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.

 

[CapnZapp]

Why? Honestly curious...

Because he chose to play a Sorceror specifically because there was a variant with bonus spells?

Because those bonus spells would be removed by his DM?

Because he would presumably get no compensation for this loss (at least, it's my impression SCAG does not replace the bonus spells with something nearly as useful, it just takes them away)?

 

[SkidAce]

Thanks, still curious as to his reply.

 

[MindxKiller]

It's almost as if putting out new sorcerer archetypes with bonus spells makes the core archetypes obsolete and they wanted to avoid power creep or something... No, that couldn't be it... Could it?

 

[Parmandur]

They probably thought the expanded spell list was not a big deal, but playtesting showed differently. This is why they do play teats and Unearted Arcana.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

Storm sorcerer is still appealing without the extra spells. It just doesn't make draconic sorcerer look like a wimp now.

 

[EroGaki]

Because he chose to play a Sorceror specifically because there was a variant with bonus spells?

Because those bonus spells would be removed by his DM?

Because he would presumably get no compensation for this loss (at least, it's my impression SCAG does not replace the bonus spells with something nearly as useful, it just takes them away)?

Pretty much this. I had all of my spell choices carefully selected to play the character I desired to play. Now, with the removal of the bonus spells, I can't match the concept. If I can't actually use my magic to call up storms or lightning or conjure air elementals, then I see no point in pretending to be this awesome weather mage.

Especially since my character, who's 8th level now, has built tactics around those spells and used them effectively since level one. To turn around and see 8 of my spells vanish kills any fun I was having. I know most consider a paltry 9 spells at 8th level to be plenty, but it really isn't.

 

[nightspaladin]

Can someone with the book post the names of the Purple Knight Abilites? i know the mechanics, just need the titles. Thanks

 

[Prism]

Can someone with the book post the names of the Purple Knight Abilites? i know the mechanics, just need the titles. Thanks

Rallying Cry, Royal Envoy, Inspiring Surge, Bulwark

 

[Sword of Spirit]

Pretty much this. I had all of my spell choices carefully selected to play the character I desired to play. Now, with the removal of the bonus spells, I can't match the concept. If I can't actually use my magic to call up storms or lightning or conjure air elementals, then I see no point in pretending to be this awesome weather mage.

Especially since my character, who's 8th level now, has built tactics around those spells and used them effectively since level one. To turn around and see 8 of my spells vanish kills any fun I was having. I know most consider a paltry 9 spells at 8th level to be plenty, but it really isn't.

I can see how that would suck. Mechanics getting in the way of character concept is always a pain. I think the change needed to be made for inter-sorcerer balance, but I wouldn't mind at all if they presented an optional rule somewhere giving *all* sorcerers bonus spells.

 

[Prism]

Pretty much this. I had all of my spell choices carefully selected to play the character I desired to play. Now, with the removal of the bonus spells, I can't match the concept. If I can't actually use my magic to call up storms or lightning or conjure air elementals, then I see no point in pretending to be this awesome weather mage.

Especially since my character, who's 8th level now, has built tactics around those spells and used them effectively since level one. To turn around and see 8 of my spells vanish kills any fun I was having. I know most consider a paltry 9 spells at 8th level to be plenty, but it really isn't.

You could still keep most of those spells (except for call lightning and conjure minor elementals), assuming you dropped your other spells instead. You could still keep your theme if you wanted. I understand you are disappointed with the loss of spells known but it was a bit unbalanced that storm sorcerers got almost double spells known over other sorcerers.