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.

 

[Demetrios1453]

I do have to wonder, given that amethyst dragons are being name checked, if the gem dragons are getting updated in the new MM (or in the FR book itself), as their Fizban's versions are going to be a bit out of date...

 

[kapars]

The winter ranger is insanely cool. Definitely up there with my favorite 5e classes of all time. It absolutely oozes theme.

I hope in the future they keep down this route for ranger subclasses, using different environments as a base. We have gloomstalker as an underdark ranger, but a volcano ranger, ocean ranger, desert ranger, and jungle ranger could all offer a lot.

Don’t forget Texas Ranger!

 

[TwoSix]

Spellfire sounds like what it is. Purple Dragon Knight sounds like something much cooler than what it is. That’s the difference.

100% this. A cool name should have a cool class.

I mean, every D&D fan knows that “purple dragons” aren’t a thing; so when you hear “Purple Dragon Knight” your first thought is “Tell me more about these Purple Dragons!”

Finding out there are no purple dragons is the letdown the class/PrC/subclass has had since its inception.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Spellfire sounds like what it is. Purple Dragon Knight sounds like something much cooler than what it is. That’s the difference.

The dead three rogue I’m not really that into. I would prefer it be less FR specific and am probably going to say so in my feedback. But at least the dead three are three gods who are dead.

And "Wizard" makes it sound like Gandalf could be a Hufflepuff, unless you know the settings better. And why do we have dragons with colors, while we're at it, aren't dragons all just green nasty things that breathe fire? And why don't rangers capture outlaws and speak in Texan and know how to roundhouse kick?

The PDK name makes sense in its context, and provides a hook for greater exploration - why is this thing called that, what kind of world is this, what does it mean?

You don't inspire someone to dig into the lore by being obvious.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

But it does work with Mage Armor.

Not sure it is enough, would love to playtest it. I might get a chance.
I think the Bladesinger needs something to encourage tanking, maybe a reliable source of temp hp, if there is a hard restriction like this.

I really hope they just leave those spells in the old material. They became so ubiquitous; if they never return, I won't be sad.

Again I think that spells like Booming Blade are needed to get the Bladesinger into the front line.

I have always loved the concept, but I have always had a issue with the name, particularly since the features bring to my mind more dancing than singing.
Given the loss of light armour, I think it needs some damage mitigation.

 

[Bladesinger]

When Mage Armor exists, the weight of this concern, for me, is significantly diminished. A 1-level dip or a feat choice can also give armor or shield proficiencies aplenty.

The problem, though, is Mage Armor doesn't fit the fantasy I want to play. Also, since its 13 + Dex, it doesn't really mitigate the high AC a Bladesinger can achieve. Also, the Bladesong clearly says you can't use it in armor at all, so even if you level dip for the proficiency, you still can't use it.

 

[Kurotowa]

The problem, though, is Mage Armor doesn't fit the fantasy I want to play. Also, since its 13 + Dex, it doesn't really mitigate the high AC a Bladesinger can achieve. Also, the Bladesong clearly says you can't use it in armor at all, so even if you level dip for the proficiency, you still can't use it.

Mage Armor isn't armor, in a technical sense.

 

[Charlaquin]

And "Wizard" makes it sound like Gandalf could be a Hufflepuff, unless you know the settings better.

You keep reaching for this analogy but I don’t think it holds up because Harry Potter is a different, equally specific setting. Expecting something called a “purple dragon knight” to be a knight who rides purple dragons instead of a member of a standing army in a country with no knightly orders who killed a black dragon one time isn’t like expecting Gandalf to be a Hufflepuff, it’s like expecting a wizard to perform wizardry.

And why do we have dragons with colors, while we're at it, aren't dragons all just green nasty things that breathe fire?

I mean, I’d be pretty confused if D&D’s green dragons weren’t really green. Or dragons.

And why don't rangers capture outlaws and speak in Texan and know how to roundhouse kick?

Texas Rangers range in Texas. D&D rangers range in D&D.

The PDK name makes sense in its context, and provides a hook for greater exploration - why is this thing called that, what kind of world is this, what does it mean?

Sure, but then the answers you find are disappointing. Oh, they’re not really knights, and a purple dragon is just their symbol, and the dragon it references is actually a black dragon? That’s… much less cool than I imagined, just as Waterdeep Dragon Heist being a hunt for gold someone else already stole was much less cool than I imagined it being.

You don't inspire someone to dig into the lore by being obvious.

There’s a lot of daylight between being obvious and being disappointing though.

 

[Bladesinger]

Mage Armor isn't armor, in a technical sense.

I understand that. Mage Armor does work with the new Bladesinger. However, I love the idea of wearing armor and being a Gish. This is no longer possible, even with a level dip. Prior to this, if you wanted armor or Mage Armor, you could pick which way you wanted to go. Now, you don't have a choice.

 

[Jeremy E Grenemyer]

Finding out there are no purple dragons is the letdown the class/PrC/subclass has had since its inception.

That’s news to me.