Unearthed Arcana Unearthed Arcana: Spirits Bard and Undeath Warlock

We have a new UA release with two subclasses. The College of Spirits Bard is a fortune teller or spirit medium type character with a big random effect table. Meanwhile the Undeath Pact Warlock is a a do-over of the Undying Pact Warlock.

 

[AcererakTriple6]

Lizardfolk Warlock?

And now you went and made me want the "Race Feature Variants" to be out already. Change around some ability scores, give the Lizardfolk a bonus to Charisma and Stength, and become a Lizard Death Knight who occasionally will bite off pieces of his enemies to get a healing boost in combat.

 

[AcererakTriple6]

Why not include subclass variants?

Because they said it would be too hard. There are too many subclasses, and they said that they don't want to have to do all the work to do subclass feature variants for the subclasses.

The did technically kind of do it already with the Beast Master fix in the CFV UA, but I agree that it would be hard to do them all. (I think they should do it, though)

 

[Olrox17]

Because they said it would be too hard. There are too many subclasses, and they said that they don't want to have to do all the work to do subclass feature variants for the subclasses.

The did technically kind of do it already with the Beast Master fix in the CFV UA, but I agree that it would be hard to do them all. (I think they should do it, though)

They don't really have to them all altogether. They can easily start with the weakest subclasses, and work their way up at a slow pace. By the way, you're right, I completely forgot about the beast master variant. Good news, Wotc, just keep doing that!

 

[Jacqual]

I actually would prefer seeing the Bard subclass be for Wizard with some changes kind of a potentially good necromancer/seer type. Its just the feeling I get from it.

 

[Undrave]

I actually would prefer seeing the Bard subclass be for Wizard with some changes kind of a potentially good necromancer/seer type. Its just the feeling I get from it.

Wizard subclasses never make it in UA

 

[FlyingChihuahua]

Wizard subclasses never make it in UA

Well War Mage, but I see what you're saying.

 

[Dragonhelm]

You had me at Lord Soth.

 

[AcererakTriple6]

They don't really have to them all altogether. They can easily start with the weakest subclasses, and work their way up at a slow pace. By the way, you're right, I completely forgot about the beast master variant. Good news, Wotc, just keep doing that!

Yeah, I think they should do that, but then people would complain about the ones that didn't get fixed. I think they should fix all the terrible ones, and then just say everything else is fine (List of a few of the broken ones: Four Elements Monk, Wild Magic Sorcerers, All sorcerer subclasses to give spell lists, Valor Bards, Trickery Clerics, Purple Dragon Knights, Crown Paladins, etc)

 

[Parmandur]

And now you went and made me want the "Race Feature Variants" to be out already. Change around some ability scores, give the Lizardfolk a bonus to Charisma and Stength, and become a Lizard Death Knight who occasionally will bite off pieces of his enemies to get a healing boost in combat.

At this point, it seems unlikely we'll see the new Race regime before the final book. This leaves me worried that either it might not be enough of a radical change, or insufficiently received by the community, though I guess we'll see...

 

[AcererakTriple6]

At this point, it seems unlikely we'll see the new Race Regine before the final book. This leaves me worried that either it might not be enough of a radical change, or insufficiently received by the community, though I guess we'll see...

They said they were going to put it in the book. Putting a badly designed system into a book is better than to go back on your word.

 

[Parmandur]

They said they were going to put it in the book. Putting a badly designed system into a book is better than to go back on your word.

Weeeelll, that's debatable. They haven't tested any Race options since 2018, but have published untested options, do maybe Race (or a replacement concept) doesn't need public feedback anymore.

 

[AcererakTriple6]

Weeeelll, that's debatable. They haven't tested any Race options since 2018, but have published untested options, do maybe Race (or a replacement concept) doesn't need public feedback anymore.

They haven't tested through UA, but they could do it with their own playtest groups, like they've done before. The Wildemount spells, subraces and subclasses were never playtested in UA, but they were published.

 

[Ashrym]

Re the spirit bard is a shaman vs occultist: I don't see shaman in there, but given shamanism is portrayed as chanting while playing instrument and telling the legends of the tribe that would be appropriate.

Either fits into the he various tropes a bard would cover.

I think this is clearly an oversight, but what think you?

It's technically true but normally ignored. The same issue came up with alchemists.
Normally DM's and players allow foci for any spell and remove the material requirements in the orocess whether those materials existed or not.

I actually would prefer seeing the Bard subclass be for Wizard with some changes kind of a potentially good necromancer/seer type. Its just the feeling I get from it.

Wizards should be a bard subclass.

 

[CleverNickName]

I actually would prefer seeing the Bard subclass be for Wizard with some changes kind of a potentially good necromancer/seer type. Its just the feeling I get from it.

Oh heck yes.

("Sabriel," by Anna Christenson)

 

[Parmandur]

They haven't tested through UA, but they could do it with their own playtest groups, like they've done before. The Wildemount spells, subraces and subclasses were never playtested in UA, but they were published.

Oh, obviously they are doing the actual rigorous playtesting. I just hope whatever they have cooking is big and bold...

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Protect the Weak

-Tenets of the Oath of Devotion (PHB).

Why only the weak? Isn't it unfair for the paladin not to offer equal protection to the strong?

Not. Very. Subtle.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Oh heck yes.

View attachment 124528
("Sabriel," by Anna Christenson)

i really want to make an Undying Warlock/Spirit Bard Abhorsen, tbh.

Needs a turn undead, though.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Not. Very. Subtle.

I’m super confused by you responding to it this way so it must have been a little subtle.

 

[AcererakTriple6]

Hey! Anyone remember how the War Mage is basically a mix of the Evocation and Abjuration schools of magic for wizards? If they moved the Spirits bard subclass to the Wizard, it could be a Necromancy/Divination based subclass, so we could actually have another subclasss that takes two schools of magic and merges them into one.

Anyone else like this idea? I personally wish they made more subclasses like this, that merge two schools of magic (Hypnotism from Illusion and Enchantment, Shadowfell from Illusion and Necromancy, Limbo-Mages from Conjuration and Transmutation, Fleshwarpers from Necromancy and Transmutation, etc).

 

[Guest 6801328]

I’m super confused by you responding to it this way so it must have been a little subtle.

"Making fun of white people is racism too."