D&D Launches New Eberron-Themed Playtest With Dragonmarked Feats

The D&D design team has launched a new Unearthed Arcana playtest focused on the upcoming Eberron: Forge of the Artificer book, featuring Dragonmarked feats and a new Artificer subclass. The new packet contains rules for a Cartographer subclass for the Artificer, along with a handful of new magic item options and over 25 Dragonmarked feats. The Artificer base class rules also received a few tweaks to some of its features, with an eye towards more general versatility.

The other big feature is the new Dragonmarked feats, most of which are considered either Dragonmarked Feats or General Feats. The Dragonmarked Feats are specifically limited to Eberron campaigns and allow only one Dragonmark per character (thus preventing Warlocks from accumulating Dragonmarks). The General Feats are Greater Marks and specifically upgrade existing Dragonmarks as a requirement. It's interesting that D&D is keeping with campaign setting specific feats and feat trees, as both of these design traits were found in the Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen book.

You can check out the full playtest on D&D Beyond.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

-No more bedrolls that disappear while you're sleeping on one, that's a big improvement!
-The Cartographer is not a first idea of what I would have for an Artificer, but seeing as it's the 5th subclass it seems like a good one at first glance.
-I guess they'll probably want to use Expeditious Retreat and Longstrider to make the most of 1/2 movement + 10' Teleport at will. Though they'll probably have Boots of the Winding Path as a Magic Item plan anyways.
-Most of the Dragonmark feats are +1d4 to a skill roll, 2 or 3 free castings of a spell and a bunch of bonus spells known. I feel more of them should have cantrips as cantrips offer more to non-spellcasters, these feats definitely favour spellcasters, but that's often been the case with dragonmarks.
-I feel the Mark of the Storm might be the most desirable option because of Lightning resistance, while Thunderclap isn't the best cantrip it's still a cantrip offered from the feat.
-I feel the spells modified by the greater dragonmark feats should just be whenever you cast that spell. Though that would of course favour spellcasters with slots.
-Potent Dragonmark is definitely beneficial to those without spellslots or pact magic, as it's like a specialized extra pact magic.
-Boon of Siberys might be too powerful with the any Sorcerer spell of any level, as that means something like Meteor Swarm or Wish once per short rest. They probably need to restrict the spell to one's specific to the dragonmark type, adding 1 Dragonmark feat as a prereq, and for Aberrant Dragonmarks either come up with a particular choice or limit the level of the Sorcerer spell picked.

 

[Ferrousbones]

The list of options for the Epic Boon are all 8th level or lower spells, but Sorcerers get access to Wish, rendering the list mute. Plus, it restores on a short or long rest, not just long.

3 of the bonus spells for the subclass are already present in the list of Artificer spells in this PDF itself.

 

[Misanthrope Prime]

Some thoughts as an artificer main;

1) Still really fuckin mad that they gave us true strike but took away guns. At the very least, artillerists should also get firearm proficiency at third level. With guns in the PHB, why not?

2) This "cartographer" feels more like a explorer that happens to have magic maps. This almost feels like it might be better for a ranger or rogue subclass... frankly, it feels more "horizon walker" than artificer to me. I understand with the new crafting rules there needs to be an artificer that can make scrolls and focuses on writing, but this ain't it.

3) I'm still mad they took away magic item savant, too. Because the artificer isn't in the phb or dmg, there are so many useful items that would be mechanically or thematically perfect for them, but they can't use them because they require "attunement by a wizard, sorceror or warlock". The magic item class should be allowed to use all magic items.

 

[mellored]

Might be a bit too much, and don't really want to replace anything, but..

I feel like a Cartographer should give a boost (advantage?) In Investigation checks to map holders.

 

[Remathilis]

I kind of hope there are Construct-specific Origin Feats and some Warforged Backgrounds. Given how unique their story is and the cool Level 1 Feats they had in 3.5...

I'm thinking they are trying to get as far away as possible from species-locked abilities and that includes feats.

 

[Parmandur]

I'm thinking they are trying to get as far away as possible from species-locked abilities and that includes feats.

Well, less "Species locked" and more "Prerequisite: Creature Type Construct", so itnwould work for Autogbomes and maybe Rogue Modrons eventuslly too. I'm talking stuff like armor mods and what not.

 

[GarrettKP]

Might be a bit too much, and don't really want to replace anything, but..

I feel like a Cartographer should give a boost (advantage?) In Investigation checks to map holders.

Survival, not investigation. Investigation is figuring out how a trap works, not navigation. Survival is navigation.

 

[Nadan]

-Most of the Dragonmark feats are +1d4 to a skill roll, 2 or 3 free castings of a spell and a bunch of bonus spells known. I feel more of them should have cantrips as cantrips offer more to non-spellcasters, these feats definitely favour spellcasters, but that's often been the case with dragonmarks.

It is not free bonus spells known, it only add to the list so caster still have to use their prepare/known to grab it. And able to cast them from scroll.

 

[Misanthrope Prime]

Well, less "Species locked" and more "Prerequisite: Creature Type Construct", so itnwould work for Autogbomes and maybe Rogue Modrons eventuslly too. I'm talking stuff like armor mods and what not.

I had great fun with a shardmind that used warforged components in 4e because they were both technically "living constructs"

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

Well, less "Species locked" and more "Prerequisite: Creature Type Construct", so itnwould work for Autogbomes and maybe Rogue Modrons eventuslly too. I'm talking stuff like armor mods and what not.

I don't think that would make a difference to the type of person that gets the sads because their elf can't get these kewl pwrz.