How does everyone feel about the feat and spell changes for 2024?
I'll start out with Sentinel. It seems like the change from "make an attack" to "hit with an attack" will make it rather unpopular. At this point my party is made up of several high AC players. Our DM doesn't seem to target the squishies more often. One of us flies and hasn't been targeted much either. The word attack negates every spell that requires a save as well and doesn't trigger the OA. This was always the case. My DM noted, the last time we played, that the word "creature" is there as well. There is no definition in the 2014 rules. But things like constructs would not trigger the OA. Has this feat been nerfed?
Dual wielder should have kept the +1 to AC. You are holding 2 weapons. That should give you some protection, shielding, from attacks. Also, you can only use one light and one melee weapon now. Dual wielder was always inferior to other damage-based feats. I think just wielding a 2-handed weapon would out gun this feat at some point, at level 5? Now, Great weapon master will add your PB without a penalty.
Shillelagh. I noticed they got rid of "weapon becomes magical". The new damage die increases at certain levels are overpowered in my opinion. At most it should be a D10 at level 5 one-handed. The fact that WotC never addressed swinging a quarterstaff with two hands using Shillelagh is interesting. I said in another thread that if they would allow the Polearm master OA to be set to a D8, I would be happy with that. How many fighters, barbarians, and paladins will be running around with a QS or club and a shield? I am, combined with Pam.
Witch bolt should have changed. They should have made a roll necessary for the bonus action. In exchange, make the initial target targetable again and/or make a different target targetable if cover or range breaks the spell and is fixed. Use a BA for those so that the BA attack can't happen on that turn. You have to concentrate on the spell. Every time you're hit you need to roll to keep it up anyway. I do like the fact the "automatic" attack is now a BA.
I'm not a big spell caster, one kill so far with my Warlock. He may never see combat again. What's your opinion on the 2024 feats and spells?
Constructs are creatures, so they can trigger the reaction attack from Sentinel. This has always been the case in 5e D&D.
Witch Bolt seems fine to me. The automatic damage doesn't scale with the spell slot level, and it's relatively easy for the ongoing effect to be broken. Requiring you to roll an attack each time would make it less useful than just casting a cantrip multiple times, especially for Warlocks.
[...] My DM noted, the last time we played, that the word "creature" is there as well. There is no definition in the 2014 rules. But things like constructs would not trigger the OA. Has this feat been nerfed? [...]
wagnarokkr answered this, but there's also a definition in the Rules Glossary, where Construct is listed as one of the different Creature Types in the game.
[...] Shillelagh. I noticed they got rid of "weapon becomes magical". [...]
Well, now if the attack deals damage, it can be Force damage. Also, as mentioned in some threads:
[...] The 2024 rules updates largely removed this type of non-magical-only damage resistance, and features and items that used to make an attack's damage count as magical mostly now change the damage type to either Force or Radiant instead. [...]
Related threads about removing non-magical resistances in monsters:
In regard to Dual Wielder, I think it is stronger than the 2014 version since it allows a character to make three (or more) attacks per round, but it's not immediately obvious that this is how it works. Those potential attacks are:
Those granted by the attack action. Usually one attack, but potentially more with features like Extra Attack or the Warlock's Thirsting Blade.
The extra attack of the Light property which, if you can make use of the Nick weapon Mastery, makes this attack part of the Attack action and not a bonus action.
The bonus action attack granted by the Enhanced Dual Wielding feature of the Dual Wielder feat. Although this is triggered by making an attack with a light weapon, it is not the same thing as the extra attack granted by the Light weapon property.
I also think you're absolutely right that using a 2-handed weapon would (maybe still does) outclass two weapon fighting if it weren't for the pretty specific interaction between Nick and Enhanced Dual Wielding.
@wagnarokkr I should have been more specific, instead of using "construct". Floating lutes were used in one battle. I don't know if a lute is a construct. One of them attacked an ally and I was told I couldn't use the AoO on it. I asked about the lute and the enemy who cast it and didn't get a ruling.
Here's what I was planning for my Warlock. 1st turn would be Witch bolt, followed by the Bonus action WB attack. Is that possible under the rules? I think 2014 and 2024 say you can't use the BA until the next turn. All other turns, barring complications, would be Eldritch blast and then BA WB. There are only 2 BA cantrips in the game. I'm not sure what cantrips you can just keep casting w/ your BA. Again, you are already concentrating on WB. Having 2 other ways to cancel it seems unfair. I am trying to make it less easy to break. I wasn't clear there. Getting rid of those and rolling to hit seems like a decent compromise. If I ever play him again, I will make that offer to my DM.
@Tarodnet We are still running 2014 rules so no definition for "creatures" exists. Does force damage make a weapon magical? They did have both "makes the weapon magical" and the force damage option in the 2014 description, redundant or on purpose?
@El_Jefe You'd have to take the two-weapon fighting style feat to add a damage mod to the bonus attack. Plus, the style says you have to use a light weapon to add that mod. Nick does not say that can add the mod to it. It's may not be as powerful as some may think. Although I think the feat might override the style, otherwise there's a conflict here... Maybe you can't add your mod to either the Nick or the BA.
How does everyone feel about the feat and spell changes for 2024?
I'll start out with Sentinel. It seems like the change from "make an attack" to "hit with an attack" will make it rather unpopular. At this point my party is made up of several high AC players. Our DM doesn't seem to target the squishies more often. One of us flies and hasn't been targeted much either. The word attack negates every spell that requires a save as well and doesn't trigger the OA. This was always the case. My DM noted, the last time we played, that the word "creature" is there as well. There is no definition in the 2014 rules. But things like constructs would not trigger the OA. Has this feat been nerfed?
Dual wielder should have kept the +1 to AC. You are holding 2 weapons. That should give you some protection, shielding, from attacks. Also, you can only use one light and one melee weapon now. Dual wielder was always inferior to other damage-based feats. I think just wielding a 2-handed weapon would out gun this feat at some point, at level 5? Now, Great weapon master will add your PB without a penalty.
Shillelagh. I noticed they got rid of "weapon becomes magical". The new damage die increases at certain levels are overpowered in my opinion. At most it should be a D10 at level 5 one-handed. The fact that WotC never addressed swinging a quarterstaff with two hands using Shillelagh is interesting. I said in another thread that if they would allow the Polearm master OA to be set to a D8, I would be happy with that. How many fighters, barbarians, and paladins will be running around with a QS or club and a shield? I am, combined with Pam.
Witch bolt should have changed. They should have made a roll necessary for the bonus action. In exchange, make the initial target targetable again and/or make a different target targetable if cover or range breaks the spell and is fixed. Use a BA for those so that the BA attack can't happen on that turn. You have to concentrate on the spell. Every time you're hit you need to roll to keep it up anyway. I do like the fact the "automatic" attack is now a BA.
I'm not a big spell caster, one kill so far with my Warlock. He may never see combat again. What's your opinion on the 2024 feats and spells?
We are all in danger!
Constructs are creatures, so they can trigger the reaction attack from Sentinel. This has always been the case in 5e D&D.
Witch Bolt seems fine to me. The automatic damage doesn't scale with the spell slot level, and it's relatively easy for the ongoing effect to be broken. Requiring you to roll an attack each time would make it less useful than just casting a cantrip multiple times, especially for Warlocks.
pronouns: he/she/they
wagnarokkr answered this, but there's also a definition in the Rules Glossary, where Construct is listed as one of the different Creature Types in the game.
Well, now if the attack deals damage, it can be Force damage. Also, as mentioned in some threads:
Related threads about removing non-magical resistances in monsters:
- Opinions about removal of resistances and immunities from 2024 Monster Manual?
- Question about monster ressitance in 2024
Regarding Witch Bolt, this recent thread has interesting takes on it: Is Witch Bolt Overpowered? [2024]
In regard to Dual Wielder, I think it is stronger than the 2014 version since it allows a character to make three (or more) attacks per round, but it's not immediately obvious that this is how it works. Those potential attacks are:
I also think you're absolutely right that using a 2-handed weapon would (maybe still does) outclass two weapon fighting if it weren't for the pretty specific interaction between Nick and Enhanced Dual Wielding.
@wagnarokkr I should have been more specific, instead of using "construct". Floating lutes were used in one battle. I don't know if a lute is a construct. One of them attacked an ally and I was told I couldn't use the AoO on it. I asked about the lute and the enemy who cast it and didn't get a ruling.
Here's what I was planning for my Warlock. 1st turn would be Witch bolt, followed by the Bonus action WB attack. Is that possible under the rules? I think 2014 and 2024 say you can't use the BA until the next turn. All other turns, barring complications, would be Eldritch blast and then BA WB. There are only 2 BA cantrips in the game. I'm not sure what cantrips you can just keep casting w/ your BA. Again, you are already concentrating on WB. Having 2 other ways to cancel it seems unfair. I am trying to make it less easy to break. I wasn't clear there. Getting rid of those and rolling to hit seems like a decent compromise. If I ever play him again, I will make that offer to my DM.
@Tarodnet We are still running 2014 rules so no definition for "creatures" exists. Does force damage make a weapon magical? They did have both "makes the weapon magical" and the force damage option in the 2014 description, redundant or on purpose?
@El_Jefe You'd have to take the two-weapon fighting style feat to add a damage mod to the bonus attack. Plus, the style says you have to use a light weapon to add that mod. Nick does not say that can add the mod to it. It's may not be as powerful as some may think. Although I think the feat might override the style, otherwise there's a conflict here... Maybe you can't add your mod to either the Nick or the BA.
We are all in danger!