Unearthed Arcana New UA: 43 D&D Class Feature Variants

The latest Unearthed Arcana is a big 13-page document! “Every character class in D&D has features, and every class gets one or more class feature variants in today’s Unearthed Arcana! These variants replace or enhance a class’s normal features, giving you new ways to enjoy your character’s class.”

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[Ashrym]

The common references to Mythic Lightning tossing often described as things like Lughs spear a hungry flaming spear that leaped from enemy to enemy on the battle field

Lighting arrow does that. I was aware of the reference but we have a spell that does that. "Arrow" is a misnomer in that it's used with any ranged weapon attack.

It's also a DOAM weapon attack and leaps to enemies within 10' of the original target for a save-or-damage effect.

 

[Garthanos]

Lighting arrow does that. I was aware of the reference but we have a spell that does that. "Arrow" is a misnomer in that it's used with any ranged weapon attack.

It's also a DOAM weapon attack and leaps to enemies within 10' of the original target for a save-or-damage effect.

That might just be perfect for Lughs Spear. His spear eventually returned to his hand of course.

 

[Garthanos]

I could picture an Eldritch Fighter launching spear as it is enveloped in energy and he can spend an attack guiding it from each enemy to each subsequent each 15 or 20 feet from the first and not one area of effect like that ranger but zipping it around the battle with a gesture. A spell designed for a fighter

 

[abirdcall]

Thoughts after some reflection...

The debate isn't if Known Spell casters should be permanently locked into their spell choices. They already had the ability to swap out their spells. The topic at hand is if they should be able to do so more often, moving from "once at level up" to "once after a long rest".

Is this too strong? I don't think I've seen anyone claim that, so no. Does it tread on the niche of the Memorized Spells classes? My opinion is that there's enough of a gap between "change one spell after a long rest" and "change all your spells after a long rest" to retain the distinction, though obviously not everyone agrees. Does it break their thematic class mechanics? As I said earlier, I don't see locked spell choices as a core element of the class story. It may define the playstyle of the classes, but I'm a lot more open to playstyle adjustments, especially when it involves making things less punishing and more fun. Am I missing any other arguments against?

It's not so much a change in the class mechanics (though I would still argue it is a big change).

The main thing here is that it changes the identity of the character. A character who has few known spells and can only change 1 every level up has a lot of their identity tied in with those spells. The spells they can cast has a huge reflection on who they are. Change them every long rest and that is no longer the case.

We lose a tool for character identity.

 

[SkidAce]

Yup! Saying "live with the consequences" is basically punishing players with low system master for picking situational spells that might not even do what they thought it did just because they thought the name sounded cool. A modicum of flexibility allows them to repair their mistakes without having to wait sessions upon sessions.

In this case would not the DM step in and assist with allowing changes anyway?

 

[SkidAce]

I feel all spells for all classes must divide by theme.

The themes organize into four overall sectors: Matter, Mind, Life, and Spirit.

Matter subdivides into the following themes:
• Earth-Fire-Forging theme
• Water-Air-Weather theme
• Ether-Ethereal-Fey-Shadow theme

Mind subdivides into:
• Telepathy-Phantasm-Enchantment theme
• Telekinesis-Force-Fly theme
• Prescience-Luck-Knowledge theme

Life subdivides into
• Animal-Plant-Shapeshifting-Poison theme
• Teleportation-Conjuration theme
• Healing-Resurrection theme

Spirit subdivides into
• Ether
• Prescience
• Healing

A Cleric can pick a theme as a domain.

A Wizard picks any two themes, and the highest spell level slot available can only have spells from one of these two themes.

And so on.

Sounds like Rolemaster.

 

[PsyzhranV2]

In this case would not the DM step in and assist with allowing changes anyway?

1. Some DMs might not even be aware that they're allowed to do that without the rule.
2. Some players might not think they're allowed to ask that without the rule.
3. You currently can't do that in AL once past Level 5. If this rule makes it to print, you would be able to if the table was running the variant feature rules.

Taking QoL changes out of the land of "DM may I" and into the land of official print gives them more legitimacy and more support for less experienced players. It won't solve the issue of the DM from hell, but it will help mitigate the damage done by a well-meaning but clueless one.

 

[Salthorae]

3. You currently can't do that in AL once past Level 5. If this rule makes it to print, you would be able to if the table was running the variant feature rules.

Except... every time you level up.

 

[Ashrym]

Regarding spell swapping...

"Whenever you finish a long rest, you can replace one spell you learned from this Spellcasting feature with another spell from the bard spell list."

The one swapped in is always the one swapped out. Changing entire spell lists wouldn't be possible under that wording.

 

[Weiley31]

In regards to Favored Foe, which does more damage? The 1D6 from UA Hunters Mark or the +2/+4 to damage rolls from Revised?