D&D (2024) New One D&D Weapons Table Shows 'Mastery' Traits

The weapons table from the upcoming Unearthed Arcana playtest for One D&D has made its way onto the internet via Indestructoboy on Twitter, and reveals some new mechanics. The mastery traits include Nick, Slow, Puncture, Flex, Cleave, Topple, Graze, and Push. These traits are accessible by the warrior classes.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Using a rapier without employing your offhand was extremely rare, which was, I believe, the point he was making.

That offhand might be employed holding a dagger, a buckler, a cape, your barehand, a glove with a mailed palm, or, in rare cases, another rapier. The most common of them, for various reasons mostly involving the best way to deal with a light thrusting sword, was, in fact, a parrying dagger, which was a dagger whose primary purpose was parrying.

Not enabling that as a matter of course is indeed a bizarre choice. But of course, it's always bothered me that Two-Weapon Fighting in D&D isn't primarily focused on improved defense.

Same. The idea of using two weapons to be more offensive is…much less common than for defense, feints, and countering, most especially defense.

yeah I watch a bunch of historians on youtube and tic tok that also game (TTRPG and/or Videogame) that complain that the most effective and most used combo is so under represented.

In a one on one fight, I’d prefer a sword or an axe with my shield, though.

I don’t think war is where designers look for D&D weaponry.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

I get that me knowing how to use a dagger with a rapier, is something that was only taught to me after getting familiar with how to use a single rapier and bare offhand. So there's some justification that it could be gated behind a fighting style or feat.

 

[tetrasodium]

I mentioned this in the other thread. I like the idea of weapons doing unique things, but all too often it ends up with players only choosing the same one or two weapons all the time (longsword with its 1d12 damage vs large in 1e, and greatsword over greataxe in 5e). Hopefully they can do it right this time and not have such clear mechanical winners.

This so much. At least in 3.x you had crit range & crit mod so the other weapons were often at least a thing that could be considered usable by someone. I worry about these continuing 5e's greatswords & rapiers or bust trend even if ultimately the hard line of what the acceptable loot types are for a given build is a different singular weapon.

 

[Parmandur]

I think the difference is that sneak and smite stack on weapon damage.

That, and they offer big bonuses. Cantrips and these Mastery abilities are more small, consistent bonuses.

 

[Zaukrie]

This is a great idea that I predict will not be executed as well as I'd like......

 

[Parmandur]

One extra point of damage on average over a standard sword-and-board wielder compares to push or slow every round, or an extra attack every round, how exactly?

Also an armor bonus over any two-handed sword user. It's both, at once. That adds up.

 

[Weiley31]

IIRC, it's been noted that Fighters can have up to two Mastery properties with the ability to choose which of the two selected properties to trigger when attacking. Anybody else that can use Mastery properties can only use the one they have selected.

 

[Incenjucar]

Flex would be better if it let you apply reach in two hands at the cost of using reduced damage. Maybe call it "Overextend".

 

[Weiley31]

Two-Weapon Fighting Bonus actions ALSO interfere with the Tasha dynamic of using your Bonus Action to make your Animal Companion not just stand there and stare at the wall like a ditz.

 

[Zaukrie]

I just had a thought.....will / should some creatures be immune to these conditions?

I'd also consider size differential restrictions on some things, but that's because I hate my huge dragons from being nerfed so easily......