I like the thematic re-tool from The Revived to The Phantom. Revived felt not-at-all rogue specific, but Phantom as a ghostly assassin type actually makes sense.
They've also given the genie the elemental flair a lot of people thought it was missing, and the choices of expanded spell lists all seem pretty engaging.
Finally, talking spell book AI definitely sounds more fitting as a wizard subclass, and I especially like how we're seeing another class ability that gives bonuses to real actual crafting like the Artificer's Magic Item Adept, as I feel like it's such an often neglected area of gameplay for how powerful it can be.
I love these! The new genie is very good, and I like the theme of the wizard, it is very good for a scribe/sage wizard. Bookworm. I also like the phantom, and is very cool, and I could see myself playing all three of these subclasses in the future. Joint best UA with the stars druid and fey wanderer!
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'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
I love the changes to the Revived! I really hope that the Phantom makes it to print!
The Genie patron is really good too. I like the addition of elemental abilities and removal of the direct contact with the patron as a mechanic. The Vessel is a cool idea as well.
Oh, just realised that the awakened spellbook would be so fun from a rp view. Imagine it can talk and such. And the genie lamp feature would be fun for a criminal or charlatan, as you can hide when meeting people. You have to meet the town guard but you're in trouble: have a comfy rest and wait till your friends go somewhere else. And being a ghost thief? Oh god, looking over at it makes me want this to be out on DnD beyond right now!
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'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
The only ability in this UA that I believe needs work is the "unlimited" ability to switch damage types on the fly. Psychic or Force damage "Fireballs" at the drop of a hat may be a bit much.
I looked over the Wizard. Levi, I’m sorry to say this. It looks like this might be what happened to your Archivist. I think I should offer you condolences for your loss.
The only ability in this UA that I believe needs work is the "unlimited" ability to switch damage types on the fly. Psychic or Force damage "Fireballs" at the drop of a hat may be a bit much.
Overall super-pleased - not keen on Phantom (I really enjoyed action economy of The Returned while acknowledging it is pretty close to the Thief feature), but loving the other two.
I am waivering over the feature above...
Negative: does largely make damage resistance and damage types irrelevant, which for the wizard especially makes a bunch of spells even less competitive/more 'OP'.
Positive: it is the only combat buff the subclass gets, and there are some substantial damage & utility buffs across rival subclasses.
Positive: it is surely just storytelling fun to tack unexpected damage types on to everything e.g. a Fireball of blunt that whallops everything and sets it ablaze!*
* Completely outshines the Sorcerers new UA metamagic, but if we set restrictions to "mustn't outshine the sorcerer" then that would be a low ceiling to design around...
Overall I think it's fine, though I wouldn't blink if it were revised to "INT times per day" in future - I just love the idea of a spellbook that you can recreate ad hoc & scribe to for half costs, so everything beyond that is just icing on the cake for me.
As someone currently playing as the original "Noble Genie", the "tethering" mechanic was interesting, and provided some amusing moments (like when our Monk player proceeded to clobber two cultists with his fists...and then shot "Eldritch Blast" out of his eyeballs. At that point, the baddies decided they wanted NOTHING to do with that Monk).
But the use of the tether was hit-or-miss...relying on a player to accept the gift and strategically using it at the right moment limited its capability.
This new re-visited "Genie Patron", I must admit, seems EXACTLY what a player wanting a genie for their patron would hope for.
Bottled Respite: Having your own personal Demiplane-lite is the perfect tool for mischief...but you bet that vessel is going to become a target once it works a few times. From a role-playing perspective, I like the "look" of a genie-themed sanctuary...in my mind, I'd picture it being very exotic & comfortable, likely based off whatever palace your Noble Genie would occupy themselves.
Genie's Wrath: A modest boost to damage on a turn-by-turn basis, but damage that will add up over time...and let's face it: Warlocks use Eldritch Blasts frequently, so adding some elemental-flavor to your force damage isn't a bad way to operate...toss in "Agonizing Blast" for further damage, and your Warlock becomes quite formidable.
Elemental Gift: Forfeiting customized resistance in favor of an elemental resistance of your chosen patron's element, you become a sturdier character...but that bonus-action fly speed is the real gem here. Between the "Bottled Respite" and this, you're starting to become more like a genie yourself, and that is just SWEET. I picture your lower-half becoming a swirling maelstrom of your chosen element...perfect.
Sanctuary Vessel: Stop, just STOP. This is becoming just TOO GOOD. Now you can invite your allies into your sweet vessel, and toss out troublemakers like a bouncer at the bar? And giving a condensed short-rest to 10 minutes is going to provide wonderful strategies to encounters...Monks & Fighters will thank the Warlock especially.
Limited Wish: They honestly had me at adding "Wish" to the spell list...good reason enough to stick with the character in a hypothetical Level 1-20 campaign. They could have kept the "banishment" or treasure-tribute features from the previous version and I'd STILL have been happy...but then they spoil us.
As someone who constantly agonizes over selecting a spellcaster class that has the spells I enjoy to use, giving the "Genie" warlock a means to cast that one spell you like from 6th Level or lower from ANY other class is just AMAZING. Of course, you only get this ability back after you roll 1d4 Long Rests...but that is more than reasonable considering the flexibility the feature provides. Minor wish-granting at lower levels before you get the big "Wish" at 9th level?
Add that this essentially allows a free casting of a spell that doesn't meddle with your own limited spell slots...it's just fantastic.
This re-visited subclass checks off damn-near every mechanic a player wanting a Genie-patron could want. Bravo.
Man, I am gonna have fun with character creation now. I'm definitly gonna pick Order of the Scribes and the Phantom for my Rouge/Wizard character! Plus the new changes will definetly help with my Noble Genie Patron Drow's backstory.
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Damion Wild, Mark Of Storm Half-Elf, Druid (Circle Of Wildfire) 5, Monk 3
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Here's the link: https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/unearthed-arcana/subclasses-revisited
Now discuss
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
I like the thematic re-tool from The Revived to The Phantom. Revived felt not-at-all rogue specific, but Phantom as a ghostly assassin type actually makes sense.
They've also given the genie the elemental flair a lot of people thought it was missing, and the choices of expanded spell lists all seem pretty engaging.
Finally, talking spell book AI definitely sounds more fitting as a wizard subclass, and I especially like how we're seeing another class ability that gives bonuses to real actual crafting like the Artificer's Magic Item Adept, as I feel like it's such an often neglected area of gameplay for how powerful it can be.
Overall I'm happy with the updates! Good UA!
I love these! The new genie is very good, and I like the theme of the wizard, it is very good for a scribe/sage wizard. Bookworm. I also like the phantom, and is very cool, and I could see myself playing all three of these subclasses in the future. Joint best UA with the stars druid and fey wanderer!
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
I'll worldbuild for your DnD games!
Just a D&D enjoyer, check out my fiverr page if you need any worldbuilding done for ya!
I love the changes to the Revived! I really hope that the Phantom makes it to print!
The Genie patron is really good too. I like the addition of elemental abilities and removal of the direct contact with the patron as a mechanic. The Vessel is a cool idea as well.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
Oh, just realised that the awakened spellbook would be so fun from a rp view. Imagine it can talk and such. And the genie lamp feature would be fun for a criminal or charlatan, as you can hide when meeting people. You have to meet the town guard but you're in trouble: have a comfy rest and wait till your friends go somewhere else. And being a ghost thief? Oh god, looking over at it makes me want this to be out on DnD beyond right now!
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
I'll worldbuild for your DnD games!
Just a D&D enjoyer, check out my fiverr page if you need any worldbuilding done for ya!
I really don't think the Wizard needs yet another subclass......
BUT I REALLY WANT THE ORDER OF SCRIBES!!!
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
Yes. Me too. All of these should be official. In a book called 'Otiluke's Unearthed Arcana'.
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
I'll worldbuild for your DnD games!
Just a D&D enjoyer, check out my fiverr page if you need any worldbuilding done for ya!
The only ability in this UA that I believe needs work is the "unlimited" ability to switch damage types on the fly. Psychic or Force damage "Fireballs" at the drop of a hat may be a bit much.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
The Rogue seems fine, but I haven’t really read it.
I am indifferent to the Genie Patron.
I looked over the Wizard. Levi, I’m sorry to say this. It looks like this might be what happened to your Archivist. I think I should offer you condolences for your loss.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I think these subclasses all really benefited from a second pass.
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 hope everyone took time to fill out the survey.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
Glad the Genie Patron gives Wish.
Partway through the quest for absolute truth.
I did. I had a lot to say, so it took awhile.
I'll respond to this thread with my opinions on everything soon.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Otiluke's Opulent Oddities?
And a "Lesser Wish" as a feature!
That is good!
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
And a combination Rope Trick Bag of Holding at level 1.
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!
Overall super-pleased - not keen on Phantom (I really enjoyed action economy of The Returned while acknowledging it is pretty close to the Thief feature), but loving the other two.
I am waivering over the feature above...
* Completely outshines the Sorcerers new UA metamagic, but if we set restrictions to "mustn't outshine the sorcerer" then that would be a low ceiling to design around...
Overall I think it's fine, though I wouldn't blink if it were revised to "INT times per day" in future - I just love the idea of a spellbook that you can recreate ad hoc & scribe to for half costs, so everything beyond that is just icing on the cake for me.
Regarding the Genie Patron:
As someone currently playing as the original "Noble Genie", the "tethering" mechanic was interesting, and provided some amusing moments (like when our Monk player proceeded to clobber two cultists with his fists...and then shot "Eldritch Blast" out of his eyeballs. At that point, the baddies decided they wanted NOTHING to do with that Monk).
But the use of the tether was hit-or-miss...relying on a player to accept the gift and strategically using it at the right moment limited its capability.
This new re-visited "Genie Patron", I must admit, seems EXACTLY what a player wanting a genie for their patron would hope for.
Bottled Respite: Having your own personal Demiplane-lite is the perfect tool for mischief...but you bet that vessel is going to become a target once it works a few times. From a role-playing perspective, I like the "look" of a genie-themed sanctuary...in my mind, I'd picture it being very exotic & comfortable, likely based off whatever palace your Noble Genie would occupy themselves.
Genie's Wrath: A modest boost to damage on a turn-by-turn basis, but damage that will add up over time...and let's face it: Warlocks use Eldritch Blasts frequently, so adding some elemental-flavor to your force damage isn't a bad way to operate...toss in "Agonizing Blast" for further damage, and your Warlock becomes quite formidable.
Elemental Gift: Forfeiting customized resistance in favor of an elemental resistance of your chosen patron's element, you become a sturdier character...but that bonus-action fly speed is the real gem here. Between the "Bottled Respite" and this, you're starting to become more like a genie yourself, and that is just SWEET. I picture your lower-half becoming a swirling maelstrom of your chosen element...perfect.
Sanctuary Vessel: Stop, just STOP. This is becoming just TOO GOOD. Now you can invite your allies into your sweet vessel, and toss out troublemakers like a bouncer at the bar? And giving a condensed short-rest to 10 minutes is going to provide wonderful strategies to encounters...Monks & Fighters will thank the Warlock especially.
Limited Wish: They honestly had me at adding "Wish" to the spell list...good reason enough to stick with the character in a hypothetical Level 1-20 campaign. They could have kept the "banishment" or treasure-tribute features from the previous version and I'd STILL have been happy...but then they spoil us.
As someone who constantly agonizes over selecting a spellcaster class that has the spells I enjoy to use, giving the "Genie" warlock a means to cast that one spell you like from 6th Level or lower from ANY other class is just AMAZING. Of course, you only get this ability back after you roll 1d4 Long Rests...but that is more than reasonable considering the flexibility the feature provides. Minor wish-granting at lower levels before you get the big "Wish" at 9th level?
Add that this essentially allows a free casting of a spell that doesn't meddle with your own limited spell slots...it's just fantastic.
This re-visited subclass checks off damn-near every mechanic a player wanting a Genie-patron could want. Bravo.
Man, I am gonna have fun with character creation now.
I'm definitly gonna pick Order of the Scribes and the Phantom for my Rouge/Wizard character!
Plus the new changes will definetly help with my Noble Genie Patron Drow's backstory.
Damion Wild, Mark Of Storm Half-Elf, Druid (Circle Of Wildfire) 5, Monk 3