Here Come The PRESTIGE CLASSES! Plus Rune Magic!

Mike Mearls' latest Unearthed Arcana column presents the first ever 5E prestige class: the Rune Scribe! "Prestige classes build on the game’s broad range of basic options to represent specialized options and unique training. The first of those specialized options for fifth edition D&D is the rune scribe—a character who masters ancient sigils that embody the fundamental magic of creation."

It's a 5-level class, and also contains the basic information on how prestige classes work and how to join them - including ability, skill, level, and task-based prerequisites. Find it here.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Stein, kalt... So the ancient giants who named the runes spoke in German?

Or is it Old Norse?

Stein und kalt are german words still in use, which come frome the Old High German stein ‎(“something hard”) and "kalt" which themselves are derived from Proto-Germanic *stainaz and *kaldaz, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European roots *stāi- and *gel. Vind is the swedish writing of wind, which is derived from Proto-Germanic *windaz.

So yes, the ancient gods spoke in a language that is the origin of all germanic languages which includes english. And since English is the common language in D&D, kalt, wind and Stein are appropriate.

 

[Bawylie]

There's a big variance of power in sub-classes. You would need to redesign all the classes with something like this in mind.

Not that i object to the idea. But it doesn't fit as it currently is.

Not really. You'd just have to make the universal variants relatively balanced against one another.

 

[I'm A Banana]

And how does one scribe a rune using ash or whatever when they're trying to avoid it? If they're physically trying to draw on someone it's realistically really difficult to do to someone who is struggling and fighting, if they're drawing in the air and the rune gets inscribed where their finger points like a laser pointer, or simply stamping a rune from a stone, then that's more believable.

I imagined it all Zorro-y: I get close enough to touch you, jab my finger in a quick pattern when an opening presents itself, and BAM.

That would imply melee spell attacks, though, I imagine.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

The problem with prestige classes, and the reason it isn't something that those of us who don't want to use can just ignore, is thus:

1) Prestige classes lock features into a new category. A feature placed into a prestige class is a feature unavailable to those who aren't using them.
2) Prestige classes lock concepts in a new category. Let's say some of us are looking forward to a sha'ir subclass. Except, they decide to make sha'ir a prestige class instead. Now we either have to use prestige class or miss out on the official sha'ir option.
3) Prestige classes confuse categories. Take the sha'ir example. Who knows where it will come out if prestige classes are in the game? And we get the joy of having to be concerned about where new stuff comes out for every subclass we may want (and this applies to people who like prestige classes too!) Can you imagine the tweets to Mike and Jeremy? "I'm looking forward to sha'ir, but PLEASE don't make it a prestige class!" or "I really want sha'ir to be a prestige class so my cleric can take it!" There isn't much argument about whether something should be a feat or a subclass--they are generally pretty obvious. Prestige class vs. subclass is a can of slime covered fiendish rune-worms waiting to happen.

Because of this, prestige classes alter the game for everyone, even those of use who choose not to use them in our games. Unlike multiclassing, they affect all of us, because they change the way future design happens. I don't like prestige classes, but more important than that, I don't like the way they change everyone's game, regardless of whether they choose to use them.

 

[pukunui]

I like the concept of rune magic. I like the RP requirements for prestige classes. Can't really speak to the effectiveness of the specific class presented.

However, I'd just like to point out that someone at WotC (I think it was Rodney) stated fairly early on that they were looking into how to do prestige classes. This UA shouldn't really come as a big surprise. Nor does it seem "unfocused", as someone put it above.

 

[bedir than]

Just because you choose to allow one prestige class does not mean you have to allow all prestige classes. You want a sha'ir and it's a prestige class and it fits your world? Allow it.

You don't want the Rune Master? Don't allow it.

You want a feat that is a simplistic mimic of the Rune Master? Make it. See Magic Initiate and Ritual whatever for a model.

An optional system does not change the options for those not using the optional system.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

I imagined it all Zorro-y: I get close enough to touch you, jab my finger in a quick pattern when an opening presents itself, and BAM.

That would imply melee spell attacks, though, I imagine.

Try attacking someone with a sharpie pen drawing a particular pattern, you could only really pull that off in a fight through surprise or grappling. I personally think the laser pointer drawing pattern idea works better in execution and the concept.

 

[gyor]

I really like this prestiage class and the way they are doing prestiage classes period.

I could see a Ranger/Rune Scribe mix with the fire and wind runes enhancing his bow, so that his bow shoots twice the distance, deals fire damage, and can reroll the fire damage.

A Paladin who likes using one of the smites that deals fire, while her weapon deals fire damage, and she rerolls fire damage.

A mix of the powers of the ice and stone runes on a defender.

I can see alot of potentially cool combos.

 

[Jester David]

Cool concept withe rune magic, but I really dislike the concept of prestige classes, primarily because they were so abused in 3.5.

Well... if we abandoned every mechanic that was abused in 3e we'd be left with a skeleton of a game system.

 

[CapnZapp]

Rule #1 for any new design paradigm:

Requiring a DM to say 'no' to their players about using optional material is NEVER a reason not to create it.

I never want WotC to EVER be concerned with possibly making DMs have to man up and tell their players "No, you can't use this option" when deciding whether to create something new. The DM's job is to decide what will and will not be used in his or her campaign. If that means having to curtail some options that WotC has published by telling their players "No"... then that's what the DM has to do. It's not WotC's responsibility to give DMs an easy way out because they don't have the fortitude to stand up for their own beliefs.

Tell that to the dudes that decided not to have functional magic item pricing mechanisms