The class variants UA has been released for over a week now. When will it be available on DDB character creation? I'm VERY interested in the new warlock options.
The new UA does something (actually several things) DDB has never had to do before, things it is not designed to do. It will take some time. I bet some of the options (like warlock option) will be out soon.
It's a huge update and not additional subclasses (which are easier because they only ever add to the base class), but this replaces/modifies base class abilities. It's quite possible some of this will require brand new code, not just inputting data, which is what a lot of the UA stuff has been. This is non-trivial and depending on how DDB codes their stuff, it could actually be quite difficult to change. This is the kind of thing that you don't code for before, because it's something that might never have been needed.
Source: been a developer for 20 years.
So, please be patient. I know it's exciting... but honestly, a lot of it you can just write in the character's notes, or create a custom magic item that gives you the ability.
It's a huge update and not additional subclasses (which are easier because they only ever add to the base class), but this replaces/modifies base class abilities. It's quite possible some of this will require brand new code, not just inputting data, which is what a lot of the UA stuff has been. This is non-trivial and depending on how DDB codes their stuff, it could actually be quite difficult to change. This is the kind of thing that you don't code for before, because it's something that might never have been needed.
Source: been a developer for 20 years.
So, please be patient. I know it's exciting... but honestly, a lot of it you can just write in the character's notes, or create a custom magic item that gives you the ability.
As a developer myself, I just wanted to back up everything NateFinch said, and I wanted to add to this that the work required to implement this UA likely overlaps with some of what they need to do to allow full class homebrewing, so we may be getting a lot more out of this than just what Wizards put together for the UA. I'm not saying we're definitely going to get class homebrewing when this is done, but at least some of the groundwork will be laid to make that possible, and full class homebrewing is something that's been asked for by a lot of us.
Rather than modify the code for each class to allow the UA variants how about duplicating each class as a UA class and making the changes to those. Still a lot of work not only for the changes but also to fit them into the site design and character builder.
Rather than modify the code for each class to allow the UA variants how about duplicating each class as a UA class and making the changes to those. Still a lot of work not only for the changes but also to fit them into the site design and character builder.
The variants aren't meant to be taken wholesale though, I don't think. Like, you could allow the new channel divinity option for paladins and clerics to regain spell slots, but not allow the Paladin fighting style that would give it cantrips. So you can't just make UA versions of the classes unless you want to make a UA version of each permutation of these options, which would probably take even more time than just modifying the code to handle it properly in the first place.
Except the Ranger. Go ahead and overhaul that because I don't think anyone is going to want to play the stock Ranger when these options exist.
As a Ranger main and one who is running 2 of them in different campaigns I’m just over here dying right now. Luckily it’s easy enough to just mentally swap things out (the new rules are so rules light and easy compared to the LISTS that do little to nothing of the PHB Ranger...) but just having it in there for sure would be such a blessing.
Keep in mind also that Rising from the Last War comes out next week. The Beyond team might prioritize that when it comes out, since it is official content rather than playtest material.
The variants aren't meant to be taken wholesale though, I don't think. Like, you could allow the new channel divinity option for paladins and clerics to regain spell slots, but not allow the Paladin fighting style that would give it cantrips.
I don't think any of the changes are more restrictive or remove options. They could code it to allow all of them and leave it up to DM to say what options are allowed.
The variants aren't meant to be taken wholesale though, I don't think. Like, you could allow the new channel divinity option for paladins and clerics to regain spell slots, but not allow the Paladin fighting style that would give it cantrips.
I don't think any of the changes are more restrictive or remove options. They could code it to allow all of them and leave it up to DM to say what options are allowed.
I think that's a given, but the technical challenges of adding optional additions/replacements for class features still remains since the system was never built for it to begin with. This is less of an issue for things that just add additional options to already-established features, like the new fighting styles that just get added to the existing pool, but for features that actually enhance or replace other features, like the Ranger features, it's going to be more complicated to build.
In the meantime, I have been going through the four classes in my party and adding feats for the expanded spell lists and for the new class feature variants, making the new actions available and trackable on character sheets when possible. I have a ranger, so it's likely they will have to simply ignore the class features they intend to replace with the variants, like Primeval Awareness.
It's a fair amount of work, but it's better than having folks write everything into their notes.
If it ends up being too clunky, they can at least benefit from the expanded spell lists and the class features that add to, rather than replace, existing features.
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The class variants UA has been released for over a week now. When will it be available on DDB character creation? I'm VERY interested in the new warlock options.
The new UA does something (actually several things) DDB has never had to do before, things it is not designed to do. It will take some time. I bet some of the options (like warlock option) will be out soon.
It's a huge update and not additional subclasses (which are easier because they only ever add to the base class), but this replaces/modifies base class abilities. It's quite possible some of this will require brand new code, not just inputting data, which is what a lot of the UA stuff has been. This is non-trivial and depending on how DDB codes their stuff, it could actually be quite difficult to change. This is the kind of thing that you don't code for before, because it's something that might never have been needed.
Source: been a developer for 20 years.
So, please be patient. I know it's exciting... but honestly, a lot of it you can just write in the character's notes, or create a custom magic item that gives you the ability.
As a developer myself, I just wanted to back up everything NateFinch said, and I wanted to add to this that the work required to implement this UA likely overlaps with some of what they need to do to allow full class homebrewing, so we may be getting a lot more out of this than just what Wizards put together for the UA. I'm not saying we're definitely going to get class homebrewing when this is done, but at least some of the groundwork will be laid to make that possible, and full class homebrewing is something that's been asked for by a lot of us.
Rather than modify the code for each class to allow the UA variants how about duplicating each class as a UA class and making the changes to those. Still a lot of work not only for the changes but also to fit them into the site design and character builder.
The variants aren't meant to be taken wholesale though, I don't think. Like, you could allow the new channel divinity option for paladins and clerics to regain spell slots, but not allow the Paladin fighting style that would give it cantrips. So you can't just make UA versions of the classes unless you want to make a UA version of each permutation of these options, which would probably take even more time than just modifying the code to handle it properly in the first place.
Except the Ranger. Go ahead and overhaul that because I don't think anyone is going to want to play the stock Ranger when these options exist.
Amen to that.
As a Ranger main and one who is running 2 of them in different campaigns I’m just over here dying right now. Luckily it’s easy enough to just mentally swap things out (the new rules are so rules light and easy compared to the LISTS that do little to nothing of the PHB Ranger...) but just having it in there for sure would be such a blessing.
Keep in mind also that Rising from the Last War comes out next week. The Beyond team might prioritize that when it comes out, since it is official content rather than playtest material.
I don't think any of the changes are more restrictive or remove options. They could code it to allow all of them and leave it up to DM to say what options are allowed.
The Barbarian has two separate features that can be swapped out. They're not meant to be mandatory both or nothing.
I think that's a given, but the technical challenges of adding optional additions/replacements for class features still remains since the system was never built for it to begin with. This is less of an issue for things that just add additional options to already-established features, like the new fighting styles that just get added to the existing pool, but for features that actually enhance or replace other features, like the Ranger features, it's going to be more complicated to build.
I expect the implementation to take a while.
In the meantime, I have been going through the four classes in my party and adding feats for the expanded spell lists and for the new class feature variants, making the new actions available and trackable on character sheets when possible. I have a ranger, so it's likely they will have to simply ignore the class features they intend to replace with the variants, like Primeval Awareness.
It's a fair amount of work, but it's better than having folks write everything into their notes.
If it ends up being too clunky, they can at least benefit from the expanded spell lists and the class features that add to, rather than replace, existing features.