D&D (2024) I just got a 2024 PHB From Gen Con. AMA!

[Oofta]

I kinda feel the new books are pushing more 4e derived ideas but isn't committing the cardinal sin of changing the power structure like Adeu did. Trying to find a balance between the classic system of abilities and spells and 4e powers.

I don't really see that myself. Maybe moving a bit more towards 3.x because it also emphasized specific terms and feats.

 

[Hatmatter]

Got my copy last night thanks to Gen Con friends. Gorgeous book.

Congrats!

 

[Torquar]

This was asked before but I didn't see an answer. Is there any actual guidance for using subclasses from earlier books?

 

[Chaosmancer]

This was asked before but I didn't see an answer. Is there any actual guidance for using subclasses from earlier books?

Yes, but not explicitly.

All of the Subclasses are written so that you gain "all subclass features you qualify for" or something phrased in that manner. This is to allow, for example, a Necromancer wizard to gain their subclass features even though they didn't get the subclass until level 3.

They also have some specific guidance for clerics, who are a bit tricky in that some subclass features were reworked into the base class.

However, I strongly suspect that the PHB does not specifically call out older subclasses as options, because the subclass language already allows for slotting in options, to future proof it.

 

[pukunui]

Okay, there are two things here that you put as one thing.

The old description for urchin says "You grew up on the streets alone, orphaned, and poor. You had no one to watch over you or to provide for you, so you learned to provide for yourself ..." and now it says "You grew up on the streets surrounded by similarly ill-fated castoffs, a few of them friends and a few of them rivals. You slept where you could and did odd jobs for food. At times, when the hunger became unbearable, you resorted to theft. Still, you never lost your pride and never abandoned hope. Fate is not yet finished with you."

Note that this IS more inclusive. You didn't grow up alone and orphaned, you could have, but you were surrounded by other cast-offs, you slept where you could, which might not have always been the street. You could have had someone watch over and provide for you. This is a lot more inclusive of a lot more stories than urchin was.

And, if you stop and read the description... well, it ALSO covers that sort of traveler you are talking about. Sleeping where you could is exactly like "They might sleep rough in the wilderness or they might sleep at inns or in people's barns or whatever" Coming from a wealthy upbringing is possible, but if you are wandering around enough, you get the archetype of the wealthy person who leaves behind their wealth to live on the road as a common person, someone who grows a long scraggly beard and "At times, when the hunger became unbearable, you resorted to theft. "

Additionally, there is a synonym at play here. A synonym for Wayfarer is Vagrant. I think you would have been far happier with Vagrant as the background title for this background, but since I suspect this is meant to also cover migrant workers, refugees, circus performers, and more I'm fine with the more polite and positive sounding Wayfarer. Then those who make their lives out in nature get Guide or Hermit, while those who go a more criminal route get Criminal and Charlatan. It is a nice little half-way point between those four.

I don’t agree with your assessment but I am happy to just agree to disagree here.

 

[Asisreo]

Is there any possible way I can see the new Ranger animal companion options as a screenshot?

 

[GarrettKP]

Is there any possible way I can see the new Ranger animal companion options as a screenshot?

They are largely the same as Tasha’s but use Wis mod instead of Prof mod of the Ranger.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

They are largely the same as Tasha’s but use Wis mod instead of Prof mod of the Ranger.

Is the pet still a lobotomised robot, or does it have its own actions?

 

[GarrettKP]

Is the pet still a lobotomised robot, or does it have its own actions?

They work as they did in Tasha’s, aka you use a BA or one of your attacks to command them to use their action. At level 7, they can use an action and a bonus action when you command them.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

They work as they did in Tasha’s, aka you use a BA or one of your attacks to command them to use their action. At level 7, they can use an action and a bonus action when you command them.

I wonder how these poor creatures survived until a ranger adopted them. They were just unable to do anything, until there was a ranger to tell them to.