So the new UA dropped today with major changes to the Bard's spellcasting. Also after watching the video interviews with Jeremy Crawford, I think Sorcerers will get 1 of 2 things in One DnD, so I'm curious which one of the 2 possibilities you guys would prefer for the future Sorcerer.
Option 1: sorcerers are able to swap spells out on a long rest but will retain the same number of possible spells known at a time.
Option 2: sorceress will get the same number of spells know as the new Bard, spells known per level equals the number of spell slots but the spells can't be swapped out except when leveling up. This is how P2e handles sorcerer spells know.
I'm more in line with Option 1, I did see an earlier post you made about adding an expanded spell list to the older Sorcerer subclasses and it made me think how each Sorcerer subclass should have an expanded spell list based on the theme (and the role dynamic it's supporting) that goes with it. If you added the expanded spell list based on the subclass and the ability to swap out spells in the normal spell list it can allow players to further specialize their spell selections based on the role dynamic of the subclass or add some flexibility based on campaign. Add this with the metamagic and I don't see how Sorcerer's can't be used for optimal play.
But I do think that the older subclasses need to be updated with better class features, take for example the Draconic Bloodline it offers good HP, AC bonus, a natural Fly speed, and a dragon aura (I'm not including elemental affinity since I think that's okay for not) but have limitations that don't improve as they should once you get to higher levels. And if you compare them to the Monk's Way of Ascendent Dragon it seems like the Monk got the improved DB that Sorcerer's should have gotten.
What I think what will happen is that they will give the sorcerer the same spells known as the Bard, probably allow them to be swapped with spells of the same level at level ups not long rests, and restrict the spell choices to specific schools of magic. I also think like the bard they will back in 1 spell per tier that's related to the subclass like the bards song of healing.
The real issue in 5e with the sorcerer is that too much is carried over from 3.5 where Vancian magic still applied to wizards, i.e. you cast a spell and can't cast it again unless you prepare it again or prepared it a second or third time. Sorcerers in 3.5 have limited spells known but could cast each of them as many times as they wanted so long as the has spell slots. When they decided to do away with Vancian magic for 5e, which I support, they didn't give any real though into what that did the the sorcerers role in the game. They added metamagic which is cool, but its not a complete fix for the issue. Personally id like to see a middle ground, give sorcerers the extra spell per tier that is restricted to specific magic schools in-line with their subclass. but also bolster their class abilities. For instance on the Draconic sorcerer, the fact you have to take elemental adapt as a feat to bypass resistance is ridiculous to me. I think that should be baked into the class at level 1 with the dragon ancestor OR comes online at level 6 with elemental affinity, and at a much higher level, like 18 when you get your subclass capstone you can bypass immunity for a sorcery point cost.
I'm going to have to disagree with you on the first part, my theory is that they won't give the Sorcerer limitations on what schools of magic they can use like the Bard. The way I see it they are only restricting the Bard in schools because Illusion, Transmutation, Divination, and Enchantment support the theme of a Bard as a performer or a magician, also the Bard is now part of a group called Experts so they want to have the bard focus less on spellcasting (which I think they should have gone further and made it a half caster but lets save this for another discussion) and more on skills/utility.
Since the Sorcerer is going to be part of the Mage group along with Wizards and Warlocks with a focus on utility and destruction spells that does leave a lot open room on what spells they can have available to them. Also if there was a School restriction on them it would also limit what subclasses they can have, so for now I'll go under the assumption they don't have the same limits. The spell swap at level up I also don't think is viable for the Sorcerer at this point because we still don't know how their magic use will differ, the Vancian Magic I do like on the Wizard because it fits the class very well with the number of spells they can prepare along with the sheer quantity they have available but I think they might need to give some a little extra to Warlocks.
Sorcerers really need something more than just Metamagic, and I think it should lie in what subclass the player choses like each subclass will have a small spell list that's themed and the player can cast them with sorcery points instead of spell slots. I do want them to really drive hard on how the subclass shapes the Sorcerers type of magic and how they have an advantage with having certain types of spells used over others.
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So the new UA dropped today with major changes to the Bard's spellcasting. Also after watching the video interviews with Jeremy Crawford, I think Sorcerers will get 1 of 2 things in One DnD, so I'm curious which one of the 2 possibilities you guys would prefer for the future Sorcerer.
Option 1: sorcerers are able to swap spells out on a long rest but will retain the same number of possible spells known at a time.
Option 2: sorceress will get the same number of spells know as the new Bard, spells known per level equals the number of spell slots but the spells can't be swapped out except when leveling up. This is how P2e handles sorcerer spells know.
Which option do would you rather have?
I'm more in line with Option 1, I did see an earlier post you made about adding an expanded spell list to the older Sorcerer subclasses and it made me think how each Sorcerer subclass should have an expanded spell list based on the theme (and the role dynamic it's supporting) that goes with it. If you added the expanded spell list based on the subclass and the ability to swap out spells in the normal spell list it can allow players to further specialize their spell selections based on the role dynamic of the subclass or add some flexibility based on campaign. Add this with the metamagic and I don't see how Sorcerer's can't be used for optimal play.
But I do think that the older subclasses need to be updated with better class features, take for example the Draconic Bloodline it offers good HP, AC bonus, a natural Fly speed, and a dragon aura (I'm not including elemental affinity since I think that's okay for not) but have limitations that don't improve as they should once you get to higher levels. And if you compare them to the Monk's Way of Ascendent Dragon it seems like the Monk got the improved DB that Sorcerer's should have gotten.
What I think what will happen is that they will give the sorcerer the same spells known as the Bard, probably allow them to be swapped with spells of the same level at level ups not long rests, and restrict the spell choices to specific schools of magic. I also think like the bard they will back in 1 spell per tier that's related to the subclass like the bards song of healing.
The real issue in 5e with the sorcerer is that too much is carried over from 3.5 where Vancian magic still applied to wizards, i.e. you cast a spell and can't cast it again unless you prepare it again or prepared it a second or third time. Sorcerers in 3.5 have limited spells known but could cast each of them as many times as they wanted so long as the has spell slots. When they decided to do away with Vancian magic for 5e, which I support, they didn't give any real though into what that did the the sorcerers role in the game. They added metamagic which is cool, but its not a complete fix for the issue. Personally id like to see a middle ground, give sorcerers the extra spell per tier that is restricted to specific magic schools in-line with their subclass. but also bolster their class abilities. For instance on the Draconic sorcerer, the fact you have to take elemental adapt as a feat to bypass resistance is ridiculous to me. I think that should be baked into the class at level 1 with the dragon ancestor OR comes online at level 6 with elemental affinity, and at a much higher level, like 18 when you get your subclass capstone you can bypass immunity for a sorcery point cost.
I'm going to have to disagree with you on the first part, my theory is that they won't give the Sorcerer limitations on what schools of magic they can use like the Bard. The way I see it they are only restricting the Bard in schools because Illusion, Transmutation, Divination, and Enchantment support the theme of a Bard as a performer or a magician, also the Bard is now part of a group called Experts so they want to have the bard focus less on spellcasting (which I think they should have gone further and made it a half caster but lets save this for another discussion) and more on skills/utility.
Since the Sorcerer is going to be part of the Mage group along with Wizards and Warlocks with a focus on utility and destruction spells that does leave a lot open room on what spells they can have available to them. Also if there was a School restriction on them it would also limit what subclasses they can have, so for now I'll go under the assumption they don't have the same limits. The spell swap at level up I also don't think is viable for the Sorcerer at this point because we still don't know how their magic use will differ, the Vancian Magic I do like on the Wizard because it fits the class very well with the number of spells they can prepare along with the sheer quantity they have available but I think they might need to give some a little extra to Warlocks.
Sorcerers really need something more than just Metamagic, and I think it should lie in what subclass the player choses like each subclass will have a small spell list that's themed and the player can cast them with sorcery points instead of spell slots. I do want them to really drive hard on how the subclass shapes the Sorcerers type of magic and how they have an advantage with having certain types of spells used over others.