Oh boo hoo, I made a typo when you clearly knew what I meant.
No, I didn't actually. Did you mean MToF where sea elves are from or VGtM where Tritons and goblinoids are from?
I referred to both, so you can safely assume I was including both books.
And none of back and forth is going to have an impact on the PH + 1 rule and which books players will be allowed to use for their DDAL characters. It's time to let this thread die.
It seems like in S10 only class/subclass matters for +1 anyway as Race/Background isn't effected, and while MtoF and VGM are listed as +1 resources that is more as a reference for those races? Even your ability scores (customization from TCoE) is not restricted by the +1 rule.
Choosing Your Class. You can use class and subclass options from the PH, Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, and the upcoming book Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything.
The D&D Adventurers League now uses this variant system from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything since it allows for a greater degree of customization. For ease of reference, the relevant information is included as an appendix to this document and doesn’t count against the PH + 1 rule.
It seems like in S10 only class/subclass matters for +1 anyway as Race/Background isn't effected, and while MtoF and VGM are listed as +1 resources that is more as a reference for those races? Even your ability scores (customization from TCoE) is not restricted by the +1 rule.
Choosing Your Class. You can use class and subclass options from the PH, Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, and the upcoming book Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything.
The D&D Adventurers League now uses this variant system from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything since it allows for a greater degree of customization. For ease of reference, the relevant information is included as an appendix to this document and doesn’t count against the PH + 1 rule.
Things like Feats and Spells, in addition to subclasses (and currently for Artificer -- the entire class), continue to be subject to +1, at the moment.
It should also be noted that while Background/Race is excepted from the +1 rule, you must still select a Background and Race from the allowed sources -- which for Backgrounds is actually more restrictive than previous seasons.
Why not apply the PHB+1 rule to subclasses only? It would prevent the type of shenanigans of 3.5 in the decadent phase, but not impinge on things like feats and spells.
Why not apply the PHB+1 rule to subclasses only? It would prevent the type of shenanigans of 3.5 in the decadent phase, but not impinge on things like feats and spells.
The only effect being you can't multiclass with subclasses from different books? I'm not sure that's the highest concern that led to the rule.
Why not apply the PHB+1 rule to subclasses only? It would prevent the type of shenanigans of 3.5 in the decadent phase, but not impinge on things like feats and spells.
I'd be fine with this. Feats and spells are my biggest issue with PHB+1. Race and subclasses are annoying, but only because I like to min-max (and how cool would an artillerist war mage be?).
Why not apply the PHB+1 rule to subclasses only? It would prevent the type of shenanigans of 3.5 in the decadent phase, but not impinge on things like feats and spells.
The only effect being you can't multiclass with subclasses from different books? I'm not sure that's the highest concern that led to the rule.
Why not apply the PHB+1 rule to subclasses only? It would prevent the type of shenanigans of 3.5 in the decadent phase, but not impinge on things like feats and spells.
The only effect being you can't multiclass with subclasses from different books? I'm not sure that's the highest concern that led to the rule.
What was the highest concern?
I'd have guessed mixing feats/spells and subclasses from different books. I'd think a lot more opportunity exists for unintended interactions there.
Why not apply the PHB+1 rule to subclasses only? It would prevent the type of shenanigans of 3.5 in the decadent phase, but not impinge on things like feats and spells.
The only effect being you can't multiclass with subclasses from different books? I'm not sure that's the highest concern that led to the rule.
What was the highest concern?
I'd have guessed mixing feats/spells and subclasses from different books. I'd think a lot more opportunity exists for unintended interactions there.
Well, as far as new content made by WotC goes, all new subclasses and spells etc are playtested (mostly in house but some as UA) and are designed to work together with everything else that already exists and be balanced.
Separating by source is a secondary idea made by a different team. If they are worried about specific interactions, they could just ban specific combos. Pretty much the most overpowered combos are already AL legal (coffeelock anyone?).
Just... suboptimal if you didn't want a high-STR wizard. Now you can be a mountain dwarf, allocate the +2 from strength to dexterity or intelligence, and use medium armour. +2 to AC from dex modifier with medium armour, plus 15 from using half-plate, means you will get enough AC to survive being targeted by a random goblin, while not wasting scores on strength since you don't want to be in melee as a wizard.
If you're wearing medium armor, you do not want to dump your strength. It's too easy to overburden yourself and not be able to move at all. I had a cleric player try that. They chose an explorer's pack and the Haunted One background for a Monster Hunter's Pack. We had to rebuild their character with 12 Strength just to carry all that. That said, even with a standard array a mountain dwarf could have a spread of 10 14 15 15 12 10. And a Hill Dwarf with point-buy could be 8 14 15 15 14 8 and have 9 hit points instead of 8. They were never, not even slightly, unplayable.
The only specialized gear your background gives you is a trinket. They cloak it as a personal item in a couple but it works out to be a trinket.
Just buy you gear with the standard GP instead of taking the packet. Or cheese it like a bunch of players do and just take the most expensive from the class and background, sell it and then get what you want and still have GP left.
The features are also very super minor variations. There are only a couple that actually do anything not already covered by the backgrounds in the PHB, (shipwright from GoS and a few from Eberron). The few that do generally aren't worth the +1 price tag.
The only specialized gear your background gives you is a trinket. They cloak it as a personal item in a couple but it works out to be a trinket.
Just buy you gear with the standard GP instead of taking the packet. Or cheese it like a bunch of players do and just take the most expensive from the class and background, sell it and then get what you want and still have GP left.
The features are also very super minor variations. There are only a couple that actually do anything not already covered by the backgrounds in the PHB, (shipwright from GoS and a few from Eberron). The few that do generally aren't worth the +1 price tag.
A few points of clarification --
Equipment packages quite often contain tools -- which are not trivial to purchase.
Buying gear with "standard GP instead of taking the packet" is not allowed in AL. The option for optimizing class equipment value and selling certainly exists, but only a few of the classes can effectively do that.
Backgrounds are not subject to the PHB+1 rule. The restriction is that they must come from allowed sources -- which for season 10 limits you to the background options available in the PHB plus the Safe Haven feature (but not the rest of Faction Agent).
No, I didn't actually. Did you mean MToF where sea elves are from or VGtM where Tritons and goblinoids are from?
I referred to both, so you can safely assume I was including both books.
And none of back and forth is going to have an impact on the PH + 1 rule and which books players will be allowed to use for their DDAL characters. It's time to let this thread die.
It seems like in S10 only class/subclass matters for +1 anyway as Race/Background isn't effected, and while MtoF and VGM are listed as +1 resources that is more as a reference for those races? Even your ability scores (customization from TCoE) is not restricted by the +1 rule.
Things like Feats and Spells, in addition to subclasses (and currently for Artificer -- the entire class), continue to be subject to +1, at the moment.
It should also be noted that while Background/Race is excepted from the +1 rule, you must still select a Background and Race from the allowed sources -- which for Backgrounds is actually more restrictive than previous seasons.
Why not apply the PHB+1 rule to subclasses only? It would prevent the type of shenanigans of 3.5 in the decadent phase, but not impinge on things like feats and spells.
The only effect being you can't multiclass with subclasses from different books? I'm not sure that's the highest concern that led to the rule.
I'd be fine with this. Feats and spells are my biggest issue with PHB+1. Race and subclasses are annoying, but only because I like to min-max (and how cool would an artillerist war mage be?).
What was the highest concern?
I'd have guessed mixing feats/spells and subclasses from different books. I'd think a lot more opportunity exists for unintended interactions there.
Well, as far as new content made by WotC goes, all new subclasses and spells etc are playtested (mostly in house but some as UA) and are designed to work together with everything else that already exists and be balanced.
Separating by source is a secondary idea made by a different team. If they are worried about specific interactions, they could just ban specific combos. Pretty much the most overpowered combos are already AL legal (coffeelock anyone?).
Finally, dwarf wizards can be somewhat playable.
Pronouns: He/Him
What was wrong with them before?
Just... suboptimal if you didn't want a high-STR wizard. Now you can be a mountain dwarf, allocate the +2 from strength to dexterity or intelligence, and use medium armour. +2 to AC from dex modifier with medium armour, plus 15 from using half-plate, means you will get enough AC to survive being targeted by a random goblin, while not wasting scores on strength since you don't want to be in melee as a wizard.
Pronouns: He/Him
If you're wearing medium armor, you do not want to dump your strength. It's too easy to overburden yourself and not be able to move at all. I had a cleric player try that. They chose an explorer's pack and the Haunted One background for a Monster Hunter's Pack. We had to rebuild their character with 12 Strength just to carry all that. That said, even with a standard array a mountain dwarf could have a spread of 10 14 15 15 12 10. And a Hill Dwarf with point-buy could be 8 14 15 15 14 8 and have 9 hit points instead of 8. They were never, not even slightly, unplayable.
Yeah I might have exaggerated. But still, Tasha's made unconventional race\class combos appealing. And I like that.
Pronouns: He/Him
Custom background is in PHB. You don't even need the +1 to have any background you want.
You are restricted to background features and equipment packages from the allowed sources.
The only specialized gear your background gives you is a trinket. They cloak it as a personal item in a couple but it works out to be a trinket.
Just buy you gear with the standard GP instead of taking the packet. Or cheese it like a bunch of players do and just take the most expensive from the class and background, sell it and then get what you want and still have GP left.
The features are also very super minor variations. There are only a couple that actually do anything not already covered by the backgrounds in the PHB, (shipwright from GoS and a few from Eberron). The few that do generally aren't worth the +1 price tag.
A few points of clarification --
Equipment packages quite often contain tools -- which are not trivial to purchase.
Buying gear with "standard GP instead of taking the packet" is not allowed in AL. The option for optimizing class equipment value and selling certainly exists, but only a few of the classes can effectively do that.
Backgrounds are not subject to the PHB+1 rule. The restriction is that they must come from allowed sources -- which for season 10 limits you to the background options available in the PHB plus the Safe Haven feature (but not the rest of Faction Agent).
That's it? Bummer. AL used to allow all backgrounds.