I might have missed it having a quick poke around this board, but didn't see anyone posting the news from the latest Dragon Talk (August 26th) - the Artificer will be entering print in Eberron: Rising from the Last War with three sub-classes...
On the one hand it is disappointing the archivist couldn't be salvaged (/got shelved), as it was an interesting idea that was let down by its core features being under-defined to the point of brokenness - but I'd personally have chosen this outcome over the UA form of it becoming official.
Too early to know if the UA archivist on D&D Beyond will be sticking around, or if it will be incompatible with the final form of the artificer & its sub-class model - I expect their will be homebrew adaptations aplenty from day one, regardless!
Once the Artificer goes live, the UA versions - including the Archivist - will be deactivated. Existing UA artificers will keep their sheets, but can't level as the UA class. Of course, once the artificer goes live people will be able to create any of the usual seething plethora of poorly-balanced, badly-formatted DDB Public Homebrew subclasses for it, at least a quarter of which will be Archivist retreads. So we'll be good.
I loved the concept of the Archivist, but it was poorly designed. Better to shelve it for now and come out with a class that runs smoothly. They can re-release the Archivist later.
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Canto alla vita alla sua bellezza ad ogni sua ferita ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
I loved the concept of the Archivist, but it was poorly designed. Better to shelve it for now and come out with a class that runs smoothly. They can re-release the Archivist later.
Same I rather disliked the manifest mind mechanic all together, but I liked the bonus skills, telepathy, and teleportation options it got.
Agreed, the concept was there, but of the three sub-classes it was the most over powered with its Information Overload and invincible scout.
There is still a chance it could show up in future installments, it might have just needed more refinement than the deadline for making it into the book allowed.
Once the Artificer goes live, the UA versions - including the Archivist - will be deactivated. Existing UA artificers will keep their sheets, but can't level as the UA class. Of course, once the artificer goes live people will be able to create any of the usual seething plethora of poorly-balanced, badly-formatted DDB Public Homebrew subclasses for it, at least a quarter of which will be Archivist retreads. So we'll be good.
I thought unpublished UA material at this point DOESN'T get archived but will stay on the site? So while the other subs will be removed and available for purchase, the archivist should continue to remain as UA playtest material?
Once the Artificer goes live, the UA versions - including the Archivist - will be deactivated. Existing UA artificers will keep their sheets, but can't level as the UA class. Of course, once the artificer goes live people will be able to create any of the usual seething plethora of poorly-balanced, badly-formatted DDB Public Homebrew subclasses for it, at least a quarter of which will be Archivist retreads. So we'll be good.
I thought unpublished UA material at this point DOESN'T get archived but will stay on the site? So while the other subs will be removed and available for purchase, the archivist should continue to remain as UA playtest material?
That is generally correct, but archivist is a bit of a weird case. The base class is getting published, and the UA version has to be removed. If the base class is changed in any significant way such that the old subclass no longer compatible, it will have nowhere to be accessed from (as it will have no base class on DDB).
Hm. My understanding from the "UA on DDB" post is that once Wizards archives a piece of UA, as it would have to in order to release an official version, then that UA is no longer accessible on DDB for new characters Existing characters can keep it, but only if they don't level up. Apologies if that understanding was incorrect and I misled.
Either way, I'll admit to being rather glad the Archivist didn't quite make the cut yet. That always felt like the most contrived of the artificer subclasses, trying way too hard to fit into the Pet Paradigm with its Manifest Mind schtick and ending up grossly overpowered because of it. The idea of a lore and knowledge-focused artificer (more so than most, anyways) is interesting, but I think it would nee a different design direction than what we got with the Archivist. Heh, part of me almost wants to thumb my nose at wizards (the class, not the company) by having a future Archivist centered on an Artificial Mind inside a book - less floating invincible psychofaces and more adviser spirit inside a literal Tome of All Knowledge.
I liked the Archivist, but I felt that it was open to abuse in numerous ways and that the concept might be put to better use for a future psionic based class/subclass, and that was pretty much the feedback I gave on that portion of the Artificer survey.
Dang, Archivist was the premie to Psion that I was willing to compromise with. Manifest Mind and Information Overload as a combo were just a long range Find Familiar. Can’t wait til we are out of this steampunk/tinkery/retro futurism creation period.
I might have missed it having a quick poke around this board, but didn't see anyone posting the news from the latest Dragon Talk (August 26th) - the Artificer will be entering print in Eberron: Rising from the Last War with three sub-classes...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq85-bVJwh0&feature=youtu.be&t=1737
On the one hand it is disappointing the archivist couldn't be salvaged (/got shelved), as it was an interesting idea that was let down by its core features being under-defined to the point of brokenness - but I'd personally have chosen this outcome over the UA form of it becoming official.
Too early to know if the UA archivist on D&D Beyond will be sticking around, or if it will be incompatible with the final form of the artificer & its sub-class model - I expect their will be homebrew adaptations aplenty from day one, regardless!
Just heard it. That's really disappointing as it was the most interesting subclass and Crawford made it sound like Alchemist was getting the axe.
Attending Academy until November, slowdown in posts continue.
Once the Artificer goes live, the UA versions - including the Archivist - will be deactivated. Existing UA artificers will keep their sheets, but can't level as the UA class. Of course, once the artificer goes live people will be able to create any of the usual seething plethora of poorly-balanced, badly-formatted DDB Public Homebrew subclasses for it, at least a quarter of which will be Archivist retreads. So we'll be good.
Why you shouldn't start ANOTHER thread about DDB not giving away free redeems on your hardcopy book purchases.
Thinking of starting ANOTHER thread asking why Epic Boons haven't been implemented? Read this first to learn why you shouldn't!
I loved the concept of the Archivist, but it was poorly designed. Better to shelve it for now and come out with a class that runs smoothly. They can re-release the Archivist later.
Canto alla vita
alla sua bellezza
ad ogni sua ferita
ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty
To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me
The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
Same I rather disliked the manifest mind mechanic all together, but I liked the bonus skills, telepathy, and teleportation options it got.
Agreed, the concept was there, but of the three sub-classes it was the most over powered with its Information Overload and invincible scout.
There is still a chance it could show up in future installments, it might have just needed more refinement than the deadline for making it into the book allowed.
I thought unpublished UA material at this point DOESN'T get archived but will stay on the site? So while the other subs will be removed and available for purchase, the archivist should continue to remain as UA playtest material?
That is generally correct, but archivist is a bit of a weird case. The base class is getting published, and the UA version has to be removed. If the base class is changed in any significant way such that the old subclass no longer compatible, it will have nowhere to be accessed from (as it will have no base class on DDB).
Hm. My understanding from the "UA on DDB" post is that once Wizards archives a piece of UA, as it would have to in order to release an official version, then that UA is no longer accessible on DDB for new characters Existing characters can keep it, but only if they don't level up. Apologies if that understanding was incorrect and I misled.
Either way, I'll admit to being rather glad the Archivist didn't quite make the cut yet. That always felt like the most contrived of the artificer subclasses, trying way too hard to fit into the Pet Paradigm with its Manifest Mind schtick and ending up grossly overpowered because of it. The idea of a lore and knowledge-focused artificer (more so than most, anyways) is interesting, but I think it would nee a different design direction than what we got with the Archivist. Heh, part of me almost wants to thumb my nose at wizards (the class, not the company) by having a future Archivist centered on an Artificial Mind inside a book - less floating invincible psychofaces and more adviser spirit inside a literal Tome of All Knowledge.
Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, wizards.
Why you shouldn't start ANOTHER thread about DDB not giving away free redeems on your hardcopy book purchases.
Thinking of starting ANOTHER thread asking why Epic Boons haven't been implemented? Read this first to learn why you shouldn't!
I liked the Archivist, but I felt that it was open to abuse in numerous ways and that the concept might be put to better use for a future psionic based class/subclass, and that was pretty much the feedback I gave on that portion of the Artificer survey.
Consider the Viashino UA.
It'll probably get revised and be in the next splatbook.
Dang, Archivist was the premie to Psion that I was willing to compromise with. Manifest Mind and Information Overload as a combo were just a long range Find Familiar. Can’t wait til we are out of this steampunk/tinkery/retro futurism creation period.
Time to enter post apocalypse, grimdark, mind edge period. Not my personal cup of tea, but what happens will happen.