For some reason, the designers seem determined to eliminate Known Spells in 5.24 (5E + 2024), but calling spells you can only change one of on level up doesn't sound like a Prepared Spell. In fact, it seems to create confusion - my players were thrown off by the use of Known Spell for Warlock and Sorcerer. Just call spells that can only be swapped out on a level-up Known Spells. It feels like they are trying to limit the number of data fields for the new VTT.
I was happy to see Wizard went away from preparing spells by level, closer to the old way. IMO, clerics, druids, and wizards should prepare spells based on spell-casting ability + level (I'd even say INT mod + level to make INT more valuable). I could even see Bards having a Repertoire vs. a Set List, with the former being Level + Proficiency Bonus + INT (or Spellcasting) Mod and the latter being a set value such as Level +PB based on Bard Level. [this is a spitball - I'd be open to suggestions from peeps who thought about this more than 10 minutes].
For some reason, the designers seem determined to eliminate Known Spells in 5.24 (5E + 2024), but calling spells you can only change one of on level up doesn't sound like a Prepared Spell. In fact, it seems to create confusion - my players were thrown off by the use of Known Spell for Warlock and Sorcerer. Just call spells that can only be swapped out on a level-up Known Spells. It feels like they are trying to limit the number of data fields for the new VTT.
I was happy to see Wizard went away from preparing spells by level, closer to the old way. IMO, clerics, druids, and wizards should prepare spells based on spell-casting ability + level (I'd even say INT mod + level to make INT more valuable). I could even see Bards having a Repertoire vs. a Set List, with the former being Level + Proficiency Bonus + INT (or Spellcasting) Mod and the latter being a set value such as Level +PB based on Bard Level. [this is a spitball - I'd be open to suggestions from peeps who thought about this more than 10 minutes].
If it at least allowed you to change all of the spells on level up I would understand, but just one? Exactly.
They kinda screwed up the terminology across the playtest. First, when rangers and bards were out, they wrote that you can change any spell during long rest. Not list of spells, as it was in 5e PHB, but "any spell". And now this. Essentially, as far as I can understand, warlock and sorcerer still have known spells, not prepared spells.
Effectively they are spells known for Sorcerers and Warlocks, but by standardizing the terminology they avoid confusion when other features say "you always have X spell prepared" or "if you have at least one spell of X level prepared, you can Y." It also better explains how/why you "forget" a given spell in favor of another one.
With all that said, I agree that swapping a single spell on level up is a bit too miserly. It runs right into the problem Crawford claimed to be trying to solve with the Bard and Ranger change, that inexperienced players who pick the wrong spells end up punished unless their DM intervenes. I think sorcerers at least should be able to change out more than 1 spell per level, maybe Cha mod per level.
What if it is changed to that when leveling up they can change as many spells as the proficiency bonus? Is that going to be okay or are we still short?
What if it is changed to that when leveling up they can change as many spells as the proficiency bonus? Is that going to be okay or are we still short?
Yeah I think that might be fine. It starts at 50% of your spells prepared at 2nd level but then drops rapidly thereafter.
Even changing out spells only at level up seems a bit tough for new players. If you are unfamiliar with the spells or go a long time between level ups, there is not much room for experimentation or making mistakes. And at lvl 20 your spell list is permanent. What about "known" spell casters (even if it is called something else) being able to change out 1 spell each long rest? Thus a week of downtime/traveling can let a player fix their spell list. And can have an experimental or niche spell each day to try out.
Even changing out spells only at level up seems a bit tough for new players. If you are unfamiliar with the spells or go a long time between level ups, there is not much room for experimentation or making mistakes. And at lvl 20 your spell list is permanent. What about "known" spell casters (even if it is called something else) being able to change out 1 spell each long rest? Thus a week of downtime/traveling can let a player fix their spell list. And can have an experimental or niche spell each day to try out.
I'm okay with that too. Fluff it as meditation (sorcerer) and beseeching (warlock)
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For some reason, the designers seem determined to eliminate Known Spells in 5.24 (5E + 2024), but calling spells you can only change one of on level up doesn't sound like a Prepared Spell. In fact, it seems to create confusion - my players were thrown off by the use of Known Spell for Warlock and Sorcerer. Just call spells that can only be swapped out on a level-up Known Spells. It feels like they are trying to limit the number of data fields for the new VTT.
I was happy to see Wizard went away from preparing spells by level, closer to the old way. IMO, clerics, druids, and wizards should prepare spells based on spell-casting ability + level (I'd even say INT mod + level to make INT more valuable). I could even see Bards having a Repertoire vs. a Set List, with the former being Level + Proficiency Bonus + INT (or Spellcasting) Mod and the latter being a set value such as Level +PB based on Bard Level. [this is a spitball - I'd be open to suggestions from peeps who thought about this more than 10 minutes].
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If it at least allowed you to change all of the spells on level up I would understand, but just one? Exactly.
They kinda screwed up the terminology across the playtest. First, when rangers and bards were out, they wrote that you can change any spell during long rest. Not list of spells, as it was in 5e PHB, but "any spell". And now this. Essentially, as far as I can understand, warlock and sorcerer still have known spells, not prepared spells.
Effectively they are spells known for Sorcerers and Warlocks, but by standardizing the terminology they avoid confusion when other features say "you always have X spell prepared" or "if you have at least one spell of X level prepared, you can Y." It also better explains how/why you "forget" a given spell in favor of another one.
With all that said, I agree that swapping a single spell on level up is a bit too miserly. It runs right into the problem Crawford claimed to be trying to solve with the Bard and Ranger change, that inexperienced players who pick the wrong spells end up punished unless their DM intervenes. I think sorcerers at least should be able to change out more than 1 spell per level, maybe Cha mod per level.
What if it is changed to that when leveling up they can change as many spells as the proficiency bonus? Is that going to be okay or are we still short?
Yeah I think that might be fine. It starts at 50% of your spells prepared at 2nd level but then drops rapidly thereafter.
Even changing out spells only at level up seems a bit tough for new players. If you are unfamiliar with the spells or go a long time between level ups, there is not much room for experimentation or making mistakes. And at lvl 20 your spell list is permanent. What about "known" spell casters (even if it is called something else) being able to change out 1 spell each long rest? Thus a week of downtime/traveling can let a player fix their spell list. And can have an experimental or niche spell each day to try out.
I'm okay with that too. Fluff it as meditation (sorcerer) and beseeching (warlock)