D&D 5E Xanathar's Guide to Everything -- new mechanical expansion/UA book! -- November 10 with a limited-edition cover by Hydro74

[GarrettKP]

I felt that Phoenix Sorcerer was the worst one out of the Sorcerer subclasses, and that the Sea Sorcerer was the best.

Bladesinger is not FR specific, as I remember it being first introduced in 2e's Complete Handbook of Elves which was a quite campaign-neutral book, I think there certainly was the implication that Valley Elves from Oerth could take that kit.

Maybe it was not introduced specifically for a setting but a quick google search shows no lore or fluff that isn't explicitly tied to the Forgotten Realms that I can find.

 

[Li Shenron]

Also Jeremy Crawford confirmed on twitter that there are no more than 4 of the SCAG subclasses in Xanathar's Guide, and that Forgotten Realms specific subclasses (Like the Purple Dragon Knight and presumably Battlerager and Bladesinger) will not be included.

I did not expect that... I didn't buy SCAG, so if they pick 4 very good subclasses from it, then I will be a bit more motivated to get XGtE. I don't know the mechanics in SCAG, so just going by the character concepts:

Battlerager: doesn't sound different from Berserker, except that it's dwarves only
Arcana domain: considering Mearls' fondness for domains, it's a highly likely pick, but honestly I think it is a bit too trivial
Purple Dragon Knight: too specific
Long Death monk: sounds interesting, but it might be a bit too 'dark' to be picked
Sun Soul monk: too cartoonish
Crown paladin: would be a nice option for LN or 'atheist' paladins
Swashbuckler: well this is the no-brainer really, and it's a good addition for a fairly 'normal' rogue but without criminal flavor
Mastermind: I don't even know what it is...
Storm sorcerer: another easy pick, and personally I think the sorcerer needs as many subclasses as possible
Undying warlock: I love the concept, but I don't think it will be picked
Bladesinger: oh not another gish... and an elf...

If I could pick 4 that I'd want to have in my games, I'd pick Swashbuckler, Storm Sorcerer, Undying Warlock and Crown Paladin (backup choice: Long Death Monk).

But I think WotC will choose only the first 2, and then Arcana Cleric and Bladesinger.

 

[gyor]

I did not expect that... I didn't buy SCAG, so if they pick 4 very good subclasses from it, then I will be a bit more motivated to get XGtE. I don't know the mechanics in SCAG, so just going by the character concepts:

Battlerager: doesn't sound different from Berserker, except that it's dwarves only
Arcana domain: considering Mearls' fondness for domains, it's a highly likely pick, but honestly I think it is a bit too trivial
Purple Dragon Knight: too specific
Long Death monk: sounds interesting, but it might be a bit too 'dark' to be picked
Sun Soul monk: too cartoonish
Crown paladin: would be a nice option for LN or 'atheist' paladins
Swashbuckler: well this is the no-brainer really, and it's a good addition for a fairly 'normal' rogue but without criminal flavor
Mastermind: I don't even know what it is...
Storm sorcerer: another easy pick, and personally I think the sorcerer needs as many subclasses as possible
Undying warlock: I love the concept, but I don't think it will be picked
Bladesinger: oh not another gish... and an elf...

If I could pick 4 that I'd want to have in my games, I'd pick Swashbuckler, Storm Sorcerer, Undying Warlock and Crown Paladin (backup choice: Long Death Monk).

But I think WotC will choose only the first 2, and then Arcana Cleric and Bladesinger.

I agree with your picks, although my back up pick is Arcana cleric, because Long Death Monk is setting specific. Mastermind is a possibility, but it wasn't popular so I doubt it.

 

[Rellott]

If they're copying material for the AL's PHB+1 rule, then it would make sense to include the subclasses that would gain the most from additional support. I suspect that would be the spell using classes: Arcana cleric, crown paladin, undying warlock, and bladesinger wizard.

 

[Staffan]

Maybe it was not introduced specifically for a setting but a quick google search shows no lore or fluff that isn't explicitly tied to the Forgotten Realms that I can find.

Bladesingers were introduced in the Complete Book of Elves, in 1993. At that point, I'm not sure Greyhawk was actively supported anymore - Forgotten Realms was basically where AD&D's "vanilla" stuff was, so any lore would be tied to FR.

 

[pukunui]

The name "Purple Dragon Knight" is FR specific, but the subclass itself isn't. Its generic name is "banneret", and it's a kinda/sorta warlordish fighter subclass.

 

[Demetrios1453]

If they're copying material for the AL's PHB+1 rule, then it would make sense to include the subclasses that would gain the most from additional support. I suspect that would be the spell using classes: Arcana cleric, crown paladin, undying warlock, and bladesinger wizard.

That would likely be a consideration, but probably not be the decisive reason which ones get ported over. I really can't see them not bringing over Swashbuckler given its popularity.

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[Rellott]

That would likely be a consideration, but probably not be the decisive reason which ones get ported over. I really can't see them not bringing over Swashbuckler given its popularity.

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But the swashbuckler, as you say, is already quite popular, and aside from some feats it doesn't seem like there will be much in XGtE that they would/could use. Bringing them over would just further push them to the fore of options (about which the pessimist in me says "that sounds like something WotC would do" but I try not to listen to him).

 

[variant]

25+ new Subclasses, dozens of new feats and spells, new magic items, new rules for Traps and Downtime.

How is that "very little crunch?"

In the course of three years, that's very little crunch. To reprint stuff when they are releasing a single crunch book in three years is just ridiculous. I did actually buy the SCAG for the little bit of crunch that was in there, the rest of the book is useless to me. Why is precious space being wasted on stuff I already own when there is lots of content they could add instead?

 

[bedir than]

In the course of three years, that's very little crunch. To reprint stuff when they are releasing a single crunch book in three years is just ridiculous. I did actually buy the SCAG for the little bit of crunch that was in there, the rest of the book is useless to me. Why is precious space being wasted on stuff I already own when there are lots of content they could add instead?

Because a vast majority of people playing 5e are either new to DnD or have been away long enough that they don't remember the flavor elements.

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