D&D (2024) New Jeremy Crawford Interviews

[Scott Christian]

My player? I just tell them no, I have seen what 2014 paladins can do and it is not interesting to me anymore. I have made players change their build before, I can do it again. Of course I talk about it with them and try to see eye to eye on the subject. In the end, the DM decides what content is used in a campaign.

Now if the whole table disagrees with that? Then big things might happen.

Optimizers have been a plague on DM's before, let's hope the guidance in the PHB and DMG helps DM's.

Yeah, I agree with your call. My statement was more if your player takes the side of: WotC says it's compatible, and it's even in the core book, so why not let me use it?

Of course, they know the answer, as do you, and as do I. But that discussion might be made a bit more different once you play the new rules for a year. We might find that everyone at the table is now doing 2014 paladin smite-like damage with their combos.

 

[mamba]

I can already see the bot filled threads on Reddit having this exact question: "My player insists that WotC said you could mix and match, so now he is playing the broken 2014 paladin with a touch of warlock, and it's throwing encounters way off. What do I do?"

they also said to use the 2024 version when there is one and the 2014 only if there is not. If your DM does that, then this problem does not pop up. If they do not, they only have themselves to blame (and chances are they knew the 2014 Paladin already, so should now not be surprised…)

 

[Micah Sweet]

I am not sure that this is what gets people to buy the books at all… I can see a small minority getting them for this, but ‘a great many’ not so much. What is this expectation based on?

My expectation is that most of those who purchase the new books will do so because they'll be right in their face presentation-wise, or to follow the herd; in short, because its the easier option. WotC's industry weight has already ensured 5.5's success.

 

[Micah Sweet]

they also said to use the 2024 version when there is one and the 2014 only if there is not. If your DM does that, then this problem does not pop up. If they do not, they only have themselves to blame (and chances are they knew the 2014 Paladin already, so should now not be surprised…)

The problem still pops up if a player remembers and prefers the 2014 paladin.

 

[mamba]

to present two champions, two assassins, two way of shadows knowing full well no one will choose the 2014 version is not a choice. Hence, this choice actually becomes a non-choice.

it is not intended to be a choice… the choice was to stick with 2014 or use the 2024 version, not to decide for every single detail individually

 

[mamba]

The problem still pops up if a player remembers and prefers the 2014 paladin.

and the DM does not follow WotC’s guidelines about how to handle 2014 material…

 

[Micah Sweet]

it is not intended to be a choice… the choice was to stick with 2014 or use the 2024 version, not to decide for every single detail individually

A lot of people seemed to think it was.

 

[Micah Sweet]

and the DM does not follow WotC’s guidelines about how to handle 2014 material…

I am clearly talking about a dispute between DM and player here. The DM, regardless of the rule legitimacy of their reasons, is telling the player to accept a nerf. If the player liked the old paladin why should they just roll over on that? It's not like they're playing a new edition here, and nobody else lost a big move like this with no compensation.

 

[Sulicius]

You're not the paladin player. They have every right to feel differently, especially since all the other classes are getting cool stuff and one of theirs is being taken away. If this were 6e it would be different; new world order and all that. But this is presented as an "update" to the existing rules that actively makes their PC less powerful. In my experience most players are against that.

Sure, I’ll deal with it when it shows up at my table.

Optimizers will optimize the fun out of the game as always.

And yes, I do find it silly to believe all a paladin does is smiting.

 

[mamba]

A lot of people seemed to think it was.

eh, a handful of people who use every excuse to bash WotC feels more like it. Anyone who listened to what WotC said should not be surprised by any of this