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.

 

[Mirtek]

Just saying.

You're probably right, but at the moment the disappointment runs to deep. That was the one class I was really looking forward to.

Also, I'd like to see you argue the Battlerager shouldn't be dwarf only as well.

Oh, that's easy. They're not even deeply rooted in dwarven culture. They're a recent development not even 200 years old and only two dwarven citadells have them. Bruenor had two adopted human children, if Wulfgar had ever expressed interested in the battlerager fighting style, you'd bet he would have been accepted into the gutbuster brigade

 

[Mithreinmaethor]

I'd expect it to be repeatedly allowed from season 4 onward, but the admins have been pretty clear that rules for past season are not expected to change unless WotC really surprises them

That tone changed slightly when an admin, an RC I believe it was, leaked that Chris Tulach had stated that SCAG would be usable upon release. Since that point they standard talking point is that "guidance on this will be coming soon." So I think they already know but likely have a time frame to submit their concerns/exclusions to Chris to pass up the line to get approval/disapproval for before they post anything official.

I am willing to bet though that it will be a Players resource just like the PHB is with restrictions on the use of some of the optional/variant rules. Meaning it will be a resource for character creation of all seasons.

So we shall see.

 

[Greybird]

As is the foreigner sneaking in (or even being accepted in) to learn such crafts

Absolutely, which would be covered under DM fiat.

 

[Mirtek]

Absolutely, which would be covered under DM fiat.

Which does do diddly for anyone participating in WotC's organized play

 

[epithet]

You're probably right, but at the moment the disappointment runs to deep. That was the one class I was really looking forward to.
...

I know almost nothing about this adventurer's league thing, but if the text says the racial restriction is up to the DM, doesn't that really just mean that you need to come up with a little background narrative for the character to justify the exception? What DM is gonna tell you "no" on that?

 

[gyor]

Wow the Undying is any mortal who has immortality of sorts. That would include Liches, Vampires, Gods who used to be mortal like Velshroon and Torm, Mulhorandi and Unther Deity Incarnations (one of which is mentioned Gilgeam God-King of Unther), Divine Minions of (a template added to mortal creatures that makes them immortal servants of the Mulhorandi Gods, beings absorbed by the weave, certain archwizards and chosen.

Anyone who has cheated Mortality, winning Immortality.

It would also include Elminister, although I doubt Elminster would offer such a pact.

 

[CapnZapp]

I should think it would be obvious -- those stores will lose their Premier status, hurting the gamers who patronize those stores, including people who would have preferred the store keep to the regular schedule.

This sort of 'benefit' is not without cost, is what I'm saying.

Let's be honest -- waiting until tomorrow for more information is not that great a burden.

--
Pauper

There is no consequence to you and me, and it is not your job to worry about somebody else's risk vs reward management.

So please stop distributing your FUD and let the Internet do what it does best.

Thank you.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

It would also include Elminister, although I doubt Elminster would offer such a pact.

hey that would almost make elminister a useable NPC... almost

 

[Azzy]

You're probably right, but at the moment the disappointment runs to deep. That was the one class I was really looking forward to.

If it's any consolation, I hope you find a DM that'll let you play one.

 

[gyor]

Other possible Undying patrons Szass Tam Zulkir of Thay, Any Dracolich, Chosen, Ghosts, Sharess, Isis, Orisis, Horus-Ra, Sebek, Thoth, Valkur, actually ever Gods has had mortal form at one point or another in FR so ANY GODS IN FR, not in Ebberron (although those undying beings, I think they even called that, worshipped in Ebberon would qualify), fiends who remember they're mortal lives (the ones that had mortal lives), spiritual masters who have escaped mortality.

Weirder is a high level Oath of the Ancients Paladin, they have a feature called Undying I think, they stop aging and can recover from a mortal wound.