D&D (2024) 48 Subclasses: 4 per Class

[Neonchameleon]

Well, I think there's a difference between putting a new take on obviously inferior subclasses like 4 Elements monk and Berzerker barbarian, and republishing subclasses like Draconic sorcerer and Shadow monk that work fine and probably just need a little conversion guide.

... Draconic Sorcerer is your example of a subclass that works fine? I mean it won't get you killed if you try to use its features the way Storm will but it's either in dire need of more spells known or dire need of the draconic part doing something productive rather than being Mage Armour and a hit point a level at level 1, and an elemental resistance matching your favoured damage type (do you go for common or rare?) at 6

 

[Parmandur]

Right, exactly. Which is why I don't want them to waste space in the new PHB reprinting stuff that already works fine. New stuff for everyone!

I'm sure there will be plenty of revised versions of the 2024 Subclasses involved. Though if they keep it to about 4 per Class, that means at least 15 options that were not in the 2014 PHB, so about a third.

 

[TwoSix]

... Draconic Sorcerer is your example of a subclass that works fine? I mean it won't get you killed if you try to use its features the way Storm will but it's either in dire need of more spells known or dire need of the draconic part doing something productive rather than being Mage Armour and a hit point a level at level 1, and an elemental resistance matching your favoured damage type (do you go for common or rare?) at 6

It's weak, but it's playable. It was a bad reference on my part, anyway, because it's the SRD subclass so I would be very surprised if it's not reprinted.

 

[Aldarc]

It's weak, but it's playable. It was a bad reference on my part, anyway, because it's the SRD subclass so I would be very surprised if it's not reprinted.

I do wish that the different wizard schools were condensed to Specialist Wizard, but I doubt we will be so lucky.

 

[Parmandur]

I do wish that the different wizard schools were condensed to Specialist Wizard, but I doubt we will be so lucky.

On the contrary, I would rather that they kept them all but maybe gave then a bit of a face-lift. And that the Druid Land Subclass was broken out into a bunch of more specific options. That's one of the biggest travertine in the 2014 PHB.

 

[Aldarc]

On the contrary, I would rather that they kept them all but maybe gave then a bit of a face-lift. And that the Druid Land Subclass was broken out into a bunch of more specific options. That's one of the biggest travertine in the 2014 PHB.

They're all travesties.

 

[Parmandur]

They're all travesties.

No, the Wizards are quite well done: but forcing what could be 8 distinct Druid Subclasses into 1 was a major, major mistake.

 

[Aldarc]

No, the Wizards are quite well done: but forcing what could be 8 distinct Druid Subclasses into 1 was a major, major mistake.

I disagree, but guess what? That's fine.

 

[Dausuul]

There may be a conversion guide for pre-1D&D subclasses, but I doubt it will work terribly well. If they are in fact standardizing the levels where you get subclass features (which makes perfect sense and opens up a lot of cool design space), then any mapping of older subclasses to the new system is going to be kludgy at best -- some features will be over-leveled, others under-leveled, and what do you do when the new class and the old class have different numbers of subclass feature slots?

On top of that, the old subclasses were designed to work with base class features that may change or be removed.

The best way to use 5E subclasses in a 1D&D game will most likely be to use it as part of the 5E class it was designed for. From what we've seen so far, 1D&D and 5E characters should be able to play at the same table with few or no issues.

 

[Minigiant]

I'm sure there will be a conversion guide for 5e subclasses.

Because of this, I think non-basic-set 5e subclasses that would require huge alterations will be found in the 2024 PHB as well.
That would be the Beastmaster Ranger, Hexblade Warlock, Bladesinger Wizard, and Moon Druid. And maybe Cavalier Fighter.