D&D (2024) New One D&D Playtest Document: 77 Pages, 7 Classes, & More!

There's a brand new playtest document for the new (version/edition/update) of Dungeons of Dragons available for download! This one is an enormous 77 pages and includes classes, spells, feats, and weapons.

Unearthed Arcana Playtest

Unearthed Arcana Playtest Materials Get Unearthed Arcana playtest content, try it out in your game, and provide feedback! Check back regularly for ...

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In this new Unearthed Arcana document for the 2024 Core Rulebooks, we explore material designed for the next version of the Player’s Handbook. This playtest document presents updated rules on seven classes: Bard, Cleric, Druid, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, and Rogue. This document also presents multiple subclasses for each of those classes, new Spells, revisions to existing Spells and Spell Lists, and several revised Feats. You will also find an updated rules glossary that supercedes the glossary of any previous playtest document.

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[Charlaquin]

Cunning Strike is too good. At the cost of 1D6 sneak damage, you can try to Disarm/Poison/Trip the enemy. And you can do it at range, no risking your precious hide. How much damage is the Big Bad going to do without their weapon, or at disadvantage? What is to prevent you from disarming at range, and one of your allies just picks that weapon up?

Funny how save-or-suck abilities are fine when spellcasters have them but overpowered when non-casters do.

 

[Charlaquin]

That’s an idea I’ve been toying with, too. Stripping 5E down to the core and seeing what it looks like, then maybe building it back up a bit from there.

Have you looked into 5 Torches Deep?

 

[Charlaquin]

Yeah it just is a bummer because IMO Abjuration spells are so much more interesting than Evocation, and I’d rather not see Bladesinger in the PHB.

Abjuration’s likely to be a lot stronger not that almost all healing spells fall under it.

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

And you’d still not be a Ranger lol

I'll bite: what makes only a Ranger a ranger? Here we have a Valor Bard with expertise in Survival, Nature and Animal Handling, who has two attacks with all weapons, who can cast Entangle, who can summon beasts... what exactly makes a Ranger if it's not all these nature warrior trappings?

Relatedly, is no-one a thief unless they pick the Rogue subclass with that name?

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Funny how save-or-suck abilities are fine when spellcasters have them but overpowered when non-casters do.

The problem I see is that it is at will.
So maybe some limit might be in order.

Prof bonus per short rest comes to mind. I would also like int bonus per short rest. Would make it really cunning.

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

The problem I see is that it is at will.

So Rogue being able to do a save-or-suck (to one target) once per turn is wrong, but a full caster having enough slots to do a save-or-suck (often in an area) once per turn is... not wrong?

If you want to put limits on the Rogue, just have more than one enemy.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

So Rogue being able to do a save-or-suck (to one target) once per turn is wrong, but a full caster having enough slots to do a save-or-suck (often in an area) once per turn is... not wrong?

If you want to put limits on the Rogue, just have more than one enemy.

I did not say that. I explained why it is comparing apples to oranges...

I said, that the limited number of slots vs unlimited number of tries might make a difference.
And yes, I'd like some limit that reduces repetitiveness.
Might be just making someone immune to a certain cunning action once they figure that out. (making their save).
Or at least having to alternate between them.

I was also very sad to see the limit of having to use a cantrip between normal spells (or was it vice vesa) from the first D&D next playtest packet.

I also wished, there would be a rule that you can't use the same spell twice in a row for spellcasters. Or having to do a recharge roll for a spell if you casted it last turn (akin to monster recharge mechanic). Would help balance out spellcasters a lot.

 

[Hussar]

I did not say that. I explained why it is comparing apples to oranges...

I said, that the limited number of slots vs unlimited number of tries might make a difference.
And yes, I'd like some limit that reduces repetitiveness.
Might be just making someone immune to a certain cunning action once they figure that out. (making their save).
Or at least having to alternate between them.

I was also very sad to see the limit of having to use a cantrip between normal spells (or was it vice vesa) from the first D&D next playtest packet.

I also wished, there would be a rule that you can't use the same spell twice in a row for spellcasters. Or having to do a recharge roll for a spell if you casted it last turn (akin to monster recharge mechanic). Would help balance out spellcasters a lot.

I see where you're going with that, but, 5e combats are so short that having to alternate spell-cantrip-spell probably wouldn't come up all that often. And, of course, that also interferes with reaction spells like Shield. If you cast a 1st level spell, that means you can't use any reaction spell until the beginning of your next, next turn. Or, if you drop a reaction spell, the only thing you can cast next is a cantrip.

...

huh...

As I type this, I'm actually kinda getting on board with that idea. That's... a neat solution. Would drastically ratchet down the power of casters. Especially at higher levels, where it's needed more. At 5th level, it's not like the wizard is bombing leveled spells all day long. They just don't have the slots. But, by double digit levels...

I think I need to cogitate on this a little more. But, I could see this being a good idea. I can also see why there was ZERO chance it was going to make it into the game.

 

[Remathilis]

The problem I see is that it is at will.
So maybe some limit might be in order.

Prof bonus per short rest comes to mind. I would also like int bonus per short rest. Would make it really cunning.

No. Rogues are already MAD due to skill use (Dex for stealth and lockpicking, WIS for perception, Cha for deception) and needing a good Con to survive a hit. That only leaves strength and Intelligence (which is still used for athletics and investigation btw) as places to sink a low score.

 

[Parmandur]

Hard to say, since Valor bards inexplicably don’t get it.

The Bladelock didn't, either. The various Gish's are not identical.