New Unearthed Arcana Released, With 8 New Forgotten Realms-Themed Subclasses

Today, Wizards of the Coast has announced a new Unearthed Arcana playtest featuring eight new Dungeons & Dragons subclasses that will appear in the upcoming Forgotten Realms Player's Guide. The new subclasses include five classes tied to Forgotten Realms regions, as well as the return of the Knowledge Domain Cleric subclass from the 2014 Player's Handbook and the Bladesinger Wizard subclass and Purple Dragon Knight Fighter subclass from the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide.

Each of the five remaining subclasses are themed to one of the five regions explored in the Forgotten Realms Adventure Guide also coming out in November. The College of the Moon Bard subclass is tied to the Moonshae Isles, the Winter Walker Ranger subclass is tied to Icewind Dale, and the Oath of the Noble Genies is tied to Calimshan. The Scion of The Three is tied to the Dead Three (of Baldur's Gate fame). Meanwhile, Spellfire Sorcery dates back to 2nd Edition and can both heal allies and harm foes.

The eight new subclasses can be found below:

• College Of The Moon (Bard)
• Knowledge Domain (Cleric)
• Purple Dragon Knight (Fighter)
• Oath Of The Noble Genies (Paladin)
• Winter Walker (Ranger)
• Scion Of The Three (Rogue)
• Spellfire Sorcery (Sorcerer)
• Bladesinger (Wizard)

The Forgotten Realm's Players Guide comes out on November 11th.

 

[ECMO3]

I've heard it suggested by others, but I'd have to do a deep look to figure out if it's nerved truly

The only significant nerf to the new Bladesinger is there are less uses at very high level (17+) and only then if you can't manage a 22 Intelligence.

People have claimed online that removing Armor proficiency and the ability to Bladesong in light armor is a nerf, but it's not. Mage Armor has a higher AC then Studded Leather and magic items that boost AC in Mage Armor are more common than magical light armor.

People have also said that the new Song of Victory encourages spell use and not weapon use, but again they miss the actual details, using extra attack lets you cast a Cantrip as part of the attack action, then casting that spell triggers yet another attack through Song of Victory. So at 14th level a Bladesinger can make 2 attacks and a cantrip. If they have nick they can use a Cantrip and 3 attacks.

There are two huge buffs as well (three if you consider new spells) - letting you use Intelligence for attacks in Bladesong makes the class less mad and when combined with martial weapon proficiency this is huge. The old Bladesinger only had proficiency in one martial weapon, and they could only generally use Finesse weapons so they were very limited. Now they can use any weapon that is not heavy or two handed.

2024 spells make Bladesingers better at melee too. Specifically Truestrike lets them use Intelligence for one attack a round out of Bladesong and lets them use it with ranged weapons. The new Mirror Image is going to be awesome on a Bladesinger.

 

[Azzy]

Maybe there will be a second UA with Barbarbian, Druid, Warlock, Monk subclasses and the rules of Circle magic? Maybe even for the spells and feats.

I hope so. Even though I rarely run FR campaigns (only the published adventures), I will happily crib some game mechanics from different campaign settings.

 

[kapars]

So Barbarian, Monk, Druid and Warlock lose out. I wonder if they will be represented in the unannounced book? If it is Magic the Gathering related which setting would be a fit for those classes?

 

[DavyGreenwind]

So Barbarian, Monk, Druid and Warlock lose out. I wonder if they will be represented in the unannounced book? If it is Magic the Gathering related which setting would be a fit for those classes?

Tarkir or Bloomburrow seem likely

 

[Kurotowa]

So Barbarian, Monk, Druid and Warlock lose out. I wonder if they will be represented in the unannounced book? If it is Magic the Gathering related which setting would be a fit for those classes?

Even odds that they don't force themselves to cover every class because it's a setting book and not a player options book, and that those four get covered in a second later UA because they need a little more time to cook before they ask for feedback.

 

[GarrettKP]

Tarkir or Bloomburrow seem likely

Tarkir could honestly make a lot of sense.

Path of the Dragon Tempest Barbarian
Circle of the Wastes Druid
Warrior of the Ascendant Dragon Monk
Dragon Patron Warlock

I could definitely see them being present there if that is the October book.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

magic items that boost AC in Mage Armor are more common than magical light armor

How do you arrive at that conclusion?

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

How do you arrive at that conclusion?

I'd guess the fact that Bracers of defence are more common than +2 armour.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I'd guess the fact that Bracers of defence are more common than +2 armour.

Not in my experience. And when they do appear, there tends to be more party members fighting over them. Studded Leather +1 is pretty much available off the peg in most cities.

 

[T4lkingSKU-11]

It's nice to see some new subclasses in the new edition. More variety is always nice to have!