D&D (2024) New Unearthed Arcana Playtest Includes Barbarian, Druid, and Monk

The latest Unearthed Arcana playtest packet is now live with new barbarian, druid, and monk versions, as well as new spells and weapons, and a revised Ability Score Improvement feat.

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WHATS INSIDE

Here are the new and revised elements in this article:

Classes. Three classes are here: Barbarian, Druid, and Monk. Each one includes one subclass: Path of the World Tree (Barbarian), Circle of the Moon (Druid), and Warrior of the Hand (Monk).

Spells. New and revised spells are included.

The following sections were introduced in a previous article and are provided here for reference:

Weapons. Weapon revisions are included.

Feats. This includes a revised version of Ability Score Improvement.

Rules Glossary. The rules glossary includes the few rules that have revised definitions in the playtest. In this document, any underlined term in the body text appears in the glossary.

 

[Clint_L]

At no point does the game state that "the default method is rolling," now do I recall a designer stating this, though if there is evidence to the contrary, I would welcome it. It seems to be an assumption that a few people on this forum have made based on their own preferences and because it is mentioned first in the PHB.

Rolling does, in fact, produce an average result, and this is the total that is used to produce the standard array and the point buy system. You can check the math yourself.

My evidence that point buy is the most popular method for character generation comes from WotC, who have revealed that according to their data it is: 1) point buy, 2) rolling 3) standard array.

I don't understand your final point; there is no method of rolling 3d6 that produces a total higher than 18; you could get to 20 with the right species choice. Your speculation as to WotC's motivation is interesting.

 

[Clint_L]

In terms of ranking the value of each stat, I think this is highly dependent on the types of games that tables prefer. We are RP heavy, so wisdom, intelligence, charisma, and to a somewhat lesser extent dexterity are particularly valuable. In a more combat-heavy game, strength and constitution would shine more, though even in combat heavy games in our campaign I would rate strength as the least valuable stat.

I would put dexterity, charisma and wisdom as the most valuable stats overall.

 

[Mistwell]

At no point does the game state that "the default method is rolling,"

"You generate your character’s six ability scores randomly."

That's a statement of a default method.

now do I recall a designer stating this, though if there is evidence to the contrary, I would welcome it. It seems to be an assumption that a few people on this forum have made based on their own preferences and because it is mentioned first in the PHB.

You have to make assumptions to call "You generate your character’s six ability scores randomly" something other than a default method. What do you think "default" means if it doesn't mean standard and customary and pre-selected option unless you decide to make a different option?

I don't even use rolling most of the time so I don't know why you're making it personal. I am not arguing my preferences, I am reading what they plainly wrote in the PHB without further assumptions.

Rolling does, in fact, produce an average result

No really, it often doesn't. It does over thousands of rolls, but it does not generally over 6 rolls, which is what we're discussing. It's frankly absurd to call a random roll "producing average results" as that's not even the purpose of averages. The very word average is often implying something which varies so wildly you need to find a middle point to even discuss it.

, and this is the total that is used to produce the standard array and the point buy system. You can check the math yourself.

My evidence that point buy is the most popular method for character generation comes from WotC, who have revealed that according to their data it is: 1) point buy, 2) rolling 3) standard array.

Where did they reveal that?

I don't understand your final point; there is no method of rolling 3d6 that produces a total higher than 18; you could get to 20 with the right species choice. Your speculation as to WotC's motivation is interesting.

Yes, obviously you can get a 20 with racial choices. That's what I mean. That's why they limited it to 20. That's where they balanced the game off - a range of 3 to 20.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

If you aren't even going to read other people's arguments and opinions, why bother to keep posting on a forum at all? You are essentially saying "you don't agree with me, therefore your opinion is trash."

I read others'. You actually go a step farther an expliciteley tell me that my opinion is trash. So I can ask you the same questions. Why are YOU here?
So I engage with those that do actually listen.

 

[Horwath]

That's where they balanced the game off - a range of 3 to 20.

yeah, good luck balancing that.


I really hope that they will put point buy as default in 2024 with array just as an easy suggestion.

Rolling can be variant with disclaimer: Do it at your own peril!


We only rolled for one campaign, our 1st in 3.0 in 2000.
We had PCs with sum of abilities from 70ish to 90ish. We learned our lesson the hard way.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

yeah, good luck balancing that.


I really hope that they will put point buy as default in 2024 with array just as an easy suggestion.

Rolling can be variant with disclaimer: Do it at your own peril!


We only rolled for one campaign, our 1st in 3.0 in 2000.
We had PCs with sum of abilities from 70ish to 90ish. We learned our lesson the hard way.

I also think the game works better with starting stats between 6 and 16. Hence we roll 4+3d6 drop lowest, if we roll.

I however would not like point buy, but the default array as standard, as I don't like the min max nature of point buy.

Standard array + a floating +1 and a floating +2 should be sufficient for cuztomization as default.

I have rolled very high stat arrays (and one very low) and played both.

For the high one, I just chose to waste stats on tertiaty attributes. For the low one I chose a class that can cope with that.

 

[Horwath]

I also think the game works better with starting stats between 6 and 16. Hence we roll 4+3d6 drop lowest, if we roll.

I however would not like point buy, but the default array as standard, as I don't like the min max nature of point buy.

Standard array + a floating +1 and a floating +2 should be sufficient for cuztomization as default.

I have rolled very high stat arrays (and one very low) and played both.

For the high one, I just chose to waste stats on tertiaty attributes. For the low one I chose a class that can cope with that.

most point buy I see follows array pretty closely,

it's mostly:
15+2, 14, 13+1, 10, 10, 10 or 15+2, 15+1, 14, 10, 8, 8 or 15+2, 14, 13+1, 12, 10, 8

and I have seen once:
13+2, 13+1, 13+1, 12, 12, 12(half-elf)

with spread of 8-15 and 27, there is no real room for mix-maxing.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

most point buy I see follows array pretty closely,

it's mostly:
15+2, 14, 13+1, 10, 10, 10 or 15+2, 15+1, 14, 10, 8, 8 or 15+2, 14, 13+1, 12, 10, 8

and I have seen once:
13+2, 13+1, 13+1, 12, 12, 12(half-elf)

with spread of 8-15 and 27, there is no real room for mix-maxing.

15+1, 15+1, 15+1, 8, 8, 8 will be possible. As an option ok. But not as default.

 

[Horwath]

15+1, 15+1, 15+1, 8, 8, 8 will be possible. As an option ok. But not as default.

eh, only array that makes monk playable in 2014.

still not a problem, and you miss a chance to get half-feat and an 18 at 4th level

 

[UngeheuerLich]

eh, only array that makes monk playable in 2014.

This is wrong. You could play a monk with other arrays. I have played and DMed monks that successfully started with the default array.

still not a problem, and you miss a chance to get half-feat and an 18 at 4th level

No problem. But I don't like it as default.