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.

 

[Neonchameleon]

Divine Smite being a spell arrowed the paladin toward the other smite spells which were akin to Cunning Action (exchanging power for status effects). Returning it back to 2014 will once again mean it will be disconnected from the rest of the smite effects and again be the tool of Hexadins who (thanks to pact magic returning) will nova through every fight.

So you're saying you couldn't use the same mechanics the rogue uses of just directly exchanging power for status effects? Why not? Pulling all the smites out of spells is a much better plan.

 

[Kobold Stew]

Man, I hope they continue to let the Bard choose a Spell list. That was one of my favorite things out of all the playtests.

It's disappointing that this is probably gone, with the return to class-specific lists. I really wish it stayed too.

They are clearly listening to the conservatism in the fanbase, and many great ideas will fall by the wayside.

As has been noted, this will include the benefits of class-specific spells for things like Magic Initiate.

 

[Clint_L]

Learning a new spell is a class feature. Those aren't dead levels. It's also worth pointing out that every single one of those "dead" levels the wizard doesn't just gain a new spell but an entire new spell level - which is the strongest and most influential class feature that takes the most in the game, not excluding an extra feat/ASI.

Yes, but all full casters get the new spell levels, which is his point. Compared to, say, a sorcerer, the wizard needs to get something else, or why not just play a sorcerer? Right now, the wizard's access to more spells is arguably overtuned, making them a bit stronger than sorcerers, but if you take that away completely, why would anyone play a wizard? So there has to be something to make them roughly on par.

 

[Remathilis]

So you're saying you couldn't use the same mechanics the rogue uses of just directly exchanging power for status effects? Why not? Pulling all the smites out of spells is a much better plan.

Too many other classes have access to smite spells. Can't rock the boat too much.

I just think that unless they end up incredibly OP (and they won't, based on what we've seen) they going to be the forgotten children again to "woohoo! CRIT! Smite for +10d8 radiant! GG"

 

[Clint_L]

It's disappointing that this is probably gone, with the return to class-specific lists.

I think we need to be careful about jumping to conclusions and over-extrapolating. WotC will know that this feature for bards was received very positively, so let's wait and see whether they figure out how to keep it in a world of class spell lists. For example, what if they provide a small list of bard spells, and let bards choose a second class list in which to specialize?

 

[Kobold Stew]

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.

They had the solution for this problem in playtest 2, which was to limit non-wizard classes by school. They could still go back to that and keep the unified spell lists.

 

[Kobold Stew]

I think we need to be careful about jumping to conclusions and over-extrapolating. WotC will know that this feature for bards was received very positively, so let's wait and see whether they figure out how to keep it in a world of class spell lists. For example, what if they provide a small list of bard spells, and let bards choose a second class list in which to specialize?

I truly hope you are right.

 

[mamba]

I think the worst thing about this playtest is that for some reason, it became common belief that something's first public draft or second public draft should be perfect.

given that WotC throws it out if we do not consider it good enough, it better be as close as possible to that on its first try. It likely won't get a second...

 

[Parmandur]

They had the solution for this problem in playtest 2, which was to limit non-wizard classes by school. They could still go back to that and keep the unified spell lists.

That was already gone ub the latest Bard.

 

[mellored]

Edit: side note - why are we assuming that divine smite won't remain a bonus action spell? It wasn't mentioned in this debrief. I think that is one change that will likely stick - it makes a lot of sense, and when combined with changes to other smite spells makes the class more flexible and interesting. Super positive change for the class, IMO.

Wasn't mentioned.

Only that they where getting their own spell list.

So the smite spells could just go back to being paladin spells. Not sure why divine smite would be different though.