D&D (2024) Jeremy Crawford Gives an Overview of the New Unearthed Arcana

The upcoming Unearthed Arcana playtest packet for One D&D gets a preview from WotC's Jeremy Crawford. This is apparently the largest of these playtest packets so far, and the biggest Unearthed Arcana they have ever done, at 50 pages long.

It contains 5 classes, new spells, new feats, a revised rules glossary, and the new weapon mastery system.

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[OldSchoolGamerGirl]

The fact the overview is FIGHTERS AND BARBARIANS (and also the three arcane classes) tells me there are probably no major changes coming to arcane casters.

warlock is the only one I am worried about

 

[sevenbastard]

Nah, they just hate Monks.

I also hate Monks, glad they left in 2e. If it was up to me I would make them a fighter or paladin subclass and be done with them.

But it's not up to me its up to them and they will find a way to keep them.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Of course the 2024 druid is the epitome of taking away toys that have been given.

Is it? Did your time machine also let you see the new monk and I am very curious about the future bladesinger.

All jokes aside, though, One of the acknowledged issues with D&D is the encounter guidelines and I am pretty sure that one of the complicating factors in designing encounter, particularly in published adventures are powers like, polymorph, conjuring/summoning and wildshape. Since the bring an unpredictable number of added hit points, and change the action economy. This issue becomes worse any time a new monster book is added, and monster books are very popular.
In fact, I have never understood the popularity of monster books, since in nearly 40 years I have never used more than a fraction of the monsters.

 

[Mirrorrorrim]

This is an apples to oranges comparison. You give up no mechanical advantage by optimizing your weapon choice for damage. There is no reason to use a greataxe over a greatsword. If your choices are "more damage" or "nothing" then of course you'd prefer more damage, and of course you'd like to see the other weapon brought into parity so you can justify choosing either of them.

6 damage vs. battlefield movement effects is an actual trade-off, and one that doesn't generally come out in favor of the damage. The only time the damage is superior is in the marginal cases where it makes the difference between another round of enemy actions. 6 damage is rarely going to make the difference there, so the other effects are significantly better.

And I for one am content with "versatile" weapons being the ones where Mastery increases damage slightly. It's low hanging fruit for design space for the most commonly used martial weapons like a longsword or battle axe. Now they can shine a spotlight on other less-used weapons and give them purpose with some interesting mechanics. For instance, giving a fighter a reason for wielding a morningstar as their primary weapon.

 

[Bolares]

I'd

I am very curious about the future bladesinger

be willing to bet it will be a long time before we see a new bladesinger.

 

[OldSchoolGamerGirl]

I'd

be willing to bet it will be a long time before we see a new bladesinger.

I bet we will get some kind of books announced that will feature updated subclasses plus new subclasses along with updated feats and new feats from the 2014 books... blade singer seems likely because something with magic seems likely.

the way Complete Arcane was to Tome and Blood.

 

[Veltharis ap Rylix]

The fact the overview is FIGHTERS AND BARBARIANS (and also the three arcane classes) tells me there are probably no major changes coming to arcane casters.

Or that casters are a big enough topic to warrant their own video...

 

[Minigiant]

So ah

Golfclub bag of Weapons then?

 

[UngainlyTitan]

The fact the overview is FIGHTERS AND BARBARIANS (and also the three arcane classes) tells me there are probably no major changes coming to arcane casters.

Nah, that will be in another video. They usually knock out a couple of videos per UA. Given the scope of this one, I expect at least one more before it drops and several after it drops.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

So ah

Golfclub bag of Weapons then?

It has a long an honourable tradition in the game.