I've seen an argument that the reason for unified spell lists is so, when they release a new spell, they don't have to specify the entire list of classes and subclasses that have access to it, and when they release a new class or subclass they don't have to specify the entire list of spells it can use. Given that they specifically talked about the purpose of class groups being to permit similar things (there are feats with requirements of Class Group: Warrior), that seems fairly persuasive.
However, this also means some anomalous spells are available, such as clerics getting smite spells or druids getting cordon of arrows, as well as some spells with balance issues away from their intended class, such as summon steed (and it's notable that eldritch blast isn't in the playtest). It seems like they could resolve this one with a fourth (and fairly small) category of spells: 'special' spells that are not part of any spell lists and are only granted by a class feature (they could also use keywords, so you gain special spells with certain keywords).
Eldritch Blast will be a feature of the Warlock according to Jeremy Crawford in one of the videos.
I would think that if they were going to make certain spells a class feature they would just make it a feature.
Find steed is an example. However, I think it might be better that find steed is not upcastable as a spell so you only get the horse template. And only Paladins can upcast it with their feature to get special mounts
Haven’t they said they’re planning on still having some class-specific spells? Agreed the current list puts some in a general list that should be class specific, assuming they will be doing that. And I would personally move the paladin’s steed to a class feature, like it was in pretty much every other edition. In the current version, bards get it before pallys, it would be annoying to see a similar scenario play out again. I guess the down side is classes start to get unwieldy and now you’re not getting the simplification you were hoping for, just moved the awkward parts somewhere else. It could be they’re keeping everything general just to get feedback, and they’ll move some into their smaller boxes later.
I still think the general lists are a weak cop-out and really hurt class identity. Bards in particular got pretty well eviscerated when it comes to their spells now.
I like the general list and how simple they make things. The problem with the bard is that even though it is called an arcane caster it honestly cast from all three list. Which is addressed with magical secrets to some degree. To me it never made sense that clerics couldn’t cast smite spells, that sorcerers couldn’t cast some of the spells wizards could cast, that warlocks were banned from so many spells, or that druids didn’t know everything a Ranger could cast. If it’s a spell it’s a spell. The full casters of that type of magic should have access to all the spells. That’s not saying that some things that were spells shouldn’t be class features instead. Eldritch blast, find steed, and the new version of smite spells should probably not be on a general spell list. None of them have to be a spell. They can all be Magic action features which could still make them not usable in anti magic fields, and potentially counterspell-able if counterspell changes as I predict it will were it works against magic actions. I can’t wait to see the divide on how many people like 3 spell list vs how many dislike it.
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I've seen an argument that the reason for unified spell lists is so, when they release a new spell, they don't have to specify the entire list of classes and subclasses that have access to it, and when they release a new class or subclass they don't have to specify the entire list of spells it can use. Given that they specifically talked about the purpose of class groups being to permit similar things (there are feats with requirements of Class Group: Warrior), that seems fairly persuasive.
However, this also means some anomalous spells are available, such as clerics getting smite spells or druids getting cordon of arrows, as well as some spells with balance issues away from their intended class, such as summon steed (and it's notable that eldritch blast isn't in the playtest). It seems like they could resolve this one with a fourth (and fairly small) category of spells: 'special' spells that are not part of any spell lists and are only granted by a class feature (they could also use keywords, so you gain special spells with certain keywords).
Eldritch Blast will be a feature of the Warlock according to Jeremy Crawford in one of the videos.
I would think that if they were going to make certain spells a class feature they would just make it a feature.
Find steed is an example. However, I think it might be better that find steed is not upcastable as a spell so you only get the horse template. And only Paladins can upcast it with their feature to get special mounts
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
They're discussing making it a class feature.
I could swear in one of the videos he said it would be a feature in the Warlock UA, but maybe you are right
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
Haven’t they said they’re planning on still having some class-specific spells? Agreed the current list puts some in a general list that should be class specific, assuming they will be doing that.
And I would personally move the paladin’s steed to a class feature, like it was in pretty much every other edition. In the current version, bards get it before pallys, it would be annoying to see a similar scenario play out again.
I guess the down side is classes start to get unwieldy and now you’re not getting the simplification you were hoping for, just moved the awkward parts somewhere else.
It could be they’re keeping everything general just to get feedback, and they’ll move some into their smaller boxes later.
I still think the general lists are a weak cop-out and really hurt class identity. Bards in particular got pretty well eviscerated when it comes to their spells now.
I like the general list and how simple they make things. The problem with the bard is that even though it is called an arcane caster it honestly cast from all three list. Which is addressed with magical secrets to some degree. To me it never made sense that clerics couldn’t cast smite spells, that sorcerers couldn’t cast some of the spells wizards could cast, that warlocks were banned from so many spells, or that druids didn’t know everything a Ranger could cast. If it’s a spell it’s a spell. The full casters of that type of magic should have access to all the spells. That’s not saying that some things that were spells shouldn’t be class features instead. Eldritch blast, find steed, and the new version of smite spells should probably not be on a general spell list. None of them have to be a spell. They can all be Magic action features which could still make them not usable in anti magic fields, and potentially counterspell-able if counterspell changes as I predict it will were it works against magic actions.
I can’t wait to see the divide on how many people like 3 spell list vs how many dislike it.