D&D 5E (2024) 48 Subclasses: 4 per Class

[OB1]

When they first mentioned 12 classes and 48 subclasses, I immediately assumed it would be 4 subs per class. With that confirmed, I'm now pretty confidant that the 4 subs for each class will line up with the 4 class groups as a multi-class lite. Each class subclass will be a variation on Expert, Priest, Mage, Warrior. Splat book subclasses break this rule for a more unique specialty take on the class

Clerics will now pick their domain at level 1, but their subclass at level 3. The domain will provide a few 'always prepared' spells, and perhaps some other benefit depending on subclass chosen later. Same with Wizards and schools, Sorcerers and bloodlines, and Warlocks and patrons. Will be interesting to see how Tashas and Xanthars subclasses will fit into this paradigm.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

All right, I'm in:
(Note: just because I say the subclass is in, that does not mean that the archetype is left unmodified)

Barbarian: Berserker, Totemist, Storm, Spirit Guardian
Bard: Lore, Valor, Eloquence, Sword (go easy on the hard-spellcasting archetypes to avoid spellcasters bloat)
Cleric: Warpriest*, Sacred Healer*, Invocator*, Oracle*
Druid: Moon, Wildfire, *Storm caller, Star (focus on archetypes with alternative to shapeshift)

Fighter: Champion, Rune-Knight, Arcane Archer, Psi-Warrior ( with the ''new way to use weapon'' the battlemaster might be redundant) (champion would have extra everything: save, fighting style, feats, skill, to be able to build your own fighter: defender, weapon master, etc)

Monk: Open Hand, Shadow, 4 Elements, Kensei
Paladin: Devotion, Conquest, Vengeance, Ancient
Ranger: Monster slayer, Beastmaster, Deepstalker, Warden*
Rogue: Thief, Swashbucker, Trickster, Scout
Sorcerer: Wild, Draconic, Storm, Lunar (yea, 4e)
Warlock: Necromancer, Hexblade, Binder, Cabalist
Wizard: Warmage, Elementalist, Beguiler, Diviner

 

[DEFCON 1]

The same way the Land Druid is one subclass but has 8 terrain options within it... the Cleric could easily have one "Domain" feature that has 8 different domain options within it, and the Wizard could have a School Specialist with the 8 different school options within it.

Which would allow for three other Wizard subclasses that weren't connected to the spell schools, and a bunch of Cleric subclasses that were about the type of priest they were and how they handled their business, and the god they served was like the Warlock Patron selection.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

I think it's just 4 for each in the playtest, they'll redo the basic subclass of each class and address the ones that should get attention or improvements in each class like the Elements Monk, Beastmaster Ranger and the Necromancer Wizard (who's problem is needing to have a hundred or so undead that are around with 9th level castings of Animate Dead).

 

[Xamnam]

Hopefully we'll get a bit of direction with the cleric playtest later today, but if I were to bet, it's going to be the "standard/classic" subclass, one heavily modified subclass, a popular subclass, and then free space. So, throwing out some likely wrong guesses...Life, Peace, Forge, Light

I would be very surprised if this playtest was used to radically alter the existing subclass setup.

Edit: Only Life in this document. I'm not wrong yet!

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I think, the wizard schools will not define the subclass anymore. They might retain their 2nd level benefit, but the rest will be scrapped.
The cleric domain will give a second channel divinity but not more. I really hope for 2 decision points in each class. 1 at level 1, 1 at 3.

 

[Charlaquin]

I think it's just 4 for each in the playtest, they'll redo the basic subclass of each class and address the ones that should get attention or improvements in each class like the Elements Monk, Beastmaster Ranger and the Necromancer Wizard (who's problem is needing to have a hundred or so undead that are around with 9th level castings of Animate Dead).

Yeah, after seeing Life Domain as the cleric subclass, this is where I’m at. I can’t see them keeping Domain as the Cleric subclass but cutting three of them from the PHB.

 

[Kobold Stew]

Cleric, in light of the new playtest:

Divine Order allows any cleric to choose between a frontline option, a knowledge option, and spell option.
I think this will eliminate the War Domain and the Knowledge domain.

So what would the four be? Light and Life seem certain. Of the PHB options, Trickery, Tempest, and Nature remain.

Of those, I suspect they would drop Nature (letting it fall to Druids), But what I'd really like? Would be if they brought in Order (with its tie to enchantment spells) and Twilight (as a counterpoint to Life).

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

They could give most of the classes a feature like Warlock's Pact Boons to emulate some of the PHB subclasses that would be left out of the OneD&D subclasses. Or just combine some of the similar subclasses to reduce their numbers.

 

[Weiley31]

Raven Queen Warlock and Echo Knight Fighter.

Okay, I kid I kid. I'm at least expecting Battlemaster to in there UNLESS they give the Warrior grouping its Combat Maneuver options. Heck, they could revive the UA Squire of Solamnia feat and repurpose it where you get an amount of Superiority Die equal to your Proficiency Bonus.