D&D 5E (2014) D&D Sage Advice 2.6 Update

WotC has released the latest update to its Sage Advice document. "This update aligns these books with content appearing in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, arriving November 17, 2020 in North America and December 1 in EU and APAC."

It also includes errata for Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide, and Eberron: Rising from the Last War. "Some of the changes in these errata files bring elements of those two books in line with content in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything".

Compendium: November 2020 | Sage Advice | Dungeons & Dragons

This Sage Advice Compendium includes links to errata files for Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide and Eberron: Rising from the Last War.

dnd.wizards.com

 

[DEFCON 1]

If you haven't bought the SCAG in the past five years since it has been released, do you really actually want it (original blade cantrips or no)?

 

[Marandahir]

If you haven't bought the SCAG in the past five years since it has been released, do you really actually want it (original blade cantrips or no)?

Some people were holding out hope for reprints of Bladesinger. Which Tasha was providing. And errata'ing. Meaning it's not quite a reprint, at least not in the form those people want.

Me, I'm fine with the errata, but that's my best guess on why people would want to buy an older version of the book only just now.

 

[Professor Murder]

So wait, there are folks keen on the original (5th ed) version of the Bladesinger?
Does the Tasha revision somehow make it worse?

 

[Chaosmancer]

So wait, there are folks keen on the original (5th ed) version of the Bladesinger?
Does the Tasha revision somehow make it worse?

It makes it range Self, which does some odd things for use with Warcaster and other effects.

Also, a range of self that attacks a target... which I find odd.

 

[Lapasta]

Here it is said that SCAG cantrips now costume the weapon, do you agree with that interpretation? That change would make them almost useless...

 

[ChaosOS]

Here it is said that SCAG cantrips now costume the weapon, do you agree with that interpretation? That change would make them almost useless...

Material components are only consumed if the spell description says so. Otherwise they just serve as a focus of sorts.

 

[wingsandsword]

So that's a major lore change right?

No.

It just deletes that one line in the description, it doesn't actively change the lore.

If anything, it just means that it's not mentioned or discussed in 5e.

30+ years of Forgotten Realms lore saying otherwise is still there.

If you're one of the new fans who only reads and cares about 5e, you can ignore the Wall of the Faithless, but longtime FR fans will be unaffected by 5e not mentioning it. SCAG is a very short, very minimalist look at a HUGE campaign setting, focusing on one small area, there are lots of elements of Realmslore it ignores or doesn't mention, it doesn't mean they aren't there anymore.

 

[Chaosmancer]

Oh, there are some interesting changes to the Steel Defender and Homunculus.

Homunculus no longer requires level 6. And both of them now attack using your spell bonus instead of their attack stats

 

[tetrasodium]

The scag cantrips (booming blade/gfb) are still really quite bad once you crunch the numbers. Yes they can be used with strength or dex rather than int/wis/cha, but a character with the strength/dex to effectively use them likely has at least two attacks & can use one of the many d8 or better weapons. Unlike booing blade & gfb though, using a weapon as a weapon will give +ability mod to each attack in addition to any weapon mods. Lets be honest & admit we are probably talking about an EK who gets a full 2/3/4 weapon attacks so even a +nothing 1d8 weapon with 20 strength or 20 dex is going to be 1d8+5 1x 2x 3x or 4x/round for an average of 9.5/19/28.5/38 vrs booming blade's 14/23.5/33/42.5 if there is a 100% hit chance. As soon as the hit chance drops below 100% the scag cantrip user uses 100% of their damage that round each miss while the attack chain user level 5 & up loses 1/2 1/3 & 1/4 respectively. A magic weapon with +1or anything else multiplies that by the number of attacks yet only ever works once for the scag cantrip user. Then to make an already questionable miniscule white room edge the rest of 5e makes sure to be sure of it with

Spoiler: ridiculous overuse of this

 

[Paul Farquhar]

It makes it range Self, which does some odd things for use with Warcaster and other effects.

Also, a range of self that attacks a target... which I find odd.

It doesn't. The spell enchants the weapon, the weapon attacks the target.

However, many attack spells - especially PBAoEs - have a range of self.