New SCAG Info: Someone Got The Book

Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide hits preferred stores tomorrow (and everywhere else in a couple of weeks). However, some stores have jumped the gun - which only benefits us, as folks on social media are telling us all about it! Below is a compilation of that information. I'm sure come tomorrow, the amount of information on the book will increase dramatically.

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[h=4]Original Post[/h]
Thread is here, Gnunn and others are answering questions about it:

https://www.reddit.com/r/dndnext/comments/3pot39/call_your_local_stores_scag/

The info:

I'am trying to compile the answers here by those who have new information. The answers do not represent me in anyway I'am just passing on the information.

Q: Name all the subclasses (submitted by me)

A:

Not really interested in spoiling all of the specifics, but here's what I noticed to be new at first glance:
Races:
Gray Dwaves (Duergar)
Ghostwise Halflings
Deep Gnomes (Svirfneblin) -- also provides a new feat "Svirfneblin Magic" (same as EE)
Half-Elf Variants
Tiefling Variants


Classes (only new class options, not new classes):
Barbarian - Path of the Battlerager, new Totem Spirits
Bard - New musical instruments
Cleric - Arcana Domain
Fighter - Purple Dragon Knight
Monk - Way of the Long Death, Way of the Sun Soul
Paladin - Oath of the Crown
Ranger - Several paragraphs that amount to nothing
Rogue - Mastermind Swashbuckler
Sorcerer - Storm Sorcery
Warlock - The Undying
Wizard - Bladesinging


New cantrips for sorcerers, warlocks, and wizards
Booming blade, green-flame blade, lightning lure, sword burst.

Backgrounds:
City Watch
Clan Crafter
Cloistered Scholar
Courtier
Faction Agent
Far Traveler
Inheritor
Knight of the Order
Mercenary Veteran
Urban Bounty Hunter
Uthgardt Tribe Member
Waterdhavian Noble
This only covers about 50 pages of the almost 160 page book. There's a TON of info on the Sword Coast itself. I'm sure DMs who already have the book are salivating at the moment.



Q: No Bard, Ranger or Druid subclasses?

A: There are new bard colleges. I only listed non-flavor changes (in my opinion at least each one is paired with an existing class option so nothing new in terms of mechanics.

-Q2: Wait WHAT? So the Bard Colleges AND Druid Circles don't list fully new subclasses that offer new mechanics to that class? And no "spell-less" Ranger variant or anything?

-A2: Correct on all accounts.



Q: Monk Subclasses specifics

A: Sun Soul gives the monk methods of dealing radiant damage. Burning hands makes an appearance as well.It seems almost too obvious, but all of the Long Death abilities are triggered by death in some way - either yours or an enemy.



Q: Warlock the Undying

A: Hard to explain. It's Lich-like, but not undead it seems.



Q: Paladin Oath of the Crown

A: The new paladin oath is a straight up tank. They seem to have added a ton more detail for the paladin codes. Too much to go into here.



Q: Fighter Purple Dragon Knight

A:Party buffs/heals. Would be a good party leader out of combat as well.




Q: How do the Half elf and tiefling variants work?

A: Tiefling variants are pretty different. I'm not next to my book currently, but I believe there were three options. Half elf replaced the half elf skill dealy with a selection from the elf half. Like Drow magic replacing the skill selection for example.


Q: What does it say about Aasimar?

A: It basically just says, "See the DMG.

(I guess that makes Eldarin valid as well)

Edit 1: Did some cleaning, added cantrips and explanation that is not me giving the answers.

 

[Greybird]

Thanks for answering all of these questions, by the way.

Any meaningful bits on what has been going on with Dragonborn since their homeland went *poof*?

 

[TheThirdFlash]

Bladesinger is a wizard arcane tradition. Main power is Bladesong, gives bonus to AC, speed, concentration saving throws, and Acrobatics checks. You get Extra Attack later on as well.

I'd be curious to know how this works mechanically. Also, I've seen the posting of the 10th and 14th level abilities and I'm a little stumped. The 10th level ability seems to indicate you can burn a spell to defend yourself in some way? And the 14th adds your Intelligence bonus to your damage? Weapons or spells? Both?

 

[abirdcall]

My questions:

- Does the section on Baldur's Gate make any mention of the outcome of the events in the Murder in Baldur's Gate adventure? (eg. According to the Sundering FB app, Duke Silvershield blowing up parliament and becoming the Chosen of Bhaal was the most common reported result.)

- Does the entry on Lathander make any mention of his relationship to Amaunator? Similarly, does Talos' entry say anything about how, in 4e, he was revealed to be just an aspect of Gruumsh? Has he gone back to being a separate god again?

Baldur's Gate - don't think so but I only skimmed it.

Lathander - no but it may elsewhere

Talos - No, described as a man. Yes.

 

[pukunui]

Baldur's Gate - don't think so but I only skimmed it.

Lathander - no but it may elsewhere

Talos - No, described as a man. Yes.

That's disappointing. I was hoping this book would actually address the changes made during the Sundering. Ah well. Thanks anyway.

 

[abirdcall]

Thanks for answering all of these questions, by the way.

Any meaningful bits on what has been going on with Dragonborn since their homeland went *poof*?

No problem, I'd be curious if I didn't have the book.

I don't know any history or lore about Dragonborn (they were big in 4e?) so I don't know what constitutes a meaningful bit.

 

[JValeur]

What spell lists are the Greenflame Blade cantrip available on. Wizards only?

 

[pukunui]

I don't know any history or lore about Dragonborn (they were big in 4e?) so I don't know what constitutes a meaningful bit.

They were introduced to the Realms during 4e, when parts of Abeir swapped places with Toril. They had two realms on the Inner Sea - Akanûl and Tymanther - both of which returned to Abeir during the Sundering. My guess is that the dragonborn are now scattered across Faerûn with no home to call their own. Is that about the gist of it?

 

[TheThirdFlash]

Wow, that sucks. We got rid of LG-only human-only paladins and now this crap

Eidt: Half-elves also forbidden?

In a nod to the original 2nd edition flavor text for the bladesinger, it should be "elf only". Much in the same way that the battlerager should be "dwarf only". In the original fluff for the bladesinger, it was described as a highly protected secret amongst the elves. They would not teach it without a firm commitment to defend the elven way of life and they never taught it to non-elves, including half-elves and drow. Drow were said to have their own traditions.

I hope the text allows half-elves as an option, but beyond that, as a DM, I wouldn't make any changes unless I was including it in another setting and had a reason to make the change there. Even after reading Richard Baker's Swordmage (Blades of the Moonsea trilogy), I'd still avoid allowing other races to train as bladesingers. To me, it's flavor. (EDIT: I see the Swordmage main character as an Eldritch Knight, more than a true bladesinger. Which is how I'd approach the issue in a game. Elves will teach you how to be an eldritch knight, but not a bladesinger.)

As always, it's your game. Change it how you see fit.

 

[Palladion]

What are the half-elf variants?

Instead of Skill Versatility, a half-elf can take a racial trait from the elf parent. Half-wood elf can take Weapon Training, speed increase, or Mark of the Wild. Half-moon/sun elf can take Cantrip. Half-drop can take Drow Magic. Half-aquatic elf can get a swim speed.

 

[koga305]

What do booming blade, lightning lure, and sword burst do?