Dungeons & Dragons Announces Horror Subclasses Unearthed Arcana

Paul Farquhar said:

It’s pretty obvious that this is going to be an undead focused book, not a Ravenloft book, so if it contains monsters (likely) they will be general undead, not Ravenloft IP focused. And probably no lycans, since they are not undead.

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Several of the Subclasses aren't undeath focused. The Ranger for example is more based on Cryptid Horror. Nothing undead about this version of Hexblade either.

Henadic Theologian said:

Several of the Subclasses aren't undeath focused. The Ranger for example is more based on Cryptid Horror. Nothing undead about this version of Hexblade either.

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Which is one reason I suspect there may be two books involved here.

Paul Farquhar said:

Which is one reason I suspect there may be two books involved here.

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What makes more sense:

WotC announces a mystery October book, right during Halloween season, and releases a horror themed UA for that book because it’s a generic “Horror” book, or…

WotC playtests subclasses for a 2025 and a 2026 book in the same UA that’s out in early 2025?

I’d place my money on the former.

GarrettKP said:

What makes more sense:

WotC announces a mystery October book, right during Halloween season, and releases a horror themed UA for that book because it’s a generic “Horror” book, or…

WotC playtests subclasses for a 2025 and a 2026 book in the same UA that’s out in early 2025?

I’d place my money on the former.

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WotC isn’t in the habit of doing Halloween publications (they are usually are aiming for the Xmas market at that time), and it’s rather more likely that the MtG setting which is announced will come out before something that isn’t.

And only a couple of those subclasses are from VGR. It’s a bit of a stretch to call stuff like the hexblade “horror themed”. WotC have used deliberately misleading labels for UA before.

And two warlock subclasses in the same book!?

Paul Farquhar said:

Which is one reason I suspect there may be two books involved here.

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All 8 fit Ravenloft

Paul Farquhar said:

WotC isn’t in the habit of doing Halloween publications (they are usually are aiming for the Xmas market at that time), and it’s rather more likely that the MtG setting which is announced will come out before something that isn’t.

And only a couple of those subclasses are from VGR. It’s a bit of a stretch to call stuff like the hexblade “horror themed”. WotC have used deliberately misleading labels for UA before.

And two warlock subclasses in the same book!?

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None of the subclasses fit Lorwyn/Shadowmoor at all. Yes Shadowmoor is a darker place, but it's still more akin to the darker Unseelie parts of the Feywild that the Undead/Frankenstein themed areas of thr Shadowfell/Ravenloft.

Paul Farquhar said:

WotC isn’t in the habit of doing Halloween publications (they are usually are aiming for the Xmas market at that time), and it’s rather more likely that the MtG setting which is announced will come out before something that isn’t.

And only a couple of those subclasses are from VGR. It’s a bit of a stretch to call stuff like the hexblade “horror themed”. WotC have used deliberately misleading labels for UA before.

And two warlock subclasses in the same book!?

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Reanimator has thematic ties to Lamordia. Phantom rogue fits perfectly with Mordent. Hollow Warden is perfect for Tepest. Spirit bard and undead warlock were already in Van Richten's. Even if they do split the subs across two books, those five are far more Ravenloft keyed than the rest.

Five months ago, when the original artificer dropped, everyone confidently predicted it was for a 2026 Of Everything book. No one called an Eberron rules update book this year. A few weeks ago, everyone confidently predicted that the October book was Lorwyn. I think people need to take more levels in diviner before they confidently predict what book these subs are for.

For what it's worth, my guess is still a Heroes of Horror type book with light Ravenloft theming. But who knows, that 2026 Of Everything book might still be on the table...

Paul Farquhar said:

WotC isn’t in the habit of doing Halloween publications (they are usually are aiming for the Xmas market at that time), and it’s rather more likely that the MtG setting which is announced will come out before something that isn’t.

And only a couple of those subclasses are from VGR. It’s a bit of a stretch to call stuff like the hexblade “horror themed”. WotC have used deliberately misleading labels for UA before.

And two warlock subclasses in the same book!?

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Their habits don’t really matter here, since they announced an October book. It’s coming out in October. That plus a horror UA means it isn’t a stretch by any means to assume it’s a spooky themed book.

And yes, we have gotten multiple subclasses for the same class in books many times before. Xanathar’s, Tasha’s, SCAG all did this.

This version of the Hexblade is focused on cursing enemies. That is absolutely a horror trope.

Remathilis said:

Five months ago, when the original artificer dropped, everyone confidently predicted it was for a 2026 Of Everything book.

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I didn’t.

Remathilis said:

No one called an Eberron rules update book this year. A few weeks ago, everyone confidently predicted that the October book was Lorwyn. I think people need to take more levels in diviner before they confidently predict what book these subs are for

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My track record is better than most, mostly because I don’t let wishful thinking get in my way.

And I still rate higher than 50% Lorwyn for October (and it will be late).

Paul Farquhar said:

I didn’t.

My track record is better than most, mostly because I don’t let wishful thinking get in my way.

And I still rate higher than 50% Lorwyn for October (and it will be late).

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I'm going to need to see receipts (with timestamps) before I accept you're just built different.