D&D (2024) New One D&D Playtest Includes 5 Classes & New Weapon Mastery System

The latest playtest packet for One D&D has just landed, and features five classes (Barbarian, Fighter, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard) and the new Weapon Mastery system.

In this new Unearthed Arcana document for the 2024 Core Rulebooks, we explore material designed for the next version of the Player’s Handbook. This playtest document presents the rules on the Weapon Mastery property, updates to weapons, new and revised spells, several new feats, and five classes: Barbarian, Fighter, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard. You will also find an updated rules glossary that supercedes the glossary of any previous playtest documents.

Claim Unearthed Arcana now! - D&D Beyond

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[James Friery]

Bold added. This is something that comes up a lot when discussing the warlock, and I just don’t understand… The DM isn’t the one in control of when the PCs rest. If you want a short rest, just take one.

We're gonna take a short rest, and you can't stop us.
Really, here's 5 words for that, "Goblin archers in the trees"

yes, the DM really is in control of how often you successfully short rest

 

[Zaukrie]

I would bet an insane amount of money most tables ignore components for the vast majority of spells.....

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

Oh hey, they got rid of the Exhaustion changes that everyone liked...

'Removed: exhaustion rules. If a rule has been removed, it is not moving forward in the playtest, just use PHB rules'

Back to a single level of exhaustion being a death sentence to any martial, while multiple levels of it remain meaningless to any casters.

 

[Charlaquin]

We're gonna take a short rest, and you can't stop us.
Really, here's 5 words for that, "Goblin archers in the trees"

yes, the DM really is in control of how often you successfully short rest

If the DM would rather TPK the group then “let them” take a needed rest, that’s a DM problem, not a system problem.

 

[Neonchameleon]

I would bet an insane amount of money most tables ignore components for the vast majority of spells.....

I wouldn't. Mostly because I'd bet that most casters took a focus that they feel makes their caster more interesting and fulfils the requirements for most components.

 

[Asisreo]

There was plenty of room for feedback, so I'm sure if there was a groundswell of people asking for a spell-like system for martials they would know. As someone who likes playing Champion Fighter as is, I doubt such a groundswell exists at any scale.

Well, what I'm trying to say is that even if there was a large majority of people asking for a martial spell system, they wouldn't acknowledge it and wouldn't actually change their broader visions to accomodate.

There is an exception, though, and that's if the large majority of people look for a marketable mechanic replacement, but that would have to be something unique that people haven't really implemented in a commercial TTRPG yet, and if something like that was floating around, they'd have already incorporated it. And there may be rare places where they have implemented it, it just won't be a common occurrence.

 

[Reef]

If the DM would rather TPK the group then “let them” take a needed rest, that’s a DM problem, not a system problem.

And then we're back to the five minute work day. "Oh, you blew 14 spell slots that fight? Guess I have to let you take a long rest now or the next fight will unfairly kill you."

There are simply times when it's not possible (story-wise) to take a rest. Maybe some groups are allowed to stop the plot any time they want, but that goes against the grain for us. Maybe this is just an us problem, and we really are just bad at this. But I don't think we're the only ones who are running up against the Short Rest issue.

 

[Asisreo]

And then we're back to the five minute work day. "Oh, you blew 14 spell slots that fight? Guess I have to let you take a long rest now or the next fight will unfairly kill you."

There are simply times when it's not possible (story-wise) to take a rest. Maybe some groups are allowed to stop the plot any time they want, but that goes against the grain for us. Maybe this is just an us problem, and we really are just bad at this. But I don't think we're the only ones who are running up against the Short Rest issue.

The main issue, as I see it, is that some people approach encounters and combats as levels in a computer game where combat 1 is level 1 and combat 2 is level 2, etc.

But the way its supposed to work is that as the resources become depleted, the characters become more careful with their actions and avoidant of unnecessary combats.

Rather than having all 14 spells slots used up and feeling obligated to have them rest, have the players encounter those three ancient dragons and watch how they try to weasel their way out of combat. And if they get whooped for trying, you can still have the enemy capture them for their own purposes. And hopefully that'll teach them some form of lesson.

 

[Remathilis]

I remember that survey. They had narrow questions that gave them plausible deniability when it came to large changes. I can't remember the specifics but there weren't any questions asking specifically for a spell-like system for martials or even a huge overhaul for them in general iirc.

Because they were designing an update for 5e, not a new system called 6e. They reinvented the wheel in 4e and they barely survived the backlash. They clawed their way from being on life support to being a shining star in Hasbro (for good and ill). They aren't going to radically redesign the system again. It was never in the cards.

 

[Reef]

Rather than having all 14 spells slots used up and feeling obligated to have them rest, have the players encounter those three ancient dragons and watch how they try to weasel their way out of combat. And if they get whooped for trying, you can still have the enemy capture them for their own purposes. And hopefully that'll teach them some form of lesson.

I totally agree. But there seems to an expectation that instead of managing their resources, they should be allowed to rest anytime they want. Obviously this was a bit of hyperbole on my part, but it’s starting to get tiresome being constantly told we’re doing it wrong by respecting the fiction of the story and not stopping the minute we run low on resource X.