D&D (2024) Monsters of the Multiverse: the death of eldritch blast?

[dave2008]

Whatever happens,

I hope 50e makes every class gain subclasses features at level 1.

I want them at the same time, but not at level 1.

 

[Frozen_Heart]

How balanced would it be if agonising blast applied to all damage cantrips? Would it make anything other than eb spam an option?

 

[Zaukrie]

I'd get rid of short rests and make all those things recharge differently. Lose the short rest for fiction sake! (though, really, resting does make sense fictionally, so I'm good either way).

As for the warlock......it is so efficient to build one of two types (from what I read and my limited experience) that the class might need some changes if variety is a goal. Or, maybe, have a lot more classes that are more tightly focused. (not gonna happen)

 

[Yaarel]

I want them at the same time, but not at level 1.

It is hard to be a Warlock without making a pact at level 1, including its pact features.

How can one be a Cleric at level 1, without having decided which sacred tradition one adheres to?

It is hard to have grown up in an Eldritch Knight military academy, unless having spellcasting at level 1.

And so on. For too many archetypes, it works best when it is also part of the backstory, and available at level 1.

 

[Remathilis]

How balanced would it be if agonising blast applied to all damage cantrips? Would it make anything other than eb spam an option?

I don't wager much, since clerics can do so depending on the subclass and evokers can do half-damage on a save. EB is still the best option with way since it applies per blast and most attack cantrips are only one attack. Your better off with two 1d10+Cha mod attacks vs one 2d10+Cha mod attack.

 

[dave2008]

It is hard to be a Warlock without making a pact at level 1, including its pact features.

If we are thinking AE redesigns the Warlock, then this can be addressed, IMO.

How can one be a Cleric at level 1, without having decided which sacred tradition one adheres to?

Seems to me that these things take time. I went through 3 majors over 2 years in college before finding Architecture. I think becoming a cleric can be similar.

It is hard to have grown up in an Eldritch Knight military academy, unless having spellcasting at level 1.

And so on. For too many archetypes, it works best when it is also part of the backstory, and available at level 1.

I just prefer to spread out class, and thus subclass, features. To grow into the class. I am less interested in backstory and more interested in the character's current story.

 

[Yaarel]

How balanced would it be if agonising blast applied to all damage cantrips? Would it make anything other than eb spam an option?

Eldritch Blast is the best damage cantrip (most damage, least resistance). So it seems fine if the Warlock can beef up other damage cantrips as well.

 

[Umbran]

Just something which makes me even more convinced that 5.5e will be DnD: Babies Edition.

Mod Note:
So, perhaps the #1 reason why threads go wrong is people eliding from critique about a game design they don't like, to making statements about the players of games they don't like. You don't like reduced customization options, and the people who do are babies.

I don't know where you got the idea that insulting players in this way is acceptable. It isn't. This comes off as trollish, and folks should be better than that.

Moreover, given how much D&D players have been the victim of this stuff from non-players over the years, you (and all of us) should know better.

So, in the future... just don't. Feel free to critique design. Leave the players out of it.

(Edited to improve my phrasing.)

 

[Remathilis]

I think the point was that they wanted to distinguish the Warlock monster variants so they're not all just blasting Eldritch Blast every round but instead are interesting and distinct from each other. They wanted to make it easier for the DM to pick the most interesting option and not the default "the warlock blasts you again."

All things being equal, it's not much different than "the warlock hits you with his flaming scimitar three times" except it's done in melee and not at range.

But I can't help but feel you might be right in that WotC wants to make warlocks more than spooky casters, and if short rests aren't going to be a design point anymore (jury's out in that), making warlocks the melee caster class does give it a unique niche.

 

[Weiley31]

I don't mind if the Warlock starts getting more a gish like approach. The Pact of the Blade(and its patch fix Hexblade) make your character more of a gish in "concept." The only thing that would make it more Gish would be giving it the Bladesinger's Extra Attack as a feature or Pact feature after a certain point.