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]

I get that the idea was to refrain from giving bad DMs a fig leaf of rules cover for stripping a paladin pc of all their powers for frivolous reasons or after a contrived no-win ‘baby orc’ scenario.

Laying here in a heat warning and I just have to say how toxic this kind of design has been.

Instead of richness and depth, and story potential Wizards has chosen fear. Fear of obnoxious DMs, and poor behavior, and the biggest game on the market is lesser for it.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

There is definitely room for redemption arcs and the like. One of the main characters from the books is a Templar who helps overthrow their Sorcerer King, although there is then the question within the game about what happens if you lose access to your source of power.

Redemption arcs for defilers would be much, much easier if they weren't stuck using only defiling magic, but there is still potential there.

The question stands for Warlocks of all types of course, and I think that in 2024 even more than previously it’s quite clear that Warlocks don’t lose their power if they betray their patron. The question remains of what happens if the Patron fully dies.

I would say that the power has already been given, so nothing much happens. But that’s up to the DM ofc.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I certainly hope they lean into evil options being evil.

The lack of any weight for evil Patrons is one of the worst aspects of any class.

You made a deal with Satan.

"No no, I'm just misunderstood!"

Your reductive take doesn’t represent actual play, nor what the class actually is in the reality of the game.

Not having obnoxiously toxic rules that decide what the narrative of the character is instead of letting the players play it out as they see fit isn’t robbing the class of any weight. It certainly doesn’t make the fiend warlock “just misunderstood”.

The patron is a story element. D&D isn't A game that that mechanizes the story itself. Therefor the patron’s behavior and such aren’t part of the mechanics. It’s quite simple.

 

[Scribe]

Your reductive take doesn’t represent actual play, nor what the class actually is in the reality of the game.

Not having obnoxiously toxic rules that decide what obvious the narrative of the character is instead of letting the players play it out as they see fit isn’t robbing the class of any weight. It certainly doesn’t make the fiend warlock “just misunderstood”.

The patron is a story element. D&D isn't A game that that mechanizes the story itself. Therefor the patron’s behavior and such aren’t part of the mechanics. It’s quite simple.

I mean it is simple, but we clearly disagree. /shrug

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I mean it is simple, but we clearly disagree. /shrug

It’s be nice if, when you aren’t willing to actually engage once challenged, you would just not reply to me on the topic which you aren’t willing to engage with.

It makes the interaction needlessly frustrating to no good end.

 

[Scribe]

It’s be nice if, when you aren’t willing to actually engage once challenged, you would just not reply to me on the topic which you aren’t willing to engage with.

It makes the interaction needlessly frustrating to no good end.

No intent to frustrate you. We disagree so completely it's impossible to discuss. Apologies.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

What made the druid not all right?

The same thing as made the Twilight Cleric not alright. It repeats exactly the same mistake.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

There is definitely room for redemption arcs and the like. One of the main characters from the books is a Templar who helps overthrow their Sorcerer King, although there is then the question within the game about what happens if you lose access to your source of power.

But as a warlock, if you rebel against your patron your powers are taken away.

Redemption arcs for defilers would be much, much easier if they weren't stuck using only defiling magic, but there is still potential there.

Repecing subclass was an optional rule in the 2014 rules, not sure if it's still in, but you could use it to deal with this type of situation.

 

[humble minion]

But as a warlock, if you rebel against your patron your powers are taken away.

Sorcerer kings are not omniscient (any more than most warlock patrons, I suppose). Depending on the situation and the nature of the arrangement between warlock and patron, I’d certainly allow a warlock (or Templar) to betray their patron. Especially if it’s only in small unobtrusive ways or (like Tithian in the books) the betrayal is quickly followed by the death of the patron before he can find out.

Of course, a warlock patron dying also presents some dilemmas…

 

[SableWyvern]

But as a warlock, if you rebel against your patron your powers are taken away.

I'm talking about Dark Sun generally and how I think Templars should work (ie, I believe they should be able to act against their Sorcerer King and, if evil, should be able to be redeemed). I know next to nothing about 5e Warlocks or how suitable they are to represent my preferred Templar without modification.