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.

 

[abirdcall]

What is the current year of the Forgotten Realms?

Some point after 1489 if that helps.

 

[pukunui]

What is the current year of the Forgotten Realms?

The Tyranny of Dragons storyline was set in 1489 DR, while the Elemental Evil storyline was set in 1491 DR. The Rage of Demons storyline doesn't appear to have a set date, though. My guess is that the SCAG presents a snapshot of the Realms mid-1490s.

 

[Valus]

1605 DR. Surprise!

(Joking.)

 

[Sword of Spirit]

Are there stats for aquatic elves, or just aquatic half-elves?

 

[pukunui]

Are there stats for aquatic elves, or just aquatic half-elves?

I believe there's a "Rare Elf Subraces" sidebar. It might have stats for full aquatic elves. (Although it might just say something like, "Wild elves use the wood elf traits, while star elves use the high elf traits".)

 

[pukunui]

I asked Chris Perkins on Twitter about Out of the Abyss. He said: "No, but if the novel ARCHMAGE is canonical in your campaign, the adventure would take place in 1485 DR or later."

Which would put it during the Sundering. And would mean that it's not necessarily meant to take place *after* the Tyranny of Dragons and Elemental Evil storylines. Which is interesting.

But I still reckon SCAG will be "set" around 1495 DR or so.

 

[CapnZapp]

Yes, it's been stated elsewhere that the storm sorcerer no longer gets bonus spells. I guess WotC decided not to go that route after all.

But does the Storm Sorcerer get any powerup however tiny to compensate the loss of bonus spells?

Or is it exactly like the playtest but minus its bonus spells?

 

[pukunui]

I can't answer that, as I haven't got the book myself yet. I think someone posted the details of what the storm sorcerer does get, but I can't remember where. There are, unfortunately, two different threads on the book here at EN World, plus the reddit thread, which makes it hard to remember who said what where.

 

[MYV]

Can someone who has the book, please explain the spiked armor entry? i'm very curious

Thanks in advance

 

[JohnLynch]

Thanks everyone. Annoying that we have a campaign book with a timeline in it up to the present day but no actual indication as to what the present day year actually is (assuming people haven't just missed it which is completely possible). Last year adventurers league present year was 1489, so that jives with 1491 being when Elemental Evil "occurs". 1495 is another reasonable estimate to the current year, although it seems the devs just don't know (or just don't care) what the year is.