Unearthed Arcana New Unearthed Arcana: Rune Knight, Swarmkeeper, The Revived

Another new Unearthed Arcana! "In today’s Unearthed Arcana, three classes each receive a playtest option. The fighter gets a Martial Archetype option: the Rune Knight. The ranger gains a Ranger Archetype option: the Swarmkeeper. And the rogue acquires a Roguish Archetype option: the Revived."

 

[Sacrosanct]

Rock gnome swarm ranger. But instead of tiny beasts, they are tiny clockwork machines that can transform and join together

 

[vpuigdoller]

28 new Subclasses, not including reprintings. All Subclasses went through SCAG or UA first, and they tested somewhere around 40 Subclasses, many of which did not make the cut.

Maybe we are still on the first round of subclasses to test and more are still coming. We will have to wait and see.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

It would be easy to swallow as a Runescarred Berserker

Putting aside the debate about whether concept overlap subclasses are good or bad, what about the concept of this subclass actual says “barbarian”, though?

The embiggen effect could come from a rune tattoo, for sure, but it still isn’t a rage.

Mechanically, I prefer it this way, as well, since it doesn’t have to worry about being too strong when combined with Rage, it can just stand on its own.

 

[Parmandur]

Maybe we are still on the first round of subclasses to test and more are still coming. We will have to wait and see.

True, that is a possibility. Equally possible that this is it for Subclasses for a while. Only time will tell.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

After some time to ponder, I really like all of these.

I still think there are much more straightforward concepts that could come before weird stuff, but otoh the weird stuff has definite appeal.

The rogue needs a different thing than a death beam, or the death beam needs to at least happen when you make an attack rather than when you use Cunning Action, or something. The playstyle of the subclass seems very weird as a result of how that feature works.

 

[Parmandur]

After some time to ponder, I really like all of these.

I still think there are much more straightforward concepts that could come before weird stuff, but otoh the weird stuff has definite appeal.

The rogue needs a different thing than a death beam, or the death beam needs to at least happen when you make an attack rather than when you use Cunning Action, or something. The playstyle of the subclass seems very weird as a result of how that feature works.

My takeaway from this set of tests is that they both wanted to try and push the envelope in a number of extreme ways to see what direction the wind is blowing, and that they had some very, very specific story goals to meet that were off the beaten path. The story goals are the real mystery, here, though it'll be interesting to see what they find from people's reactions.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

The story goals are the real mystery, here,

Well, we have plenty of data to narrow it down now. All we need is a story that combines the Old Norse language with Thugee cultists, beekeepers, Irish druids, Greek heroes, true name magic, psychic powers and Buddhism.

The Real World (TM) Campaign Setting confirmed for November 2020. You heard it here first folks!

 

[Parmandur]

Well, we have plenty of data to narrow it down now. All we need is a story that combines the Old Norse language with Thugee cultists, beekeepers, Irish druids, Greek heroes, true name magic, psychic powers and Buddhism.

Yes, if only there was some Magic-al setting with literally all of those eleme...

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Magic The Gathering has been going long enough to cover every fantasy trope ever, and therefore proves nothing. You could come up with Magic cards for flying elephants vs flying saucers if you looked long enough.

 

[Leatherhead]

To be quite honest, I don't want another MtG setting.
There are quite a few crossovers still in the works (like the upcoming Rick and Morty set), and we still have a backlog of D&D settings to get through.