D&D (2024) Classes: What changes do you predict?

[Undrave]

and that Wizards will get a much-needed power boost.

ROFL brutal but quite likely. Wizards have very little design space because they're so OP already, so I'd be unsurprised if someone at WotC decides that it's fine if they get even more OP in order to have more design space.

I need to write my "Wizards are a problem" rant...

 

[Aldarc]

- Sorcerer, Monk, and Ranger will receive a more substantial rework, though the Ranger may appear more like it does in the more recent rework

- The Bladelock and Hexblade will enter a cage match but only one will remain alive.

- Wizards will have a more restricted Arcane spell list but subclasses will provide more Tradition specific bonus spells in order to better differentiate spell traditions

- Bards will have the Arcane spell list but may receive bonus spells from the Divine/Primal spell lists.

- alternate class features will become the new norm

- reworked wild shape and possibly Moon Druid

 

[gametaku]

Short rest will be used for healing and abilities that help your alias (similar to musician)

Some of Tasha's features will be built in. Primally those that add to options but don't replace an
existing one.

Existing subclasses will work with the updated classes; however, some might get errata to make use of new subclass design options.

The existing subclass levels will remain the same

However, I do think the design will open up and allow subclass improvements to be gained at additional levels. That some but not all subclasses will make use of.

Either the subclass will give improvements at additional levels, but their overall power level won't change. For example, the Eldritch Knight could gain their first cantrip and weapon bond at level one. Then at third level instead of learning two cantrips they would instead learn one.

Alternatively subclasses improvements might replace the feature(s) you get at that level. If a class gets multiple features at a level, it could replace all or only one. Though this is less likely as the design allows the possibly to replace all 20 levels and effectively create a new class.

 

[TerraDave]

So ranger, monk and sorcerer getting big changes seem to be consensus.

Rogue getting at least a Tasha's type boost is another easy one.

Fighter champion and maybe eldritch knight, or maybe maybe a more sweeping change to the whole class, seems very possible.

Then its things like tweaking berserker, the trickery domain, pactblade, ect, maybe adding some subclasses.

A bolder pick would be a full on arcane half-caster. As discussed in other thread(s) there would certainly be interest.

 

[Horwath]

Spellcasters should only have spells known,
1 spell per caster level until 11, then one spell every other level(13,15,17,19),
with cantrips equal to prof mod.

then every subclass of caster get 2 specific spells for spell levels cantrip-5th(12 in total).

maybe add 10th level spells for full casters at 19th level...

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I need to write my "Wizards are a problem" rant...

They're an absolutely huge problem, because of the tradition that they:

A) Basically don't have any class features at all, so have near-zero design space.

and

B) Can know ALL of the Arcane spells and cast them at ton, so are kind of overpowered out of combat because access that broad is overpowered (Sorcerers aren't because they have far less access).

So they delimit what you can do with a caster, and also demand a design that's both unengaging and powerful, and benefits heavily from system mastery. Previous editions were a problem too.

In 3E, even ignoring LFQW, they caused a massive problem for Prestige Classes, because basically any Prestige Class which allowed you to continue to advance as a full caster and had any features at all was Objectively Superior to being a single-class Wizard. And single-class Wizards were already at the top of the power rankings.

In 4E, they actually had to conform to 4E's class design, so were a non-problem, but people who wanted the usual OP system-mastery Wizard were at the sort of levels of rage and grief only previously experienced by Achilles after Patroclus died.

They really need a rethink, and busting down to "just one of the boys", class-wise. They need actual class features, too. This is will absolutely definitely never happen in 5E or 1D&D though, zero chance.

 

[FireLance]

I predict paladin Divine Smites will either be scaled back damage wise or limited to PB uses per long rest so that paladins will actually cast spells instead of using all their spell slots to power Divine Smites.

I would love for Lay on Hands to be powered by the paladin's Hit Dice. Maybe to compensate, allow the paladin to recover half level Hit Dice 1/day after taking a short rest.

 

[Leatherhead]

Sorcerer subclasses will use the Tashsa's subclass rules, which when combined with the new free feats, will give sorcerers a massive number of spells known from a highly customizable spell list. To the point where they will actually run out of the "good" spells, and can actually use their picks for flavor/fun/quirkiness and not effectively suffer for it.

Warlocks will break free of Eldritch Blast, instead they will have thematically appropriate Patron-specific attacks. Like Hellfire on Fiendlocks.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Warlocks will break free of Eldritch Blast, instead they will have thematically appropriate Patron-specific attacks. Like Hellfire on Fiendlocks.

I think this is quite likely, but I also predict that all but like one or two of the Patron-specific attacks are obviously mechanically inferior to Eldritch Blast, so whatever Patrons get "the good ones" will be used much more than all the rest put together, and by a few years into the edition people will be grousing endlessly about how things were better when all Warlocks had Eldritch Blast, and indeed maybe Tasha's 2.0 will essentially give Eldritch Blast back as an "alternative class feature" lol.

 

[delericho]

A) Basically don't have any class features at all, so have near-zero design space.

Do they actually need design space, though? They're a really fun class to play as-is, even without class features, and they don't actually need any more subclasses. Plus, there's plenty of Wizard-adjacent design space - every time a new Arcane spell is added, the Wizard gets more toys to play with.

B) Can know ALL of the Arcane spells and cast them at ton, so are kind of overpowered out of combat because access that broad is overpowered (Sorcerers aren't because they have far less access).

They really need a rethink, and busting down to "just one of the boys", class-wise. They need actual class features, too. This is will absolutely definitely never happen in 5E or 1D&D though, zero chance.

Given that people hate having their toys taken away, surely the better answer is to try to bring everyone else up to meet the Wizard? Give the Fighters, Clerics, and others more things to do - and especially a wider range of cool things to be doing outside of combat.

Of course, that's easier said that done - it's been a challenge ever since the days of Exceptional Strength, double specialisation, and the like.