D&D 5E I didn't see it coming (semi-serious speculation of what's next in Next)

[Li Shenron]

I totally did not expect to see the Sorcerer and Warlock added so early, although now I understandy why... So what do you think we'll see in the next iteration of the playtest rules?

I don't know if next update will be major or will be made only by some additions. But here's my semi-serious guess (on additional material, not changes to existing material):

Next classes: Barbarian and Warlord
Next class features: Wizard's schools/traditions, one additional Sorcerer's heritage, one additional Warlock's pact
Next races: probably none for a while, or Half-Orcs
Next skills/bkg: physical skills, maybe an additional background or two
Next feats/specialties: a few non-combat feats e.g. for alchemy, poison-making and animal companions, and related specialties
Next spells: very few or no additions (unless they raise the supported max character level)
Next equipment: scrolls and first small bunch of sample magic items

 

[ZombieRoboNinja]

Classes: Ranger and Paladin
Features: I agree on one warlock pact and sorcerer origin and two or three wizard traditions. Maybe another rogue scheme and/or cleric domain?
Specialties: more melee specialties (so e.g. a Slayer or Duelist fighter has an appropriate option)

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Classes: Monk, Warlord, Ranger. All 3 are to some extent mixes or variants of Rogue and Fighter, and it would now be interesting to see how they represent these variants when sneak attack, skill mastery and combat superiority are already defined.

Features & Specialities I don't know.


But be aware - just because something is playtested right now doesn't have to mean it will be in the final product 2 years from now - a lot can still change, but they already have to think how to implement some ideas in the new system even if it won't be part of the first rulebook(s).

 

[slobo777]

Next monsters: Some classic monsters in 6-10 level range. A dragon or two.

I'm really hoping for some underlying logic to monsters as well (i.e. "how we built them"). Although for playtest purposes they can probably hold on that to much later on.

 

[FireLance]

Background: Spanish
Specialty: Inquisitor

Because no one expects the Spanish Inquisition!

Also, the Surprise module, the Fear spell, the Ruthless Efficiency and Fanatical Devotion feats, and the addition of Nice Red Uniforms to the equipment list.

 

[gyor]

Lets start with what we already know will be in it.

Levels 1-10

That means default that they'll be more spells, invocations, expanded domains, bloodlines, Pacts, ect... to show abilities gained during levels 6-10. More higher level monsters.

Now on to guessing. I'm going to guess Ranger and Paladin, maybe Barbarian as well. Possible others.

I think will get expanded races, the core 4 are pretty much done. Tiefling (possibly subrace of Planetouched), Gnome, Half-Orc, Half Elf, Elderin (we know Elderin exist because Will Wheaton played one). Dragonborn will be last, to get the breath machanic right. New adventure. New Specialties including battle Rager. New backgrounds. New Domains, Schemes, Bloodlines, Pacts, Fighting styles. Wizard traditions.

 

[tuxgeo]

I totally did not expect to see the Sorcerer and Warlock added so early, although now I understandy why... So what do you think we'll see in the next iteration of the playtest rules?

I don't know if next update will be major or will be made only by some additions. But here's my semi-serious guess (on additional material, not changes to existing material):

Next classes: Barbarian and Warlord
Next class features: Wizard's schools/traditions, one additional Sorcerer's heritage, one additional Warlock's pact
Next races: probably none for a while, or Half-Orcs
Next skills/bkg: physical skills, maybe an additional background or two
Next feats/specialties: a few non-combat feats e.g. for alchemy, poison-making and animal companions, and related specialties
Next spells: very few or no additions (unless they raise the supported max character level)
Next equipment: scrolls and first small bunch of sample magic items

They expanded the spell list from May to August (including Level 3), and they altered some spells, so I expect expansion and change to happen in October, too. Particularly nice would be more 3.5E stuff for the Wizard. "Message" and "Arcane Mark" might be overkill as cantrips, but they would make nice Level 1 spells with ritual versions. At Level 1, wizards already get 2 of the 3 Enchantment spells from 3.5E, and 3 of the 4 Evocation spalls; but they only have 0 (yes, zero) of the 5 Level 1 Illusion spells from 3.5E, and 1 Level 2 Illusion spell from 3.5E. They need to add some Illusion spells, so I'd like to see Color Spray, Nystul's Magic Aura, and Ventriloquism at Level 1, and Hypnotic Pattern, Invisibility, and Minor Image at Level 2.

I'm glad you're being semi-serious about the Barbarian and Warlord, because I'm not sure those will even end up being classes. (It would be great to see them, though.)

One thing Mearls mentioned a while ago is that he isn't entirely happy with having Sneak Attack as the Rogue's defining schtick, so we might see some new mechanic for the Rogue.

I expect to see a lot more new backgrounds than you do; but I agree about few new races, if any, in October.

 

[The Shadow]

Well, if we can take it as granted that we'll see some wizard Traditions, I think Illusion is a shoo-in to be one of them, as it's the only wizard specialty that has been in every version of the game since AD&D.

And that inclines me to think we'll see gnomes as a race, even if no others. What I can't figure out is how, given the way they're doing races, they'll point gnomes towards illusion magic?

 

[Steely_Dan]

I am a bit disappointed that they released the Sorcerer and Warlock before the Bard, Druid, Monk, Paladin and Ranger, but not surprised, they had to pump out some non-Vancian deals before the hysteria got too much, but the Sorcerer (synonym for wizard) has been around since 2000, and the Warlock (synonym for wizard) since, what, 2006 (?), the other classes I mentioned have been part of the game for over 3 decades.

I would prefer overall less classes for 5th Ed, as opposed to 3rd (yikes) and 4th.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I hope we'll see an updated wandering trollop table and potion miscibility table. Only then will we know if the flavor of 5E is headed in the right direction.

 

[Steely_Dan]

I hope we'll see an updated wandering trollop table and potion miscibility table. Only then will we know if the flavor of 5E is headed in the right direction.

Please, save it, it's embarrassing for all of us.

 

[Stormonu]

Monk. Ranger. Gnome. Half-Orc.

I'm thinking Ranger would be a good show to get a feel for how people are going to respond to fighter subclasses and what they can do to differentiate them from the standard fighter and "woodsman fighter" background. I'm thinking they won't do paladin as they currently have a fill-in with the cleric.

Gnome would be a nod to it's lack of inclusion in the initial 4E roll-out and a test to should show us how they intend to make them different from dwarves or halfing.

Half-Orc is simply a "power" race, and would be good for testing the upper bounds of what you could do with a melee character.

 

[The Shadow]

Monk. Ranger. Gnome. Half-Orc.

Add half-elf, and you've got all the traditional races. Honestly, I'm curious how they'll do it, as it's traditionally been quite gimped other than early-edition multiclassing options. It also doesn't seem to lend itself to subraces. (Half-orc even less so.)

But if they include a number of classic races, I imagine they'll have to also include at least one of tieflings, eladrin, and dragonborn as well.

Of course, another consideration in all this is that they aren't ever going to show us their whole hand. Each playtest has a specific purpose, and there's little point in showing us more than we need to test that purpose.

 

[sec_tcpaipm]

Gnome Illusionist

Wouldn't having a gnome kind of imply an illusionist option?

 

[The Shadow]

Wouldn't having a gnome kind of imply an illusionist option?

Yep. But they are surely going to share at least a couple wizard traditions, and illusionist is a classic.

I just can't figure out how they're going to tilt gnomes toward illusions, specifically.

 

[slobo777]

Yep. But they are surely going to share at least a couple wizard traditions, and illusionist is a classic.

I just can't figure out how they're going to tilt gnomes toward illusions, specifically.

My prediction: They'll hand out a couple of new, illusion-y cantrips or similar either to all Gnomes, or to a sub-race. Ghost Sound and Dancing Lights

 

[steeldragons]

I'm going to guess Ranger and Assassin...one fightery and one roguey class, neither necessarily automatically magical (without specialties or backgrounds).
Since this version released two arcane casters at once.

That way, also, you can have, for races, Half-elf (rangers) and Half-orc (traditionally an assassin class) AND Gnomes...because...

As they showed the Necromancer specialty this time, they will throw out the 1) a revision of the Necro specialty (if there are enough comments about issues with it) and 2) roll out the Illusionist specialty (presumably using the same formula for definition as the Necro's and seeing if that formula is going to work, across the board for Mage traditions.)

Whatever new spells, skills, backgrounds, and specialities (animal companion rangers, shadow-walking assassins, etc...) they need to for those classes, races and specialties. Plus...

introducing the Ranger and Assassin pretty much demand the inclusion/introduction of the Surprise rules, possibly some kind of "Ambush/Insta-Kill attack", Poison use/creation, and/or (if not lumped in with Poison as a common mechanic) Herbalism/Herbalist healing...and, I guess, whether they are making it a class feature or option, the Animal Companion tables and rules will probably be included as well (so they can tweak as necessary before introducing the Druid...for whom I also hope animal companions are no more than optional).

--SD

 

[The Shadow]

My prediction: They'll hand out a couple of new, illusion-y cantrips or similar either to all Gnomes, or to a sub-race. Ghost Sound and Dancing Lights

Possibly. If an Illusionist specialty and/or Illusionist wizard tradition gives some boost to illusion spells, that might provide enough of an impetus.

It will be interesting to see which gnome subraces they have in mind, too.

 

[cmbarona]

I'm guessing they will focus on material that has appeared in the PHB before. Maybe, like the Sorcerer and Warlock, they will focus on one more "classic" class and one "newer" class. I would also guess that they will ride the coat tails of the Fighter's Combat Superiority debut by focusing on at least two martial classes, whether or not the incorporate Expertise Dice into those classes. I'm really hoping to see a Warlord, myself, but I won't hold my breath on that one. They could also take some time to debut the Paladin and see how they can distinguish that class from the Cleric, since they have a lot of potential thematic overlap.

I would also guess that they will debut some new adventuring mechanics. I would like to see a new (and more well-rounded) version of 4E's Skill Challenges, myself.

 

[Li Shenron]

Lets start with what we already know will be in it.

Levels 1-10

Dang... I missed that thread