Dungeons & Dragons seems to be shifting its direction by abandoning several proposed changes to its ruleset and instead embracing character building frameworks that are more in line with the current rules. In a new video released by Wizards of the Coast, they provided an overview of the upcoming Unearthed Arcana playtest, scheduled for release on June 29th. The video emphasized that this playtest would be the "largest ever" and would reintroduce several significant character progression features. Notably, the "capstone" ability for each class will once again be earned at Level 20, and the subclass progression for each character class will return to its 2014 format, with the exception that all subclass abilities will now start at Level 3.
In previous playtests, there were experiments with standardized character class progressions, where all classes would learn either a class ability or a subclass ability at the same levels. For example, earlier iterations had subclasses gaining features at Level 3, Level 6, Level 10, and Level 14. However, in the recent video, Jeremy Crawford mentioned that this standardized progression had unintended consequences, leading the design team to revert back to the original format. Nonetheless, one element of the "new" character progressions will be retained: all subclasses will still receive their first subclass feature at Level 3.
The upcoming changes to Dungeons & Dragons include the return of the "capstone" or "endcap" abilities for character classes at Level 20, replacing the previously proposed Epic Boon Feats as the Level 20 reward. Initially, the design team had suggested moving the final class abilities to Level 18, but based on player feedback, they decided to keep them as endgame features. Jeremy Crawford mentioned that while Epic Boon Feats won't be implemented now, the design team will revisit them in a future Unearthed Arcana, indicating that they are not entirely abandoned.
The upcoming playtest for Dungeons & Dragons will feature a wealth of new content, including multiple subclasses for seven classes, offering players more options for character customization. Among these, players will get a first look at the Monk subclass. Additionally, revised spells and a brand new spell will be introduced, providing fresh magical options for players to explore. The playtest will also include revisions to the Weapon Mastery system, which was introduced in a previous playtest, aiming to refine and improve the mechanics for a more balanced and enjoyable gameplay experience.
The recent video released by Wizards of the Coast sheds light on the D&D design team's approach to the upcoming 2024 Core Rulebooks. It appears that the team is stepping back from some of the significant changes proposed in previous playtests, providing more clarity to Wizards' earlier explanation that these rulebooks are revisions to the existing 5th Edition rather than an entirely new edition. The initial playtests sparked skepticism due to the proposed alterations to core mechanics, but it seems that the designers are now converging on a direction that falls between an errata and a full-fledged revision or enhancement of the game. This approach indicates a careful balance of maintaining the essence of the current edition while incorporating refinements and improvements.
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