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.

 

[mamba]

If you think Dark Sun as it was, is how the new book is going to present it, I've got a bridge deal you really need to look into.

will it be the same, no, obviously not, but I am more curious about it than any (non-core) book released in 2025...

 

[Chaltab]

If you think Dark Sun as it was, is how the new book is going to present it, I've got a bridge deal you really need to look into.

So? Every new edition presents settings in their own way. Dark Sun in 2E isn't quite the same as Dark Sun in 4E. Dark Sun in 5E is clearly still focused on the environmental devastation and tyranny themes. That's the core of the setting.

 

[Scribe]

Dark Sun in 5E is clearly still focused on the environmental devastation and tyranny themes. That's the core of the setting.

We will see.

I'd been waiting for my Conan-esque, Brom/Frazetta, Chainmail Bikini setting, so lets keep our fingers crossed eh?

 

[SkidAce]

Why is there a need for a 'new take'. Its a pre-existing entity, its got a pre-existing tone, presentation, and so on.

sigh

I get it, its a lost cause, the battle is already over and nobody cares, but if there is a setting that is LESS appropriate for 'modern D&D' than Dark Sun, I dont know what it is, but they are going to mutilate and retcon it anyway until it fits and is child friendly.

And thats a shame to me. Not that you or anyone else must care, I just think its lame that this is the now standard corporate practice.

To be fair, they "might" not water it down.

Athas, water, get it?

 

[Kurotowa]

Putting aside the excitement over a new Dark Sun book for a minute... what are the four subclasses like?

Sorcerer-King Warlocks are a clever thematic update to the 2e Templars. Mechanically it's a little plain; no real transformative features, just some cute tricks with Command and group buffs/debuffs. Not bad, but probably something you take more for lore reasons.

Gladiator Fighter is really trying to leverage the Weapon Mastery system with bonus Mastery applications on a Cha secondary subclass. Again, not transformative, but thematic and probably effective enough in play. More tactically complex than the Champion, less so than the Battle Master.

Preservation Druid continues the pattern. A nice thematic update to established Dark Sun lore that looks reasonably mechanically effective without being new or transformative. Beyond that, I dunno, Druids aren't my thing.

Defiler Sorcerer is that one that stands out to me. The ability to suck Hit Dice out of foes (or yourself or willing allies) to empower your damage spells makes a damage focused Sorcerer a bit more attractive. Piercing resistance to two damage types adds to that character type. And then there's nice tricks like siphoning Sorcerer Points from slain foes that just look strong. All in all it seems really neat.

 

[WanderingMystic]

As much as I am hoping for setting books I feel that they could take this one, the horror ua and maybe a new draconic is and put those into one book to give people options for other settings. Imagine a chapter for Dragonlance, a chapter for Ravenloft, a chapter for Darksun might be an easier sell than three individual books.

 

[kapars]

The Gladiator sounds grisly and fun.

 

[TiQuinn]

Well I, for one, am happy for all the Dark Sun fans out there to get their moment after waiting as long as they have.

 

[SkidAce]

Defiler Sorcerer is that one that stands out to me. The ability to suck Hit Dice out of foes (or yourself or willing allies) to empower your damage spells makes a damage focused Sorcerer a bit more attractive. Piercing resistance to two damage types adds to that character type. And then there's nice tricks like siphoning Sorcerer Points from slain foes that just look strong. All in all it seems really neat.

I literally finished revising my campaign's version of blood magic yesterday...now this clever idea shows up...sigh

 

[pukunui]

As much as I am hoping for setting books I feel that they could take this one, the horror ua and maybe a new draconic is and put those into one book to give people options for other settings. Imagine a chapter for Dragonlance, a chapter for Ravenloft, a chapter for Darksun might be an easier sell than three individual books.

A guide to the material worlds of the multiverse? (As opposed to a manual of the planes.)