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.

 

[NiClerigo]

This is one I think I missed, apologies.

Class List: Barbarian, Cleric, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard.

Do you have any questions in particular about any of them? It's all advice on how to use the class material in the setting. Even though the Battlerager is Dwarf only in FR, in Eberron they recommend it for Warforged for instance.

Thanks! I'm specifically interested in Paladins and Wizards (I guess they mention the Silver Flame for the former). Does the book mention artificers? Thanks again.

 

[gyor]

I hope your right. I am betting at the very least the the Wing Variant of the Tiefling goes the way of Aacrokkaa (disallowed). The others are likely to be fine.

Player characters are definitionally "very rare situations," and I would much prefer to have them recommend that virtually all NPC bladesingers be elfs.

Putting "Elf only" in the actual crunch of the class is an invitation for both Adventurer's League and individual GMs to stick needless restrictions on players. While my attitude on individual GMs is basically, "Your table, do what you want, take my opinion as suggestions only," AL has a terrible habit of being overly restrictive and does not need encouragement to be moreso.

Goofily restrictive, which is one reason why I don't play in it. Look at the way they handled the Acolyte Background, which is useless if you don't pick the right God, or the horrible idea of story origins.

 

[Palladion]

Wow, that's actually pretty extensive; thanks!

Is Coromyr just in the paragraph summary, or is it in chapter two? Purple Dragon Knights seem a little odd if Coromyr is off the map.

Cormyr is included in the "Lands to the East" section of the Realms overview. Two paragraphs, but a very good summary.

 

[gyor]

So they put in a very limited amount of subclasses two of which are restricted by race. Goofy.

 

[Palladion]

Anything on Cormanthyr/Myth Drannor, or Rhymanthiin in the introductive section?

Cormanthor and Myth Drannor are mentioned a couple times, but not in their own heading, once in the timeline. The Knights of Myth Drannor are mentioned in the Knight of the Order background sidebar.

 

[Macca86]

I understand you said there'e very little offered up for Rangers, but i was hoping you could share what there was.
Cheers!

 

[gyor]

Not even in the Mulhorand sidebar? I can't believe Sharess got cut with no explaination.

 

[Parmandur]

Would it be possible to elaborate on the backgrounds a bit? What makes a Waterdeep Noble different from a standard Novle, for instance.

 

[NiClerigo]

Another question! Is Maztica mentioned in the book by any chance? Thanks!

 

[Tyranthraxus]

Ah, my guess for the cleric was an Arcane domain tied to Mystara.

Everything seems to be as hinted. Only surprises to me are 2 monk paths and the class entries focused instead on lore which is.. mkay i guess. I like how the options sound, now I just need the pretty pictures.

Not just Mystra. Azuth is another beneficary here.