D&D (2024) One D&D Survey Feedback: Weapon Mastery Spectacular; Warlock and Wizard Mixed Reactions

Jeremy Crawford discusses the results of the Packet 5 Survey:

• Weapon Mastery at 80% approval, and all options except for Flex scored similarly. Crawford says that Flex is mathematically one of the most powerful properties, but will need some attention because people didn't feel like it was. This feature is in the 2024 PHB for 6 Classes, guaranteed at this point.
• Barbarian scored well, particularly the individual features, average satisfaction of 80% for each feature. Beserker got 84% satisfaction, while the 2014 Beserker in the 2020 Big Class Survey got 29% satisfaction.
• Fighter received well, overall 75% satisfaction. Champion scored 54% in the Big Class Survey, but this new one got 74%.
• Sorcerer in the Big Class Survey got 60%, this UA Sorcerer got 72%. Lots of enthusiasm for the Metamagic revisions. Careful Spell got 92% satisfaction. Twin Spell was the exception, at 60%. Draconic Sorcerer got 73%, new Dragon Wings feature was not well received but will be fixed back to being on all the time by the return to 2014 Aubclass progression.
• Class specific Spell lists are back in UA 7 coming soon, the unified Spell lists are out.
• Warlock feedback reflected mixed feelings in the player base. Pact magic is coming back in next iteration. Next Warlock will be more like 2014, Mystic Arcanum will be a core feature, but will still see some adjustments based on feedback to allow for more frequent use of Spells. Eldritch Invocations were well received. Crawford felt it was a good test, because they learned what players felt. They found the idiosyncracy of the Warlock is exactly what people like about it, so theybare keeping it distinct. Next version will get even more Eldritch Invocation options.
• Wizard got a mixed reception. Biggest problem people had was wanting a Wizard specific Spell list, not a shared Arcane list that made the Wizard less distinct. Evoker well received.

 

[Remathilis]

I've actually always wanted to see Warlocks as Con based casters. You are channeling power via a powerful entity, and your constitution allows you to handle more of that power coursing thru you. And now you're opened up to pick any other stats to fit your concept of the character.

Tangent: I NEVER want to see physical stats used for spellcasting. Con is already the second or third best stat for a caster due to HP and Con/Concentration saves, making it fuel DCs and spell attacks is FAR better than any other stat you could use (except Dex).

Wis might edge out Int and Cha due to perception and saves, but Con beats them all by a county mile. Leave casting to the mental stats.

 

[THEMNGMNT]

Community feedback was kinda the whole point of the exercise though.

It's kind of like voting for President. I'm glad we get to vote. I don't always like who is elected.

 

[Azzy]

I've actually always wanted to see Warlocks as Con based casters. You are channeling power via a powerful entity, and your constitution allows you to handle more of that power coursing thru you. And now you're opened up to pick any other stats to fit your concept of the character.

I could get on board with that.

 

[Ashrym]

WIS and CHA are the default casting stats. INT is the variant. I don't see an issue maintaining that but I also liked the warlock selecting a casting stat related to pact.

Bards and sorcerers selecting the wizard, cleric, or druid spell list is also something I plan to continue pushing for because I thing that gives more variation in our spell casters. Let wizards keep the spell swap, mod, or create options. Those feel iconic. With warlocks running pact magic and not all bards or sorcerers using wizard spells that would create more variation.

I'm not a fan of multiclassing in it's current form. I preferred feats covering a splash of multiclass, and can see that as somehow represented as an alternative to selecting a subclass too.

 

[Neonchameleon]

Tangent: I NEVER want to see physical stats used for spellcasting. Con is already the second or third best stat for a caster due to HP and Con/Concentration saves, making it fuel DCs and spell attacks is FAR better than any other stat you could use (except Dex).

Wis might edge out Int and Cha due to perception and saves, but Con beats them all by a county mile. Leave casting to the mental stats.

Meanwhile I want more done to break the lock of Dex 14 Con 14 on roughly half of all PCs.

 

[Horwath]

Will they finally get rid of dex-based fighters?

Nope, you will even be able to trade heavy or/and medium armor proficiency for 2 skills extra per armor category.

 

[Horwath]

Tangent: I NEVER want to see physical stats used for spellcasting. Con is already the second or third best stat for a caster due to HP and Con/Concentration saves, making it fuel DCs and spell attacks is FAR better than any other stat you could use (except Dex).

Wis might edge out Int and Cha due to perception and saves, but Con beats them all by a county mile. Leave casting to the mental stats.

I would only see Con as a casting stat for a barbarian subclass 1/3rd caster.
Uses Con for spell attack/DCs and can cast barbarian spells only during rage.

 

[Gorck]

I still say CON would make sense for a Sorcerer's casting stat. After all, your magical power comes from within your body.

As for Warlocks, I never had a problem with them being CHA based since they gain their spellcasting by pleading with a Patron to give them power. Persuasion checks use Charisma by default.

And, of course, INT is a no-brainer for Wizards who spend years studying books, tomes, scrolls, manuscripts, etc.

 

[tetrasodium]

I still say CON would make sense for a Sorcerer's casting stat. After all, your magical power comes from within your body.

As for Warlocks, I never had a problem with them being CHA based since they gain their spellcasting by pleading with a Patron to give them power. Persuasion checks use Charisma by default.

And, of course, INT is a no-brainer for Wizards who spend years studying books, tomes, scrolls, manuscripts, etc.

Agreed. It raises problems as a full caster unless they shift from a full class with subclasses of it's own masquerading as a "wizard but hot" wizard subclass. It might work great if they shifted to some kind of fractional casting gish who still needed to invest in strength & dex though. 5e may have simplified things too much without redesigning the simplified things to adapt like that

 

[renbot]

I would only see Con as a casting stat for a barbarian subclass 1/3rd caster.
Uses Con for spell attack/DCs and can cast barbarian spells only during rage.

The Path of the Rage Mage from Archetypes of Eberron! One of my favorite 3rd party classes and one of the very few that I have allowed, nay encouraged, in the last two games I have DM'd. Unfortunately none of my players have taken me up on it. Because they are STUPID!!

(JK players, you know I love you)