Dungeons & Dragons Releases New Unearthed Arcana Subclasses, Strongly Hinting at Dark Sun

Wizards of the Coast has released four new D&D subclasses for playtesting, all of which have heavy thematic ties to the post-apocalyptic Dark Sun setting. The four subclasses, released as "Apocalyptic Subclasses," include the Circle of Preservation Druid, the Gladiator Fighter, the Defiled Sorcerer, and the Sorcerer-King Patron Warlock. Although not stated outright, the Gladiator and Sorcerer-King Patron are explicit nods to the Dark Sun setting, set in a ruined world ruled by Sorcerer-Kings where gladiatorial fights were common.

The Circle of Preservation Druid creates areas of preserved land that grants buffs to those who stand upon it. The Gladiator adds secondary Weapon Mastery properties to their attacks, with bonus abilities. Notably, the Gladiator uses Charisma as its secondary stat. The Defiled Sorcerer can expend its hit dice to amp up damage to its attacks and can also steal the life of its targets to deal additional damage. The Sorcerer-King Patron gains a number of abilities tying into tyranny and oppression, with the ability to cast Command as a Bonus Action without expending a spell slot, causing targets to gain the Frightened Condition, and forcing those who attack them to re-roll successful attacks.

The survey for the subclasses goes live on August 28th.

 

[Scribe]

No. Every piece of media does not have this issue, only those that get remade. Instead of remaking media, I'd like to see new media be made.

We have become a civilization of artistic pillagers and creative parasites. Shame on us.

I'm having a hard time thinking of an IP yet to be mined, that I cared about anyway.

 

[dave2008]

Sorcerer is … conditionally good? I like what they’ve done, but I’m wary that this might be the only mechanical nod to defiling. The defiling choice needs to be a decision and temptation that every caster faces with every spell they cast, not something reserved for one eeeEEeevil subclass. If there are separate defiling rules that apply to everyone and this class represents a sorcerer who consciously focuses on defiling, then it’s good. If this is the only defiling mechanic in the book, then it’s projectile vomiting time, and sadly I strongly suspect this is how it will be.

I am familiar with the setting, but not he old mechanics. What did defiling do mechanically in AD&D. I was under the impression that magic using classes were simply banned in DS, I didn't realize there was a mechanic that let you use magic through defiling.

 

[Eubani]

Basically Mages had to choose to defile or not. This increased or decreased the casting time.

 

[dave2008]

The lack of clerics are an interesting omission, we’ll have to wait and see there. Not sure we have all the elemental domain bases covered at this point (earth being the obvious), but we know how much WotC haaaates to take options off the table so I expect they’ll try and (somehow) rationalise support for every subclass in the setting, goodness knows how.

Theros essentially took a bunch of options off the table.

From Theros:
A diverse assortment of peoples dwell among the lands of Theros. Aside from humans, the races in the Player’s Handbook are unknown on Theros, unless they’re visiting from other worlds.

This chapter provides information about the following common playable races of Theros, as well as racial traits for all of them except humans:

Humans on Theros are similar to those found on other D&D worlds: adaptable, ambitious, and wildly diverse.

Centaurs employ cunning and equine strength to further the goals of the roaming Lagonna and Pheres bands.

Leonin are proud lion-like hunters, many of whom live in defiance of the gods.

Minotaurs are infamous for bloodthirstiness, a reputation even the most peaceful struggle to escape.

Satyrs follow their passions in the pursuit of wild revels and new adventures.

Tritons are an enigmatic, sea-dwelling people with an endless desire to explore.

 

[dave2008]

Basically Mages had to choose to defile or not. This increased or decreased the casting time.

That was it? Not very inspired, IMO. Definitely doesn't live up to the name!

 

[dave2008]

We have become a civilization of artistic pillagers and creative parasites. Shame on us.

So like all humans throughout history then?!

 

[Eubani]

That was it? Not very inspired, IMO. Definitely doesn't live up to the name!

Keep in mind that if you got hit whilst casting the spell failed and you lost the slot, also you could not change what you did that round. Anything that reduced the casting time segments was powerful.

 

[pukunui]

I am familiar with the setting, but not he old mechanics. What did defiling do mechanically in AD&D. I was under the impression that magic using classes were simply banned in DS, I didn't realize there was a mechanic that let you use magic through defiling.

Nope! The AD&D 2e version has elemental-themed specialty priests (earth, air, fire, and water), wizards, druids, rangers, templars, and bards.

Defilers and Preservers are types of wizards specifically.

In the setting itself, the use of arcane magic is often illegal, and there are rules for casting spells surreptitiously (something that's much easier to do in 5e!).

EDIT: Here's what the OG 2e Dark Sun Rule Book (pp 19-20) says about defiling and preserving:

A wizard is able to capture and master magical energies. However, on Athas, magic and the ecosystem are irrevocably bound -- no one, not even a wizard, can affect one without affecting the other.

All wizards must decide at the beginning of their careers whether they are trying to work with nature or without regard for it. In Dark Sun, the means a wizard must be either a defiler or a preserver.

The defiler is a wizard who activates tremendous magical energy without regard to its effect on the environment. With the casting of each spell, a defiler destroys a portion of the world's ecosystem, rendering it dead and sterile. The means by which a defiler learns and uses magic is comparatively easy to master, so he advances quickly. A defiler can be either a noble, freeman, or slave.

The preserver attempts to use magic in concert with the environment. Learning how to wield such magic on Athas is especially difficult, so the preserver's advancement is slow. A preserver can be either a freeman or slave.

The illusionist is a specialist wizard who wields magical illusions. An illusionist can be either a preserver or a defiler, and will advance in levels accordingly. An illusionist can be from any social class.

 

[Eubani]

Bards were more poisoner assassins

 

[Chaltab]

That was it? Not very inspired, IMO. Definitely doesn't live up to the name!

I mean it also completely ruins the land around the caster making it unable to sustain vegetation.