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.

 

[tetrasodium]

If the uselessness of the two-handedness of versatile weapon when applying flex is a concern, a simple step in the right direction would be to let flex increase the damage dice one step.

Versatile D6/D8 becomes D8/D10 with flex and versatile D8/D10 becomes D10/D12.

No look at the tweet I linked earlier. It's deliberate that a player can simply take one hand off and simply "hold" a 2h weapon with no action economy hit when casting a spell. The rules are useless words there and make Chaucer look positively concise.

 

[Clint_L]

If the uselessness of the two-handedness of versatile weapon when applying flex is a concern, a simple step in the right direction would be to let flex increase the damage dice one step.

Versatile D6/D8 becomes D8/D10 with flex and versatile D8/D10 becomes D10/D12.

It would still be the worst mastery, but at least monks could use it.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

It would still be the worst mastery, but at least monks could use it.

I really liked a mastery that made flex having two different properties. One for one handed use (maybe free grab) or two handed use. (maybe increased AC).

Both would be great options for a monk using a staff.

 

[Parmandur]

I think it is very, very hard to make a case that flex is anything but the worst mastery - and again, totally unusable by the class that most needs something from versatile weapons.

The weapons with Flex are not stereotypical Monk weapons (not all Versatile weapons have Flex). I will believe Crawford about what their spreadsheet numbers say.

 

[Parmandur]

Like, I want just one person who is defending flex to explain why it shouldn't benefit the one class that almost universally uses versatile weapons.

OK, I double checked and had forgotten that the Quarterstaff was a Flex weapon, I was wondering why you were so fixated on Warhammers and Longswords for Monks for some reason. I honestly don't see the problem, except that maybe Quarterstaff should have a different Mastery, since it's not a traditional Sword-and-Board choice...though it might be good for some Gish Subclasses that might grant Weapon Mastery.

 

[Parmandur]

I really liked a mastery that made flex having two different properties. One for one handed use (maybe free grab) or two handed use. (maybe increased AC).

Both would be great options for a monk using a staff.

Thwt would fit the name of "Glex," and fit with "Versatile." Maybe allow for +2 AC if used double handed, or a damage die increase if used one handed: that way the Weapon Master could have their cake and eat it too either way, and Quarterstaff would be a very desirable choice for a Monk, which would also fit the fiction.

 

[Mistwell]

Well the monk wasn’t out for playtesting yet at the time that we had that conversation, and it is out now, and it does recover its primary resource on a short rest. Obviously that could change between now and release, if the packet 6 survey results indicate that’s what people demand. But the point is, short rest recovery of primary resources was and is on the table.

I don't think it was. Truly, I believe it was put out there with the mechanic there to get feedback on what to do about it. But we shall see.

 

[Charlaquin]

If the uselessness of the two-handedness of versatile weapon when applying flex is a concern, a simple step in the right direction would be to let flex increase the damage dice one step.

Versatile D6/D8 becomes D8/D10 with flex and versatile D8/D10 becomes D10/D12.

That would work.

Another cool option might be to allow you to add a property to the weapon when wielding it in two hands instead of increasing the damage die. So, for example, a fighter with longsword mastery could wield the longsword as a 1d10 weapon in one hand, or as a 1d10 finesse weapon in two hands.

 

[mellored]

Topple is worth much more than 1 DPA - giving your entire party advantage against a foe is extremely valuable, potentially increasing everyone's DPA. Not to mention the tactical advantages offered by your opponent being prone.

On average you'll give half your party advantage. The the enemy will stand up on its turn.

And you need 2 rolls.

And advantage doesn't stack. So if you topple with your first attack, flex with the second.

Graze is worth about +2-3 extra DPA once you reach +5 strength, and bypasses defences completely - it actually becomes more valuable the higher your opponent's AC.

And worse when you have advantage because of Topple, or Vex, or reckless attack, or...

Also, it's on 2-handers. And those should have a bigger boost than flex 1 handers.

Vex's advantage on every attack following a hit is going to be worth significantly more than 1DPA in almost any situation. Much more.

Or you already have advantage.
Or you need to switch targets.
Or you miss.

"Every attack" is way too generous.

Against a bag of HP, topple+flex would probably be better.

Cleave is on average probably worth more than flex, and certainly far, far stronger when fighting multiple foes (though I think cleave is too situational and should also be improved).

You kind of need forced movement to make Cleave useful, IMO.

Nick is a better DPA increase and frees up your bonus action, and which class is going to be taking nick? Rogues. Which class always has something they can do with their bonus action? Rogues.

Nick for rogues, definitely.

But rogues can't use flex and get sneak attack.

And 2 weapons should do more damage than sword and board.

I think it is very, very hard to make a case that flex is anything but the worst mastery - and again, totally unusable by the class that most needs something from versatile weapons.

IMO, you take...
Vex + Nick for 2 weapons.
Push + Cleave for 2 handed. (Graze isn't bad either).
Topple + Flex for sword and board.

 

[Mistwell]

Except the errata for two-handed weapons state the following.



Thus wielding a two-handed weapon doesn’t stop you from casting spells with somatic components as it’s assumed that you let go of the hilt or haft with one hand.

We're not talking about a weapon with the two-handed property though. And if you cast a spell during a round and then an opportunity attack is triggered after that as a reaction, you were not wielding it in two hands that round. There is nothing assumed about letting go and then re-grabbing it. You get one object interaction per round. There is no let go and re-grab "assumed" in the rules that I know of, unless I missed a Sage Advice on that? It's possible I did.

Again, War Caster is doing something, right? I don't think my read of the rule is uncommon.