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.

 

[grimslade]

The Undead Warlock is... ok. I kind of like the transformation piece, but the effects are too scattershot for a caster. A rage for casters is fun, but it should be a bit more focused than it is right now.
The College of Spirits bard is flavorful but I agree with @doctorbadwolf The whole random story and effect is a big negative.

 

[Remathilis]

I say add a Violin to the spellcasting focus as well.

Bards can already use musical instruments as focuses though...

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Honestly I like both of them. I think the Undying Patron gets crapped on more than it deserves, but this is more of a Death Knight or War Witch kind of necromancer, which I really like.

The Bard isn't a replacement for an actual Shaman, and it doesn't need to be. If there had been a Shaman in the PHB, I'd still be planning on giving high marks to this subclass.

 

[Mike Myler]

Form of Dread is level dip city. Kinda weird that they tied it to proficiency bonus.

|makes note to remember this patron for the next time he's playing a martial class|

 

[MarkB]

Spirits Bard: Oh goodie, free longer-range guidance. Even more opportunities to interrupt with "Can I guidance that?" every 30 seconds.

I like the flavour of the Undeath warlock, that every new feature represents a gradual physical transformation of your body.

 

[Weiley31]

Bards can already use musical instruments as focuses though...

That was totally a Nat 1 on my History check there. lol.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

The Undead Warlock is... ok. I kind of like the transformation piece, but the effects are too scattershot for a caster. A rage for casters is fun, but it should be a bit more focused than it is right now.
The College of Spirits bard is flavorful but I agree with @doctorbadwolf The whole random story and effect is a big negative.

I would prefer something less random, but I do think that the fact that you can go into fights already knowing what your effect will be makes it work. It's like portent, you won't know what the best use of it is until you roll for it, but you'll never accidentally fireball your friends with it.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Huh. I read it as a medium/spiritualist class and thought both classes had a more "gothic horror" theme. Ymmv

Any time I see talking/communicating with spirits, and getting powers from said spirits, that screams "shaman" to me, as that's sort of one of the biggest identifiers for shamans (from most cultures that we associate with "shaman")

 

[Undrave]

But why? Has WotC forgotten that we already have the Undying Warlock.

Most of 5e's player base sure has.

I'm not sure I even know what book that is in...

 

[Zaukrie]

That bard is interesting, and I'm totally using the ideas as inspiration for the Bonecaster orcs in Ebrerron.....