D&D (2024) New Survey Results | Druid & Paladin | Unearthed Arcana | D&D

WotC has shared a new video going over the survey results following the drud and paladin playtests for One D&D.

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For those who don't have time to watch the video, here are some general notes.

Paladin

• Did extremely well in terms of satisfaction
• All class and subclass features scored 70% or higher - lowest was Divine Smite at 72%
• Got some pushback in written feedback on being able to smite on ranged attacks - class identity concerns, Paladin viewed as melee-centric class, ranged smites might eat into Cleric/Ranger identity too much
• Positive feedback on redesigned smite spells - may become paladin exclusive spells down the road

Druid

• Wild Shape feedback seems to be split - slight majority saying "never want this Wild Shape in print", slight minority saying "this is their favorite version of Wild Shape they've ever seen"
• People love the texture and differences in beast options in '14 Wild Shape, but are open to feature being easier to use (i.e. don't want players to have to weigh the merits of 100+ stat blocks every time they want to use Wild Shape)
• Will have another take on Wild Shape next time Druid appears in Playtest UA
• General concept of Channel Nature seems to have gone over well, but want to see more done with it
• Expected feedback for restoring elemental forms for Moon Druids, but instead found people wanted to lean more into Lunar themes
• Want Moon Druid forms to be more resilient, but still want to reign in power at high levels (frequent/unlimited uses of Wild Shape constantly refreshing HP total)

 

[UngainlyTitan]

I felt the same way as you watching this video, but regarding the Druid rather than the Paladin: I think that custom statblocks are far superior to any connection to beast statblocks - It's just that the ones they gave us were implemented wrongly. But it looks like they plan to go back on it, but likely just limit your options to what they print on the PHB (or something).

Whereas with the Paladin, I would be absolutely fine with them creating a Subclass that can ranged smite, but leave it out of the core class.

Mostly agree but I think there was a hint that in the druid feedback the anti template side had some people that would accept a more customisable template forms.

 

[Parmandur]

So Paladins are good to go, Druids back to the drawing board.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Jeremy et. al. aren't idiots... they almost assuredly went into the original druid playtest knowing full well that the core conceit of wildshape that people liked was the "special ability" you could get from an animal form. The extra HP, fine... but the idea of being able to Pounce, and Gore, and Spider Climb etc. was the real juice of the class. So I expect they were checking in the first packet whether templates themselves were a viable mechanic for people before going through the effort of adding in all the special abilities and features to the template concept. But now that they've received the survey responses... they now can see that they can try to split the difference-- wildshape templates that have a list of special features you can grab (almost like the special features of weapon masteries) to bring back the feeling of using standard monster blocks. So it keeps the numbers in check, but does give players a few knobs to turn when they wildshape.

As far as the paladin... I don't foresee ranged smites going forward for the base paladin, but do think there could be a viable subclass that has them. I would suggest that if/when they release the next packet with the updated paladin that people respond in the comments stating that having a ranged smite paladin subclass would still be wanted.

 

[RoughCoronet0]

I really hope they don't keep pushing templates for everything, the druid included. The more they try, the more bland, uninspiring, extremely limiting, and depowering the template path looks to me. No template options they have showcased, from Tasha's and onward, have shown even remotely enough customization to make it more appealing to me then stat blocks. Most just have one or two features you can choose from that don't actually make the creature templates feel any different from each other. Unless they are prepared to give us several dozens and dozens of customization options for every template, then I don't feel that there is enough customization to justify not simply using normal creature stat blocks.

 

[Mirrorrorrim]

I really hope they don't keep pushing templates for everything, the druid included. The more they try, the more bland, uninspiring, extremely limiting, and depowering the template path looks to me. No template options they have showcased, from Tasha's and onward, have shown even remotely enough customization to make it more appealing to me then stat blocks. Most just have one or two features you can choose from that don't actually make the creature templates feel any different from each other. Unless they are prepared to give us several dozens and dozens of customization options for every template, then I don't feel that there is enough customization to justify not simply using normal creature stat blocks.

I will Zero-rate any design that tells the player to get a stat-block from the Monster Manual. Full Stop.

I'm confident that flexible templates are do-able.

 

[Justice and Rule]

I will Zero-rate any design that tells the player to get a stat-block from the Monster Manual. Full Stop.

I'm confident that flexible templates are do-able.

They are how Pathfinder 2E does it and it's completely viable to do it in 5E. Massive amounts of design room to play with, they just need to be specific in the benefits their templates give for certain creature concepts rather than the very generalized one they did.

 

[RoughCoronet0]

I will Zero-rate any design that tells the player to get a stat-block from the Monster Manual. Full Stop.

I'm confident that flexible templates are do-able.

I suppose I can zero rate any template designs from here on out if not even the bolded part of my comment can be considered. I shouldn't have been so passionate with my post.

Honestly I'm not surprised though, I should have really not bothered posting my opinions here. This section of the forum has grown rather hostile to all sides as of late. I'll bow out, sorry.

 

[darjr]

I suppose I can zero rate any template designs from here on out if not even the bolded part of my comment can be considered. I shouldn't have been so passionate with my post.

Honestly I'm not surprised though, I should have really not bothered posting my opinions here. This section of the forum has grown rather hostile to all sides as of late. I'll bow out, sorry.

I’m a no template person either.

Templates are bland and boring.

 

[mellored]

The paladin section was painful to listen to.

I love the idea of ranged paladins. Divine themed characters/beings with ranged weapons is common in fantasy, but utterly absent in DnD.

IMO, it wouldn't be a problem to have a ranged smiting subclass. Possibly a nature theme (what deity has bows as favorite weapons?)

But I wouldn't want it on the base class.

 

[Veltharis ap Rylix]

(what deity has bows as favorite weapons?)

The Silver Flame in Eberron.