D&D (2024) New One D&D Weapons Table Shows 'Mastery' Traits

The weapons table from the upcoming Unearthed Arcana playtest for One D&D has made its way onto the internet via Indestructoboy on Twitter, and reveals some new mechanics. The mastery traits include Nick, Slow, Puncture, Flex, Cleave, Topple, Graze, and Push. These traits are accessible by the warrior classes.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I mean, no: +1 is a passable rule of thumb when estimating what you can do on one roll, but it becomes complicated over the course of a full AdvenDay with Wxtra Attack. On a slow day for a Level 5 Fighter, there is huge potential swing between 15d8 and 15d10: eventually, for a high Level Fighter with all 4 Extra Attacks....? It can add up big.

I think if 2H was always +1 in 5E that'd be fine - but it's not, it's only for 1H weapons being used 2H - or am I missing a change that 1D&D is bringing? Sorry if so.

 

[Parmandur]

Your 5E math looks wrong.

Assuming say, 18 STR,

1h used 1h is 1d8+4
1h used 2H is 1d8+5
2 used 2h is 2d6+4
There is no fourth situation. Why have you got four situations for 5E?

Ahhhh, not quite: the middle case is 1d10+4, Versatile Weapons like a Battleaxe or Longsword change the die type. Swingier, with the potential for an explosive difference versus a mere static +1 (also potential for a total whiff).

Now, assume 5-8 Encounters orlf 2-3 Rounds for the Sword and board versus two handed Fighter. Then 1-3 Extra Attacks thar all get the difference. And the AC differential over the course of those combats.

It's complicated.

 

[Parmandur]

I think if 2H was always +1 in 5E that'd be fine - but it's not, it's only for 1H weapons being used 2H - or am I missing a change that 1D&D is bringing? Sorry if so.

No, the Versatile property for Longswords and such is in standard 5E, unless I've gone crazy: 1d8 when used one handed, 1d10 when used two handed.

 

[W'rkncacnter]

Correct.
But I did not speak about two handing them. As an exotic weapon with str 13 you one handed them.

oh, i thought you were referring to one of those builds where you could add the two-handed damage bonus when wielding...i think it was specifically a dwarven waraxe in one hand.

but either way, couldn't you pick up proficiency with either pretty easily before level 1 (e.g. being a dwarf for the waraxe)? and also we're comparing essentially mastery features (as opposed to base weapon properties) together - an average of +1 to damage isn't as good as, say, dealing damage even on a miss, or freeing up your bonus action while still getting your offhand attack, getting advantage on your next attack against a target you just hit, or knocking a target prone on hit (i mean, what else could topple do?).

Lower than +1 surely? In 3.XE, 2H weapons all got the 1.5x STR bonus, didn't they? Including ones that were always 2H. Where in 5E, only 1H weapons being wielded 2H get any bonus at all, and it's only +1, which means as an average or the same weapons, it's much lower than 1.

i'm...not sure what you're getting at, here.

I mean, no: +1 is a passable rule of thumb when estimating what you can do on one roll, but it becomes complicated over the course of a full AdvenDay with Wxtra Attack. On a slow day for a Level 5 Fighter, there is huge potential swing between 15d8 and 15d10: eventually, for a high Level Fighter with all 4 Extra Attacks....? It can add up big.

+1 isn't a "rule of thumb", it's the average increase between one die size to the next. your level 5 example is an average difference of 15 damage.

 

[Parmandur]

+1 isn't a "rule of thumb", it's the average increase between one die size to the next. your level 5 example is an average difference of 15 damage.

Yes...average, hence why I said "rule of thumb." The dice don't always cooperate with averages.l, and sometimes way exceed them. Also, critical hits...and Champions, for example, get an extended crit range.

All's I'm saying is that a sword and board Fighter getting their cake and eating it too is easily as cool as being able to push enemies around a little.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I'm...not sure what you're getting at, here.

Easy: there are people calling the rapier overpowered because it has 1d8 over 1d6 damage of a short sword. Or even greatsword vs greataxe...

Also TWF with two longswords might be upgrading from 2d6 to 2d10.
That is not that bad.

Damage on a miss is nice, but also just a consolation price. If you can make sure you usually hit, 1 more average damage can be better...

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Ahhhh, not quite: the middle case is 1d10+4, Versatile Weapons like a Battleaxe or Longsword change the die type. Swingier, with the potential for an explosive difference versus a mere static +1 (also potential for a total whiff).

Now, assume 5-8 Encounters orlf 2-3 Rounds for the Sword and board versus two handed Fighter. Then 1-3 Extra Attacks thar all get the difference. And the AC differential over the course of those combats.

It's complicated.

MY BRANE NO WURK GUD!

Sorry man jeez it's been too long since I saw that in action - like 5+ years since someone did that, who wasn't a Monk using a quarterstaff, and now in my brain Monks doing 1d8 with quarterstaff is just a separate thing from Versatile, even though that's nonsense lol.

I do still think it's super-dumb that 1H weapons used 2H get that but 2H weapon get nowt.

 

[W'rkncacnter]

Yes...average, hence why I said "rule of thumb."

that's...dismissive, but okay.

All's I'm saying is that a sword and board Fighter getting their cake and eating it too is easily as cool as being able to push enemies around a little.

i'd disagree. it's not terrible, but it is underwhelming compared to the other masteries we already know about, especially from a tactical perspective.

Easy: there are people calling the rapier overpowered because it has 1d8 over 1d6 damage of a short sword. Or even greatsword vs greataxe...

i'm sorry, what does this have to do with what ruin said...?

also, people probably think that because 1. two-weapon fighting isn't great, meaning unless you really want to spec into it a rapier is just strictly a better shortsword, and even then if you DO fully spec into it you can just dual wield rapiers anyways making shortswords redundant no matter what, and 2. greatswords and greataxes are currently nearly identical except that greatswords do higher average damage. with that context...yeah, i can see why people are calling them overpowered.
but masteries are supposed to be a way for WOTC to differentiate weapons so we're not JUST comparing die sizes. that's my point - flex is boring and underwhelming compared to the other masteries. hell, it's even worse since the battleaxe and longsword BOTH HAVE FLEX. there's STILL effectively no difference between them. at least the glaive and halberd have different masteries now.

Also TWF with two longswords might be upgrading from 2d6 to 2d10.
That is not that bad.

it'd be 2d8 to 2d10. or, well, more accurately 2d8+strength to 2d10+strength. i do see your point, though. i still don't think it's very interesting, but i can see the use for it.

Damage on a miss is nice, but also just a consolation price. If you can make sure you usually hit, 1 more average damage can be better...

i mean, that's not always entirely within your control, is it? i'd personally prefer to guarantee i'm always doing at least something with my attacks then to do 1 more damage on average when i hit, especially against something with high AC (which, in the 5e games i play, is...nearly everything, honestly. my DMs REALLY like cranking up AC).

 

[Lanefan]

Dumb question, and maybe this is something that's been around for ages but I only just noticed it now:

Even though at 10 lbs it's the heaviest weapon on the list, why is greatclub not classified as "heavy"?

 

[Emberashh]

What was peoples problem with damage on missed in 4e?