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.

 

[Charlaquin]

And that is literally the problem I'm having: I don't want to replace attack rolls with save throws (or another save throw equivalent).

Huh? Nobody is replacing attack rolls with saving throws.

 

[CleverNickName]

Huh? Nobody is replacing attack rolls with saving throws.

I must have misunderstood, then. You mentioned save throws, and how damage on a miss wouldn't be any different. I thought that sounded weird.

 

[RobJN]

The rest of the table is here, the Mastery festures are only accesible to Warrior Classes which can do fun thijgs with them:

View attachment 281134

"Brand new?"

Weapon Mastery has been around since 1985....

 

[Charlaquin]

I must have misunderstood, then. You mentioned save throws, and how damage on a miss wouldn't be any different. I thought that sounded weird.

It isn’t different. In either case you have two possible outcomes: full damage or partial damage, and a die is being rolled against a static target number to determine which of those outcomes occurs. In the case of fireball, the target(s) of the spell roll the die, and in the case of graze weapons wielded by warrior classes, the warrior rolls the die. I don’t understand why you would be fine with the former but have a problem with the latter.

 

[CleverNickName]

It isn’t different. In either case you have two possible outcomes: full damage or partial damage, and a die is being rolled against a static target number to determine which of those outcomes occurs. In the case of fireball, the target(s) of the spell roll the die, and in the case of graze weapons wielded by warrior classes, the warrior rolls the die. I don’t understand why you would be fine with the former but have a problem with the latter.

You say you don't want to replace attack rolls with save throws, but you keep putting an equal-sign between them.

The biggest difference that comes to mind is that one is a magical exploding ball of fire, the other is a pointy stick. It's easy for me to understand why damage might be inescapable when a room is exploding along with everything in it. But when you're jabbing at someone with an ordinary pointy stick, its quite easy for me to see how they might, you know...miss. Completely. As in, not make contact with anything, not force a response from their target, and not impress anyone who might be watching.

Some people in this thread clearly see it differently. I can't really speak to that; all I can say about it is that weapon damage on a miss doesn't really make sense to me. So I won't use it.

 

[Charlaquin]

You say you don't want to replace attack rolls with save throws, but you keep putting an equal-sign between them.

I don’t understand how “these two mechanics function the same way” is equivalent to “we’re going to replace one of these two mechanics with the other” to you.

The biggest difference that comes to mind is that one is a magical exploding ball of fire, the other is a pointy stick. It's easy for me to understand why damage might be inescapable when a room is exploding along with everything in it. But when you're jabbing at someone with an ordinary pointy stick, its quite easy for me to see how they might, you know...miss. Completely. As in, not make contact with anything, not force a response from their target, and not impress anyone who might be watching.

So, this is just a “martial characters can’t have nice things” situation? Plenty of spells can miss. Plenty of weapon attacks can miss. Plenty of spells can’t miss. But we can’t let characters whose concept revolves around attacking with weapons get to do that. Because that would be replacing attack rolls with saving throws? I guess?

Some people in this thread clearly see it differently. I can't really speak to that; all I can say about it is that weapon damage on a miss doesn't really make sense to me. So I won't use it.

Can you really not imagine the possibility of a character being skilled enough at fighting with weapons that when they swing a greatsword or shoot a heavy crossbow with intent to kill, they’ll always at least get a scratch in?

 

[Incenjucar]

It doesn't even make sense to say that plate armor causes an attack to fail to make physical contact, but some mental blocks are just what they're going to be. Hopefully the folks who don't like non-magical DoaM can find a satisfying alternative for their games.

 

[Pauln6]

I don’t understand how “these two mechanics function the same way” is equivalent to “we’re going to replace one of these two mechanics with the other” to you.

So, this is just a “martial characters can’t have nice things” situation? Plenty of spells can miss. Plenty of weapon attacks can miss. Plenty of spells can’t miss. But we can’t let characters whose concept revolves around attacking with weapons get to do that. Because that would be replacing attack rolls with saving throws? I guess?


Can you really not imagine the possibility of a character being skilled enough at fighting with weapons that when they swing a greatsword or shoot a heavy crossbow with intent to kill, they’ll always at least get a scratch in?

I think this is the problem isn't it? Someone dogding a difficult blow might use up more energy than normal, sprain a muscle, twist an ankle, or put themselves in a worse position for the next attack. To say those things only exist if a specific rule says they exist as separate distinct things is a failure of imagination. I get that some people do lack that imagination but they could at least acknowledge their own shortcomings.

That said, the designers could easily put in an alternative optional mechanic since they know it makes some people rage, no matter how silly that is.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Hopefully they will reconsider that "damage on a miss" stuff. That's always going to be a hard nope for me.

I hope they don't. It was a great mechanic in 4e.

Maybe add: if you miss by less than 5. Would be my ideal solution.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

That said, the designers could easily put in an alternative optional mechanic since they know it makes some people rage, no matter how silly that is.

It is not inherently silly to have a different opinion.
It is just not the hill I would die on...

IMHO the whole HP and attack thing is so abstract, that DoaM mechanics are not out of place at all.