D&D (2024) One D&D Survey Feedback: Weapon Mastery Spectacular; Warlock and Wizard Mixed Reactions

Jeremy Crawford discusses the results of the Packet 5 Survey:

• Weapon Mastery at 80% approval, and all options except for Flex scored similarly. Crawford says that Flex is mathematically one of the most powerful properties, but will need some attention because people didn't feel like it was. This feature is in the 2024 PHB for 6 Classes, guaranteed at this point.
• Barbarian scored well, particularly the individual features, average satisfaction of 80% for each feature. Beserker got 84% satisfaction, while the 2014 Beserker in the 2020 Big Class Survey got 29% satisfaction.
• Fighter received well, overall 75% satisfaction. Champion scored 54% in the Big Class Survey, but this new one got 74%.
• Sorcerer in the Big Class Survey got 60%, this UA Sorcerer got 72%. Lots of enthusiasm for the Metamagic revisions. Careful Spell got 92% satisfaction. Twin Spell was the exception, at 60%. Draconic Sorcerer got 73%, new Dragon Wings feature was not well received but will be fixed back to being on all the time by the return to 2014 Aubclass progression.
• Class specific Spell lists are back in UA 7 coming soon, the unified Spell lists are out.
• Warlock feedback reflected mixed feelings in the player base. Pact magic is coming back in next iteration. Next Warlock will be more like 2014, Mystic Arcanum will be a core feature, but will still see some adjustments based on feedback to allow for more frequent use of Spells. Eldritch Invocations were well received. Crawford felt it was a good test, because they learned what players felt. They found the idiosyncracy of the Warlock is exactly what people like about it, so theybare keeping it distinct. Next version will get even more Eldritch Invocation options.
• Wizard got a mixed reception. Biggest problem people had was wanting a Wizard specific Spell list, not a shared Arcane list that made the Wizard less distinct. Evoker well received.

 

[Mirrorrorrim]

I want to roll two smaller dice. It's awkward numbers (it would have to be d6+d4) to feel visceral. Or an equivalent ability could be added.

Agreed. I commented and have been for a while that at the very least the non-casters should get a feat plus an ability at every ASI level as the casters get a feat plus a spell.

They did imply they were on this.

Agreed. I think this is the only part they've said they were changing that didn't deserve to be dumped in a toxic waste pit.

... THAT SHOULDN'T BE WHY THE BAD DECISION IS REVERTED. I missed that.

The reason to revert is Paladins aren't demi-clerics and rangers aren't demi-druids and bards should be their own thing.

Here I disagree emphatically. Spells known casters like the sorcerer, bard, ranger, and warlock should have the absolute widest lists because that allows the player to customise them however the player wants and to do so between sessions. There may be suggestions - but leave out of character choices up to the player. If someone wants to play a sorcerer with a teleportation theme starting with Blink and Misty Step that learns to use their big trick to make Teleportation Circles let them. If players think that their character shouldn't get such spells then they don't.

The spell lists that need the biggest trims are the Spells Prepared casters who can change their spells prepared at every long rest - the druid, cleric, and paladin. Both to prevent book-faffing in session and because they are generic rather than individual spell lists.

Sorcerers are about innate magic. I strongly believe that no Sorcerer magic should ever need a material component. They should be able to ignore all mundane material component requirements that don't have a monetary value, or require an object to utilize, like Augury or Identify, or Chromatic Orb. Instead of Chromatic Orb they can have their own Sorcerer spells that have flexible energy options, like Sorcerous Burst, Chaos Bolt, and Arcane Eruption, each of which don't equire material components.

If the material component is absolutely necessary, it isn't innate, and Sorcerers shouldn't be able to cast it as a sorcery spell. They aren't going to suddenly be able to cast Chromatic Orb or Identify without the expensive item required to cast it.

 

[Remathilis]

I definitely had a problem with the general spell lists when it came to the Bard, didn't have a problem with the other classes...

Now they just need to bring back rapier proficiency.

They need to return all the lost weapon proficiencies to the classes.

 

[Vaalingrade]

It's not Anti-Wizard hate.

This giant does not represent me or my organization.

 

[tetrasodium]

Crawford pointing out that wotc were confused why players would rate the class lower than the average of it's individually rated features shows a pretty serious problem with wotc's* ability to interpret surveys.

You could give. Fighter action surge weapon mastery and nothing else. Sure the class would score like 2% but those two features would probably get well over 60-70% on their own making it mission accomplished I guess. On the other side you could give fighter strength value number of attacks at level 5 instead of what they have and leave everything else as presented, mission accomplished.

*like specifically someone in upper management who needs to be mollified before the team can ignore the garbage 30.00%+1 veto mandate imposed.

 

[Minigiant]

I had a problem when it came to the bard, the paladin, and the ranger.

That's because only wizards and to a lesser extent clerics and druids got new magic, right.

 

[Neonchameleon]

Sorcerers are about innate magic. I strongly believe that no Sorcerer magic should ever need a material component. They should be able to ignore all mundane material component requirements that don't have a monetary value, or require an object to utilize, like Augury or Identify, or Chromatic Orb. Instead of Chromatic Orb they can have their own Sorcerer spells that have flexible energy options, like Sorcerous Burst, Chaos Bolt, and Arcane Eruption, each of which don't equire material components.

If the material component is absolutely necessary, it isn't innate, and Sorcerers shouldn't be able to cast it as a sorcery spell. They aren't going to suddenly be able to cast Chromatic Orb or Identify without the expensive item required to cast it.

To me there's a huge difference between a material component to cast a spell and a material component to hold a spell. I have no problem at all with the concept of the sorcerer either casting a Symbol spell or using an item to hold that spell even while I do Chromatic Orb.

But fundamentally the player's interpretation of the class is what should be paramount. Even if I disagree if the player can customise it the way they want that''s their character.

 

[Mirrorrorrim]

To me there's a huge difference between a material component to cast a spell and a material component to hold a spell. I have no problem at all with the concept of the sorcerer either casting a Symbol spell or using an item to hold that spell even while I do Chromatic Orb.

But fundamentally the player's interpretation of the class is what should be paramount. Even if I disagree if the player can customise it the way they want that''s their character.

And the inherent casting is very important to me thematically, and I hope the rules reflect this. Because if they don't, some DMs will require a spell component pouch, or require the Sorcerer to find a 50g gem before they can cast an inherent spell. Makes no sense to me. That is implemental Wizardry, not inherent Sorcery. It would go a long way in enhancing the Sorcerer's identity as something different than the Wizard, and is a clear, and reasonable way to make their spell lists different. I also think that Sorcerers should get more unique spells for themselves.

If the designers design Chromatic Orb and certain Divinations to no longer need focuses/material components, or that Sorcerers can cast spells on the Sorcery list without ANY material components, that is fine. I just don't think they'll do that.

 

[Frozen_Heart]

Looking more and more like 2024 is going to be glorified errata...

 

[Neonchameleon]

That's because only wizards and to a lesser extent clerics and druids got new magic, right.

Nope. It's because the bard

And the inherent casting is very important to me thematically, and I hope the rules reflect this. Because if they don't, some DMs will require a spell component pouch, or require the Sorcerer to find a 50g gem before they can cast an inherent spell.

Spell component pouches are obsolete. All you need to abolish them is for the sorcerer to be able to use a part of themself as the spell focus.

As for the spells that require 50g gems no one is making you take those spells.

Makes no sense to me. That is implemental Wizardry, not inherent Sorcery.

And why do you think sorcerers can't do anything at all that way with their own routes in if they try hard? This is the "the sorcerer must be a nerfed wizard" school of thought.

 

[Frozen_Heart]

They're not called Sorcerers of the Coast...

ngl I absolutely hated the packet 5 sorcerer. It was basically forcing the wild magic theme onto everyone.