unearthed Arcana Playtest Materials Get Unearthed Arcana playtest content, try it out in your game, and provide feedback! Check back regularly for ...

www.dndbeyond.com

 

[Zubatcarteira]

Scout Fighter is from Unearthed Arcana, rather old one from 2016.

 

[Weiley31]

What are you even linking there? Not only is that link unsigned and insecure, that's not official 5E content.

https://media.wizards.com/2015/downloads/dnd/04_UA_Classics_Revisited.pdf

Much better or is that an issue too Maggie Smith?

 

[Weiley31]

Scout Fighter is from Unearthed Arcana, rather old one from 2016.

Somebody gets it!

 

[Ruin Explorer]

https://media.wizards.com/2015/downloads/dnd/04_UA_Classics_Revisited.pdf

Much better or is that an issue too Maggie Smith?

I mean, it's an abandoned/rejected UA from 7 years ago lol.

By that logic, we don't don't need a Psionicist, because we can just go download the Mystic UA lol.

 

[Weiley31]

I mean, it's an abandoned/rejected UA lol.

By that logic, we don't don't need a Psionicist, because we can just go download the Mystic UA lol.

I don't offer answers, but solutions.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I don't offer answers, but solutions.

I get where you're coming from, but it's not a real solution. It's a weird half-arsed thing that was rejected for a reason. It's interesting to remember that they tried it though.

 

[Zubatcarteira]

For those skill proficiencies and expertises to really matter, they'll need a good skill system, with examples of what you can do with a check that could actually make a Ranger stand out with their nature and survival skills. As it is in 5e, it's too DM dependant, and most effects that just work are spells, so you end up needing magic to even make a snare.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

For those skill proficiencies and expertises to really matter, they'll need a good skill system, with examples of what you can do with a check that could actually make a Ranger stand out with their nature and survival skills. As it is in 5e, it's too DM dependant, and most effects that just work are spells, so you end up needing magic to even make a snare.

And they have been expanding what you can do with uncommonly used skills in the playtest. Just look at the added Study and Influence Actions and changes to the Search Action. I wouldn't be surprised if the Skill system in 5e gets more changes/additions later in the playtest.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

For those skill proficiencies and expertises to really matter, they'll need a good skill system, with examples of what you can do with a check that could actually make a Ranger stand out with their nature and survival skills. As it is in 5e, it's too DM dependant, and most effects that just work are spells, so you end up needing magic to even make a snare.

At the base Skill Checks in general are two swingy. It is not a big deal in a dungeon with pick locks and disarm traps as that is part of the general resource attrition of that environment. Similarly with hiding and sneaking about but in social and exploration where the habit has been one bite at the cherry and failure is a big deal it is very unsatisfactory. Or at least once you move away from hex crawl style play.
If you have multiple encounters in a journey with opportunities to evade than a failure or two is not a big deal and that is fine where exploration is the point of play.
However, many tables that is not the point of play, they have a plot/investigation or whatever to follow and the journey is more of an obstacle to be overcome then the current system has issues.
Expertise is going to help, as it is making the challenge more reliable, both in the overcoming of it and in the framing of by the DM. The problem now is that there are a lot of embedded "I win" buttons already in the game.
Some of the spells in the game like locate creature/object should be made useful or got rid of. If you are within 1,000 feet of something you can probably see it.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

And they have been expanding what you can do with uncommonly used skills in the playtest. Just look at the added Study and Influence Actions and changes to the Search Action. I wouldn't be surprised if the Skill system in 5e gets more changes/additions later in the playtest.

i am actually hopeful but it will also need actual advice in the DMG and support by examples in adventure writing and I am not too hopeful about the latter.