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.

 

[Parmandur]

DEX 14, CON 14, INT 16. How could that be better?

By being a Hill Dwarf Fighter, similar AC but pulling waaaaaay more HP per level: that array gives an average of ~7 per level, which is not much.

 

[Parmandur]

I would rather not be hit at all than be able to take a hit. Just sayin'...

Assuming maxed out Dex and Int while wearing +3 studded leather armor, that's AC of 25: harder to hit, but the PC will be hit, and given the d6 hit die hit HARD. Frankly, no offense meant, bit if you think AC is the key in 5E you need to rum the math again...

 

[SkidAce]

Frankly, no offense meant, bit if you think AC is the key in 5E you need to rum the math again...

I rum my math all the time, its what messes me up!

 

[psychophipps]

Assuming maxed out Dex and Int while wearing +3 studded leather armor, that's AC of 25: harder to hit, but the PC will be hit, and given the d6 hit die hit HARD. Frankly, no offense meant, bit if you think AC is the key in 5E you need to rum the math again...

So when I was fighting Tiamat at Level 13 and barely keeping the to-hit better than 50/50 in my favor...you're saying that simply not being hit wasn't a huge part of my personal success in that battle...when Tiamat easily averages 40+ points of damage per attack...

Umm...interesting viewpoint, sir!

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Talking about bladesingers, has anyone looked at how it stacks multiclassed with Eldritch Knight or Arcane Trickster?

again don't have the book yet, but

that is my main reason to follow this. I think mixing Bladesinger X with Eldritch KNight Y is going to be the way to go...

 

[Salamandyr]

Just theorycrafting, but I think MYV is right, the bladesinger is going to turn the Arcane Trickster into a bear. Multiple attacks, Expertise, Cunning action, High Level spellcasting, and all the little bonus things I can't think of right now because I don't have the books in front of me? Synergistic alignment of all major stats?

Finally, the Fighter/Magic-User/Thief is reborn!

Low hit points, but those guys were always glass tigers anyway.

 

[ZickZak]

Mod edit: link to copyright infringing images removed. Sorry. ~Umbran

Somewhere at the end is the Bladesinger, if you havent seen it.

 

[Parmandur]

I rum my math all the time, its what messes me up!

Ha, given how small my phone is, and hoe large my thumbs are, it's a marvel of engineering that my spelling is as well-captured as it is! :-o

That said, D&D math is better with rum.

 

[Parmandur]

So when I was fighting Tiamat at Level 13 and barely keeping the to-hit better than 50/50 in my favor...you're saying that simply not being hit wasn't a huge part of my personal success in that battle...when Tiamat easily averages 40+ points of damage per attack...



Umm...interesting viewpoint, sir!

Sure, the AC helps, but the d6 High Elf with a similar AC to the Half-Orc Barbarian will take fewer hits before going down.

And yeah, while this one cool subclass, the other Wizard Traditions have plenty going for them. The Bladesinger is better in melee conditions than a Diviner, but the Diviner wants to avoid melee conditions.

 

[Celtavian]

The way the game is set up, I can't see that Bladesinger getting much play save as a style-choice. When the Bladesinger first appeared, it was a very cool archetype/kit. Now it's just an inferior archetype very few will ever play.