D&D (2024) Which subclasses “should” have been in 2024

[ECMO3]

Nah. They tried making nonmagical stuff use the same mechanics as spells. I'm talking about giving supernatural power to everyone using all different types of mechanics. Spells, class features, feats, etc. Start giving everyone abilities on par with spells if the problem is spellcasters.

I think giving everyone spells is a better solution than giving non-magic spell-like powers.

 

[Marandahir]

Bards don't have good spells to complement melee, unlike every other full caster. I think there are full casters that can keep up with Fighter, but I don't think Swords Bard is one of those.

One of the main reasons is a Bard is going to be more MAD than a martial Wizard, Warlock or Cleric because they need a high Charisma to fuel their flourishes, while those other classes can focus more on their attack stat.

College of Swords after 10th however will have good combat spells. But only trickling in slowly. They're more of a combat medic / lazylord in that case, but College of Swords wants to be a Bravura Warlord.

 

[Remathilis]

I think giving everyone spells is a better solution than giving non-magic spell-like powers.

Not "non-magic spell -like powers" but "non-spell magic-like powers". A whole suite of magical abilities, of which spells are one of many ways to manifest it.

 

[Marandahir]

Not "non-magic spell -like powers" but "non-spell magic-like powers". A whole suite of magical abilities, of which spells are one of many ways to manifest it.

I.e., Book of Nine Swords?

 

[Remathilis]

I.e., Book of Nine Swords?

That's one option. Even moving to more explicit magical effects akin to the blood hunter would be a step in the right direction.

 

[Maxperson]

Alright so all the classes (and subclasses) have been announced.

So where did WOTC mess up? Which “essential” subclass was given the shaft?

However to keep this fun and fair, you have to choose a subclass you would have dropped. The “4 subclasses per class” rule still applies.

To start, I’ll stay I would have swapped the light cleric and put in the thunder domain. I think life and light often are lumped into the same “goody goody” gods, and my players have always loved thunder, its the most common cleric I’ve seen at my table.

So what are yours?

The lack of all the schools for wizards to play. Not everything has to be in the book in equal numbers. It's okay for the wizard to have more. Especially when other books add lots to the other classes.

 

[Maxperson]

Druid: earth, wind, fire, water

So...

, and water?

 

[Vaalingrade]

I think giving everyone spells is a better solution than giving non-magic spell-like powers.

Why?

Why does every power have to be a spell and require a little poem and interpretive dance?

 

[Maxperson]

Yeah, Clerics getting something like Warlock Invocations to simulate specialty priests from 2E or the more granular domains from 3E would have been a good idea.

Mike Mearls at one point in his streams that he would have designed the ranger from the ground up for "Favored Terrain" to be the Subclass, so Forest ranger or Mointain Ranger.

Oh, well.

Heh. I would have found some way to make a Difficult Ranger.

 

[Maxperson]

Fighter . . . . . . . Thief . . . . . . . Ranger . . . . . . . Barbarian . . . . . . Monk
-Battlemaster . . -Acrobat . . . . . .-Hunter . . . . . . .-Berserker . . . . . . . .-Open Hand
-Cavalier . . . . . . -Assassin . . . . . -Vanguard . . . . .-Beastmaster . . . . . -Kensei/Swordmaster
-Dungeoneer . . -Mastermind . .-Hinterlander . . -Brawler . . . . . . . . . -Shadow
-Armiger . . . . . . -Swashbuckler .-Warden. . . . . . .-Totem Warrior . . . -Sun Soul

Cleric . . . . . . . .Bard . . . . . . . Paladin . . . . . . . Warlock . . . . . Guardian
-Advocate . . . . .-Lore . . . . . . . .-Devotion . . . . . .-Fiend . . . . . . . . -Swordmage
-Theurge . . . . . .-Valor . . . . . . . -Vengeance . . . . -Fae . . . . . . . . . .-Eldritch Knight
-Templar . . . . . .-Troubadour . . -Ancients . . . . . .-Celestial . . . . . -Bladesinger
-Inquisitor . . . . -Trickster . . . . .-Dragonlord . . . . -Umbral . . . . . .-Mystic Archer

Mage . . . . . . . . Druid . . . . . . Psychic . . . . . . Sorcerer (if one must)
-Generalist . . . . .-Land . . . . . . .-Psyon . . . . . . . . .-Draconic
-Illusionist . . . . . -Sea . . . . . . . .-Psy-Warrior . . . .-Storm
-Abjurer . . . . . . . -Moon . . . . . -Soulknife . . . . . .-Wild
-Necromancer . .-Sky . . . . . . . .-Medium . . . . . . .-Elementalist

Swap Dungeoneer and Swashbuckler. For all that the Swashbuclker is flamboyant and roguish in personality, it's primarily about fighting. On the other side, Dungeoneering screams locks, traps, searching and treasure.