D&D (2024) New One D&D Playtest Shows Us The New Druid & Paladin

WotC has released the fourth One D&D playtest document. This 29-page PDF includes the druid and the paladin with Circle of the Moon and Oath of Devotion subclasses.

Druid. The Druid class and Circle of the Moon subclass are ready for playtesting here.

Paladin. The Paladin class and Oath of Devotion subclass are ready for playtesting here.

Feats. Several revised feats appear here for your feedback, with more revised feats coming in future articles.

Spells. More spells are ready for playtesting, with a focus on smite spells, Find Familiar, and Find Steed.

Rules Glossary. The rules glossary has been updated again and supersedes the glossary in previous Unearthed Arcana articles. In this document, any underlined term in the body text appears in that glossary, which defines game terms that have been clarified or redefined for this playtest or that don’t appear in the 2014 Player’s Handbook.

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[Loren the GM]

Adding new content is not the same as rewriting existing core content. And I have and will continue to argue that the monster magic changes are the sort of thing that should be done in a new edition as well.

Anyone else notice the loss of the term, "OneD&D"?

It isn't rewriting, it is new content. Druid 2.0. But built in the same engine, and could play next to Druid 1.0. All part of the same system. Backwards compatible even.

 

[Micah Sweet]

When you click on this button
View attachment 276455


To Start Playtesting you go to another One D&D page where you have the various packets. When you click on a packet you go another page title One D&D that talks about how One D&D is the future of D&D

I was talking about the document itself.

 

[Mephista]

Wow. Talk about quadrupling down on Wild Shape. There's, like, three things in Druid that's not revolving around that.
But I have to say, I'm really enjoying the new animal work. I know a bunch of people here are all like, oh its so generic. But I'm all like, "Sweet. I can now play my drow spider-spider shifter and not need to make new stats." Or feel like I'm screwing over the party if I want to be a wolf instead of a stupid bear.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It isn't rewriting, it is new content. Druid 2.0. But built in the same engine, and could play next to Druid 1.0. All part of the same system. Backwards compatible even.

You think the 2024 PH isn't explicitly intended to replace the 2014 PH?

 

[TwoSix]

How does all this not constitute a new edition, I ask you?

Ultimately, it's semantics. The amount of change puts this into 3e->3.5 or 1e->2e territory, by my judgment, but it's not nearly enough change to prevent using both pre and post revision material in the same game. A 2014 druid and this UA druid can play at the same table at the same time.

 

[Velderan]

I was talking about the document itself.

Did the previous playtest documents say it? A quick glance at the Character Origins UA doesn't seem to include that name and this is the first paragraph:

This document is the first in a series of Unearthed Arcana articles that present material designed for the Player’s Handbook coming out in 2024. 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.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I don't get why someone thinks that druids get all the paladin spells. They don't.
Cleric and paladins use the divine list. Druids and rangers the primal list.
Smites are divine only...

Overall, I like it.

I just have 2 things to remark:

1. When the familar gets spell level calculated in their hp. Which level does the druid cast it when channeling nature? Same for the paladin find steed.
To make the paladin steed as good as a cleric steed, I think we need casted at half paladin level rounded up.

2. Why does the combat wildshape not improve the AC of the beast.
Low AC use to balance extra hp, now the moon druid will just lose hp...

Shameless self quote:

I have noticed, that you can resummon the old one, if it disappears. So once you casted it with a higher level spell, you can resummon the higher version woth a low level spell. This at least helps the druid familiar, but still lets the paladin steed pale compared to the cleric steed...

Edit: also, I feel both classes are way more polished than the ones we have seen before. If they put them out as they are, I had close to zero complains.

 

[Loren the GM]

You think the 2024 PH isn't explicitly intended to replace the 2014 PH?

I'm sure it will replace it, but it doesn't change the fact they can play together. Just because a product is no longer sold (see Volo's Guide, superseded by new product) - but that doesn't mean the new product isn't part of 5e. Just because legacy content won't be the norm doesn't mean it isn't compatible, or that it isn't still all the same system.

 

[TwoSix]

But I have to say, I'm really enjoying the new animal work. I know a bunch of people here are all like, oh its so generic. But I'm all like, "Sweet. I can now play my drow spider-spider shifter and not need to make new stats." Or feel like I'm screwing over the party if I want to be a wolf instead of a stupid bear.

I don't have a problem with the template approach myself, but there's definitely a division in the community between "As long as I can reskin a mechanic to fit my narrative, it's fine" and "The unique mechanics are what helps shape the narrative for me."

 

[OB1]

Really like the changes they made to the Paladin Smite. Once per turn, no other spellcasting and the spell versions working after an attack hits. The feature is still awesome, gives more reason to use the spell versions, and keeps it from getting totally out of hand.