D&D (2024) Should the PHB have an arcane half caster?

[Frozen_Heart]

So new edition... and once again, not a single arcane half caster class to act as a paladin/ranger counterpart. Doesn't matter if you prefer artificer or swordmage, neither makes it in.

The entire archetype has been strangely ignored in 5e, with artificer having only 4 subclasses and banned by many DM's. While a swordmage class never even made it in, with a large proportion of the playerbase actively against having one at all.

Should an arcane half caster have priority over one of the PHB classes next edition? Or should it come later on?

 

[CreamCloud0]

i just find it odd that there's one specific class that's left out of the PHB when all the others make it in, especially when as you point out the primal and divine half casters are in there.

 

[Frozen_Heart]

i just find it odd that there's one specific class that's left out of the PHB when all the others make it in, especially when as you point out the primal and divine half casters are in there.

The only reason I can see is that maybe they want an exact copy of the 2014 PHB classes... despite that selection being a bit awful.

No arcane half caster and no support martial. And yet the wizard clone gets in somehow.

 

[schneeland]

Assuming that this is something like the Elf class in B/X, then yes, it should be added. Warlock could go (to a non-PHB splatbook) to make room.

 

[Clint_L]

It's an update of the 2014 PHB so it'll be the same classes. The only question is whether they add a new class, which is unlikely, and they've already stated that artificers are recently released enough that they don't need an update.

There are quite a few sub-classes that have a similar vibe to what you are describing - Arcane Trickster, Eldritch Knight, Hexblade Warlock, etc., not to mention Artificers in general. WotC has been very reluctant to add new classes - one in 8 years, so far. So I'm pessimistic that they will add another full class any time soon.

Edit: I certainly wouldn't support removing any classes from the updated PHB. That would be a kick in the teeth to a lot of players.

 

[CreamCloud0]

There are quite a few sub-classes that have a similar vibe to what you are describing - Arcane Trickster, Eldritch Knight, Hexblade Warlock, etc., not to mention Artificers in general. WotC has been very reluctant to add new classes - one in 8 years, so far. So I'm pessimistic that they will add another full class any time soon.

i'll repeat what i said in the current swordmage thread, better a single class specifically designed to be an arcane gish rather than using subclasses to force non-gish-apropriate classes into being one.

 

[Vaalingrade]

I think it's time to leave behind the 'half caster' concept and just do a better job with spell lists.

Except it looks like we're going to be doing a worse job with spellists so...

 

[Frozen_Heart]

i'll repeat what i said in the current swordmage thread, better a single class specifically designed to be an arcane gish rather than using subclasses to force non-gish-apropriate classes into being one.

Yeah I'm desperate to not have a repeat of 5e. I'd prefer to kill off the bladesinger, eldritch knight, and hexblade in order to get an actual dedicated class for it.

 

[Frozen_Heart]

I think it's time to leave behind the 'half caster' concept and just do a better job with spell lists.

Except it looks like we're going to be doing a worse job with spellists so...

How come you dislike the entire concept of half casters?

They're personally my favourite type of class. You get to be a caster without all the cheesy campaign destroying overpowered spells, while also working that magic into other mechanics.

Edit: But yeah, the ODD spell lists are looking awful already. Bard basically being a wizard with a guitar.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

The choice is pretty simple:
Take a class already in the PHB, make it an arcane half-caster.

I'd go either with Warlock or Bard, myself.

Warlock doesnt gain much from their ''full'' spellcasting anyways. Remove ''mystic arcanum'', keep them at 2 slots per SR if need be and give them more Invocations. Keep them either as a CHA-caster or move them to INT-casting.

The sorcerer could be a good solution too, since them being full spellcasters dont help in differentiating them from other full spellcaster. Change them to half-casters with special defenses and attacks based on their origin. Having scales and at-will breath weapon, or blinking effect and at-will chaos bolt could be awesome and way more than yet another caster who can cast Earthquake!