D&D (2024) What classes have improved the most from 2014 to 2024? (+)

[Ashrym]

I wanted to select ranger but it's mysteriously not on the list. I don't like the way Hunter's Mark is incorporated but I do think it's a significant improvement over the 2014 version.

 

[DrJawaPhD]

In addition to the obvious ones Monk, Sorcerer, Fighter, and Warlock - I think people are sleeping on Druid (so much better scaling for moon druid) and Rogue (subclasses are actually useful now, and reliable talent comes online much earlier).

Ranger is technically the most improved by FAR if you are comparing to 2014 PHB, but not improved at all if you count Tasha's as the version to compare to.

 

[Mistwell]

Barbarian, Fighter, Monk, Sorcerer.

Of those, Monk was improved the most.

People are sleeping on the Barbarian. Much improved, particularly Berserker.

 

[Mistwell]

Ranger missing from the list?
How appropriate...

Yeah I did a double take.

I do think the Ranger is quite improved and it's odd it was left off.

 

[Scribe]

People are sleeping on the Barbarian. Much improved, particularly Berserker.

This was going to be my pick but I'm biased.

 

[DrJawaPhD]

People are sleeping on the Barbarian. Much improved, particularly Berserker.

Agreed, also by adding Path of the World Tree to give a support / battlefield control option instead of just damage damage damage.

I hate though how Brutal Critical was such an awful ability and they arguably made it even worse. Brutal Strike could be good in certain scenarios but giving up Advantage on your attack means you're generally better off not using it at all. Brutal Critical was rightly ridiculed as being terrible, but at least you automatically got the tiny bonus and weren't actively penalizing yourself by using it

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

Barbarian and Fighter, obviously, as now both can actually do something beyond walk and hit, in and out of combat!

Monk did not get a variety of things to do... but they can finally do their own thing capably!

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

Brutal Strike could be good in certain scenarios but giving up Advantage on your attack means you're generally better off not using it at all. Brutal Critical was rightly ridiculed as being terrible, but at least you automatically got the tiny bonus and weren't actively penalizing yourself by using it

Yeah, I hate that they replaced a weak ability with an often useless ability. That said, you can still make it work, if you have Inspiration for a reroll / Bless against a low-AC foe, but it's really not inspiring to go for lv9+ Barbarian - you just incidentally get it if you're going for your subclass lv10 feature anyway.

 

[Blue]

Ranger missing from the list?
How appropriate...

Doh!

Thanks, added.

 

[Blue]

I've mentioned this on these forums before, but I've been playing a thri-kreen battle-master fighter, using the 2024 playtest and now the official 2024 rules, and I have to say it's a bit of a nightmare. I know this an edge-case, but 3 weapon properties, 5 manuevers now, plus action surge, second wind, and the new wrinkle on second wind - it's a handful, for me and for the DM to track all the effects of the properties and maneuvers.

For me, 2024 feels like a step toward Pathfinder-level complexity, which is not what my brain needed.

This is a (+) thread, discussing positively classes that have improved. This isn't the correct place to air grievances against the system.