D&D World of Warcraft subclasses will swap out classic class features for new abilities

The new Dungeon Masters series has previewed some upcoming subclass mechanics for the upcoming World of Warcraft D&D book. Last night, the first two episodes of Dungeon Masters premiered on D&D’s YouTube channel. This season focuses on the upcoming World of Warcraft book, with players using character options from that book and playing through an adventure inspired by the book. The first episodes revealed some teases as to how the upcoming WoW inspired subclasses will work, with Neil Newbon playing as an Oath of the Ebon Blade Death Knight. The Death Knight is a WoW class and appears to use the Paladin class as a base. Notably, the Oath of Ebon Blade has two features that replace core paladin features. Death Coil is a replacement for Lay on Hands and creates a dice pool of necrotic energy that players can inflict on foes. The size of the pool is based on a player’s Charisma modifier, with players spending an Action to force a creature within range to make a saving throw or be hit by necrotic energy. The Death Knight will also get a new spell called Rune Strike that acts as a counterpart to Divine Smite, with the spell dealing necrotic damage and dealing bonus damage to celestials.

Another new feature in the World of Warcraft book is a revamped pet system. This was partially shown off in the episode, with a Beast Master Ranger gaining the ability to assign weapon mastery features to their animal companion. This means that, when the animal companion makes a successful attack, they can inflict one of the weapon mastery effects chosen by the Ranger. The weapon mastery ability can also be swapped out with every long rest.

A video from the Insight Check YouTube channel confirmed that the Death Knight, Demon Hunter, and Evoker classes are “hero classes,” which are available to Level 3 characters and higher. These Hero Classes require players to choose a specific subclass that alters certain base features of their class. Only the Death Knight and Demon Hunter classes feature changes to their respective classes, while the Evoker changes the Draconic Sorcery subclass.

The new subclasses in the World of Warcraft were not publicly playtested before release. Instead, a secret playtest was held, with testers held by an NDA. The new World of Warcraft book comes out on November 17th.

 

[Belen]

Official recommended starting level in 5.5 is level 3 anyway. So its not a problem, unless some adversial GMs force level 1 and 2 on players.

How is it adversarial to start at level 1?

I have only ever seen 1 game start at 3 and that was DM choice. I have never had players request to start higher.

 

[mamba]

They don't recommend not using any levels. They said you can start at any level.

I was going by what was stated in this thread "It is particularly recommended to start at level 3 if your group is composed of seasoned D&D players."

If they are not saying that, good. I stand by what I wrote, i.e. if you recommend against using something in your game, then you should have designed that something differently instead.

 

[SkidAce]

Once you season them. It all in the seasoning.

Does ketchup count?

 

[Milli Rabbit]

I believe it was indeed the XP charts from the 5E14 PHB that gave all of us the idea that Levels 1 & 2 would only last like a session or two each. Because (if I'm remembering correctly) it only took 300 XP to go from 1 to 2, and 900 XP to go from 2 to 3... and when you would calculate out a standard encounter using the DMG rules... it would only require like one or two typical combats for the PCs to gain enough XP from those fights to level up that quick. So unless a DM did milestone leveling, or they purposefully did not have any combats at all for several sessions, or didn't they design their encounters using the XP calculators given to us in the DMG... PCs should have been leveling up after a session or two for each just based on having a single fight or two in those first couple of sessions. And that doesn't even include any additional "Quest XP" a DM might have given the players for finishing the introductory quests to start the campaign, which would have sped up the leveling even more.

So getting to Level 3 after just like two sessions I don't think was ever explicitly said should be happening... but we all figured that out just based on how the XP was going to flow in those sessions and what was needed to level.

Oh yeah. I personally like the pace of the XP advancement in 5e and 5.5e. However, I do use milestone or session based leveling when either I know an adventure will roughly hit the XP goal or when I want to expand a level range. If you haven't tried it before, I highly recommend trying to lock a campaign to one tier and then really exploring what you can do with it.

With the new Arcana Unleashed book, I am hoping to do a campaign where the max level is 4 or 6, but the evolving magic item rules will allow the party to gain power in alternative ways than leveling. Very much in line with how some OSR games just don't have leveling but instead are about the story of finding magic items and evolving them or using them to dramatic effect.

I tend to run 5-10 session campaigns for concepts like this to use the game in new ways and see how players creatively solve problems. For example, how would a level 6 party defeat a demilich turning their village into zombies or nalfeshnee opening a portal to the Abyss or Beast of Malar that is hunting them? My table finds interesting solutions lol

 

[saviirkad]

I was going by what was stated in this thread "It is particularly recommended to start at level 3 if your group is composed of seasoned D&D players."

If they are not saying that, good. I stand by what I wrote, i.e. if you recommend against using something in your game, then you should have designed that something differently instead.

I think the point is really just taking that one quote out implies more than what seems to be intended by the writers based on the section as a whole.

Taking all together, it's basically saying "Hey seasoned players, your DM might want a higher level start. We think lvl 3 works well for that. DM, if you're creating a campaign, consider your starting level. Usually that's level 1, but if you want tougher PCs and you have experienced players, consider level 3 instead."

It definitely doesn't read as saying don't do a level 1 start, it's literally just saying that an alternative start at level 3 can be good too.

 

[Belen]

I think the point is really just taking that one quote out implies more than what seems to be intended by the writers based on the section as a whole.

Taking all together, it's basically saying "Hey seasoned players, your DM might want a higher level start. We think lvl 3 works well for that. DM, if you're creating a campaign, consider your starting level. Usually that's level 1, but if you want tougher PCs and you have experienced players, consider level 3 instead."

It definitely doesn't read as saying don't do a level 1 start, it's literally just saying that an alternative start at level 3 can be good too.

The original statement is just player preference stated as argumentative fact.

 

[occam]

The D&D Beyond Basic rules encourage you to start at level 3... neat. Wonder if maybe there's some other possible reason for D&D Beyond, specifically, to get you to start at 3rd level where you have to pick an archetype and you might want an archetype that isn't in the Basic Rules. I guess you'd have to buy that material if you wanted to use it. For D&D Beyond, specifically. Not the physical book, mind you, 'cause Owning things is so 1900s...

Nah. Probably just a coincidence.

You're right. The DMG can't have Errata in it.

They instead posted the Errata online in a PDF format. Have you seen the DMG Errata? I have. It contains two notes.

View attachment 448922
This concludes the errata.

Bizarrely, it doesn't include "It is particularly recommended you start at level 3." or anything about antagonistic DMs starting people at level 1 or how level 1 and 2 are tutorial levels.

But hey. At least you can use AI to gather the opinions of a bunch of websites and forums and Reddit and claim that's the real intention of WotC!

This doesn't have to do with the DMG, or a DDB conspiracy, or AI slop. It's in the Player's Handbook, fer Pete's sake:

Player's Handbook (5.5e) - Marketplace - D&D Beyond

<p>Introducing the <b>Player's Handbook (5.5e)</b>, the new and improved guide for fifth edition DUNGEONS & DRAGONS. Packed with endless character options, striking illustrations, and a streamlined design, every part of this 384-page book is a joy to experience.</p> <br /> <p>Level up your game...

www.dndbeyond.com

"Your DM might start your group’s characters at a level higher than 1. It is particularly recommended to start at level 3 if your group is composed of seasoned D&D players."

 

[Remathilis]

This doesn't have to do with the DMG, or a DDB conspiracy, or AI slop. It's in the Player's Handbook, fer Pete's sake:

Player's Handbook (5.5e) - Marketplace - D&D Beyond

<p>Introducing the <b>Player's Handbook (5.5e)</b>, the new and improved guide for fifth edition DUNGEONS & DRAGONS. Packed with endless character options, striking illustrations, and a streamlined design, every part of this 384-page book is a joy to experience.</p> <br /> <p>Level up your game...

www.dndbeyond.com

"Your DM might start your group’s characters at a level higher than 1. It is particularly recommended to start at level 3 if your group is composed of seasoned D&D players."

Um excuse me. I was told that books aren't automatically updated and therefore can't be used or cited as the most updated version of the rules, so no quoting the PHB when it comes to rules discussion.

/S

 

[Vrindlevine]

Ive done campaigns that are Tier locked before which can be really fun to explore how low or high level players handle various situations and grow despite no longer having level ups.

Could you expand more on "tier locked" i haven't heard this term in relation to 5e, seems interesting.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Oh please, can someone with the 2024 DMG on D&D Beyond confirm what the digital version says? You know, the most up to date version?

This is the text in the PHB

Your DM might start your group’s characters at a level higher than 1. It is particularly recommended to start at level 3 if your group is composed of seasoned D&D players.

And DMG

Starting Level. What level are the characters when they start? Many D&D campaigns start the characters at level 1. If you want the characters to be a bit more resilient and your players are experienced, start the campaign at level 3 instead. (See the Player’s Handbook for rules on starting at higher levels.)

But yeah as said it's just a recommendation.