D&D (2024) 2024 Player's Handbook reveal: "New Cleric"

[The Myopic Sniper]

I imagine that Divine Intervention is largely going to be an encounter breaking vehicle for casting a few spells with a single action that normally are balanced by long casting times such as Hallow.

It doesn't sound like that was changed since the playtest which is surprising. I imagine certain spells will be banned from D.I. usage at a lot of tables.

 

[ECMO3]

• Turn Undead redesigned - undead are now Incapacitated and Frightened for 1 minute

This is a huge nerf considering all the undead that are immune to frightened.

 

[Horwath]

Except it reads like it's the god that's limited in what they can accomplish (since they're the one doing it), and not the cleric.

maybe gods have some kind of armistice or weapon regulation treaty with themselves and what to provide to their followers...

 

[James Gasik]

This is a huge nerf considering all the undead that are immune to frightened.

Not that it matters much- if you're incapacitated you can't act or take reactions, so all that being immune to frightened would mean is that you can choose to move closer to the Cleric.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I'm just shocked at all the upgrades to the Cleric.

Ok.

I guess I shouldn't be.

Right.

I can't wait to see the DMG and MM to see how they balance all this out.

I'd like to see it too.
I also think we need to see the spells first. Some nerfs might be hidden there.

Spiritual weapon alread is nerfed with concentration (except for war domain).

 

[Maxperson]

This is a huge nerf considering all the undead that are immune to frightened.

I'd say that this is a case of specific beats general. Those undead have the general immunity rule to frightened, while the cleric has an ability that specifically frightens undead.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Not that it matters much- if you're incapacitated you can't act or take reactions, so all that being immune to frightened would mean is that you can choose to move closer to the Cleric.

And they specifically must use their action to move away. But I guess the ability will not that it ignores their immunity. And even if not, see @Maxperson .

 

[Charlaquin]

Except it reads like it's the god that's limited in what they can accomplish (since they're the one doing it), and not the cleric.

I think it’s more that the god is only willing to grant so much. A 10th level cleric is a devout follower, who has earned the right to ask the God to act on their behalf at a moment’s notice, but they haven’t even earned the right to perform greater miracles themselves yet! No way is their god going to do it for them. But by 20th level, they’ve proven themselves such a valuable agent, they can ask for just about anything.

To be fair, I would prefer if the 10th level version had some sort of “minor Wish” effect - if, like normal Wish, you could reproduce the effects of some spells guaranteed, but you can also ask for something beyond that scope, at the risk of not getting quite what you wanted.

I mean, heck, maybe just give 2024 clerics both versions of the ability.

 

[Weiley31]

Depends on how far back you go. This is from 1990:
View attachment 372014

Ah, so this is pretty much a basis for where the 5E Paladins and their Oaths stem from. Neat.

 

[Azzy]

In traditional D&D lore Divine Spellcasters got spells from the Gods not simply faith in random things.

In 1e AD&D, 1st-2nd-level spells "are gained through the cleric's knowledge and faith". 3rd to 5th-level spells were granted by the deity's minions, and only 6th-7th were directly granted by the deity. Also, in 2e's The Complete Priest's Handbook priests of a philosophy were introduced.

So, clerics gaining spells from their own faith does find its roots in AD&D.

Edit: So, that's already been brought up. Never mind me.