D&D (2024) New One D&D Playtest Shows Us The New Druid & Paladin

WotC has released the fourth One D&D playtest document. This 29-page PDF includes the druid and the paladin with Circle of the Moon and Oath of Devotion subclasses.

Druid. The Druid class and Circle of the Moon subclass are ready for playtesting here.

Paladin. The Paladin class and Oath of Devotion subclass are ready for playtesting here.

Feats. Several revised feats appear here for your feedback, with more revised feats coming in future articles.

Spells. More spells are ready for playtesting, with a focus on smite spells, Find Familiar, and Find Steed.

Rules Glossary. The rules glossary has been updated again and supersedes the glossary in previous Unearthed Arcana articles. In this document, any underlined term in the body text appears in that glossary, which defines game terms that have been clarified or redefined for this playtest or that don’t appear in the 2014 Player’s Handbook.

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[Stalker0]

So one typo that is pretty funny. While a 1st level druid can wildshape, they in fact can't wildshape.

Wildshape lasts for up to half your level in hours. So at first least it lasts for 0 hours. Whoops!

 

[Vael]

So one typo that is pretty funny. While a 1st level druid can wildshape, they in fact can't wildshape.

Wildshape lasts for up to half your level in hours. So at first least it lasts for 0 hours. Whoops!

Never said to round the answer ... so it's 30 minutes per level ;-) .

 

[BookTenTiger]

Never said to round the answer ... so it's 30 minutes per level ;-) .

It should increase as you get closer to the next level.

"I just wildshaped for 45 minutes, that means we're half-way to 2nd Level!"

 

[mellored]

But far less fun, IMO.

How is keeping track of 1 HP pool less fun than keeping track for 2 pools?

Or is it just the reduction of tanking that is less fun?

 

[Clint_L]

Moreover, you aren't going to be knocked out of sparrow or mouse form by a couple points of damage.

And you can no longer tank. Sorry moon druids (i.e. most druids), your preferred way to play is now gone. Time to re-roll a barbarian.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

I’ve DMed for enough Druids to not be worried about mice.

Besides they can just summon a familiar as a mouse.

And wildshape is a daily resource. You get 1 back with a short rest, which just means that in reality you have 4 at level 1, rather than 2.

If they want wildshape to be central, they need to not nerf it.

The familiar doesn't get you INSIDE a location, or let you escape super easily.

Wild Shape shouldn't really be more central than Turn Undead. It's something you get on top of being a 9 level caster. A half caster or non-caster is a good spot to explore wild shape as a major feature.

 

[Faolyn]

How does all this not constitute a new edition, I ask you?

It looks to be at least a new half-edition.

Having not downloaded the playtest myself, I'd be interested in knowing exactly how backwards compatible it actually turns out to be.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

And you can no longer tank. Sorry moon druids (i.e. most druids), your preferred way to play is now gone. Time to re-roll a barbarian.

Cue the world's smallest violin for the 9 level caster who can no longer swap from tank to scout to infiltrator more or less on a whim. Feats are a good way to expand on wildshape's current capabilities, as they represent real investment.

 

[OB1]

The familiar doesn't get you INSIDE a location, or let you escape super easily.

Wild Shape shouldn't really be more central than Turn Undead. It's something you get on top of being a 9 level caster. A half caster or non-caster is a good spot to explore wild shape as a major feature.

Given the Druids spell list, it should be at least as central as Eldritch Invocations, Sorcery points or Bardic Inspiration. Those full casters need a major feature to make up for a spell list that isn't as good as the Cleric or the Wizard.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

Given the Druids spell list, it should be at least as central as Eldritch Invocations, Sorcery points or Bardic Inspiration. Those full casters need a major feature to make up for a spell list that isn't as good as the Cleric or the Wizard.

Citation needed it isn't as good as the cleric. They also have more HP and AC than a wizard, not to mention other features beyond wildshape, which isnt even the only use for Channel Nature (or whatever it's called).

Invocations are on a class that isn't a full caster, given their limited slots/spells known, and we havent seen what they are doing to warlocks this edition. I'd argue that wildshape is roughly on par with Bardic Inspiration in this packet. They are clearly taking casters down a peg with these changes.