Designer Insights from Unearthed Arcana: Mystic Subclasses

Great question 

Re: "LEVEL 17: IMPROVED MYSTIC FIGHTING STYLE: When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can replace two of the attacks with a casting of one of your level 1 or 2 Sorcerer spells that has a casting time of an action."

I'll take this as a cut & paste error from the Eldritch Knight.  Just tell us what this feature is actually intended to be so that we can give feedback.  thanks

I like the idea of the Spellguard Paladin, but its mechanical execution is either too resource intensive for the result or it doesn't seem to pack a punch. The following are considerations to make the Paladin Spellguard a more viable subclass.

Level 3 Features

• Guardian Bond
  • It costs a magic action, a channel divinity, and a reaction to give a one-time parry to an attack if the bonded creature is 5 ft from you.
  • This is alot of resources for a one-time benefit against an attack for a creature that has to be only 5ft away.
  • Instead, don't have it cost a reaction: just have the bonded creature gain the AC bonus if it's within 5ft of you, it's essentially a lesser warding bond, but no resistance, just the AC boost for the duration while they're within range. At level 6, when the aura of protection becomes active, the bond creature benefits from that new aura range.
• Subclass Spell List
  • Generally like the spell selection, but if the focus is to shut down casters, I'd consider the following:
    • Level 2: switch out See Invisibility for Hypnotic Pattern
    • Level 4: switch out Freedom of Movement for Banishment
    • Level 5: switch out Hallow for Synaptic Static
• Spellguard Strike
  • The reaction hit should hinder/impair the caster from casting the spell by forcing the caster to do a concentration check at disadvantage (like Mage Slayer)
  • A failure results in the caster rolling a spell attack roll with a d4 reduction (like Bane) or the caster's target gets to add a d4 to their saving throw (like Bless).
  • As this is a separate effect from Bane and Bless, its effects would stack
  • A successful reaction hit would still damage regardless if the added effect succeeds or fails

Level 15 Feature

• Spell-Breaking Blade
  • Since this is tied to Spellguard Strike, the added effect condition test remains, by forcing the caster to do a concentration check at disadvantage (like Mage Slayer)
  • A failure results in Counterspell being cast successfully while expending a spell slot (no need for another concentration check since the condition required a check to begin with), and the caster's spell fails but they get to keep that spell slot
  • A success results in the Level 3 Spellguard Strike failure of the added effect
    • The caster is essentially baned from the spell attack roll
    • The target of the spell is essentially blessed from the spell saving throw
  • A successful reaction hit would still damage regardless if the added effect succeeds or fails

Level 3 Guardian Bond's benefits align more with the channel divinity expenditure, the Level 3 spell adjustments align more with shutting down enemy casters, the Level 3 Spellguard Strike gives a Mage Slayer edge to the reaction, and Level 15 Spell-Breaking Blade improves upon the Level 3 Spellguard Strike feature.

What is wrong with maps in general?

Why does a simple process like the polygon reveal bug fix take so long?

New features should have already been added.

Imagine my disappointment when I realized this wasn't a Mystic (the Class) revival...

I like (albeit very little, there is some things that I wish were different but I am sure I could homebrew in some tasty flavourings myself) the Warlock subclass,
but that's because I'm an Always-Warlock sort of player.

The Build Potential!!! 

 I think the Monk should use Cleric, Warlock, or Wizard's spell lists and not be limited to just the Sorcerer's spell list. It feels the Sorcerer got tired of being one of the squishy ones and decided to be a martial class. Like the Way of the Shadow, the Ascendant Dragon, or Astral Plane monks had a mystic vibe about them. 

is the survey open to anyone else yet?

Please announce how long these survey windows are open for in the future, so "coming on january 22, until XXXXXX." 

To anyone else, WOTC most likely isn't going to read comments, if you aren't putting it in the survey, just consider that it's not going to be considered in their review. Fill the survey out.

Quote from AceCruzat >>

is the survey open to anyone else yet?

 Yeah, I can finally click on it and access the survey.

The Paladin subclass is to "reaction" focused and two of its abilities are counter intuitive. If you're body guarding your caster to be in your reach and aura, you're not going to have a reaction or range to strike the enemy caster. It needs a rework. Either make it a body-guard and caster support subclass or an anti-spellcaster class that goes all in on slaying the Lich. Abilities that ward the Paladin from magic and deal Charisma extra damage to spellcasters or, cause them to make concentration checks at disadvantage and prevent teleportation? 

The Monk getting to replace spells with attacks so late in the game strips away the fantasy of a spell caster monk. Most campaigns and modules end around what, levels 12-15? They should have the ability to replace their Bonus Action with spells so they can still use their action. Sorcerer also doesn't make a ton of sense as the spellcaster class type in my opinion. It should be Cleric-Enlightenment, Druid- Nirvana or the connection with the world, and Wizard- learned academics. 

The Warlock seems like another pet class, nothing fancy or interesting compared to the others. The vestige itself doesn't seem to offer anything significant enough to take it outside of access to the Cleric spell list? 

Rogue is cool. 

I like these.

The vestige companion needs to have its own turn so it isnt just a pact familiar. Like the Homunculus servant does. But I love the idea of a pet subclass in a class that already gets a pet. You can have an angel and a devil on both shoulders. Its Fun 

The rogue is bad, sorry. I like the Idea, but just try again.

 I like the monk 

While I am all for monk getting a 1/3 caster subclass and sorcerer's list does make sense aesthetically I would say sorcerer doesn't have a LOT that monk would benefit from directly.

That and I still really want to see Kensei Monk get attention. Give it Weapon Mastery and a Fighting style feat. Monk should have had mastery anyway but Kensei would be the next place to grant that.

The Warlock Subclass is definitely a JoJo's reference, the vestige is just a (potentially) over powered stand. Just my thoughts, it sounds cool though and also has so very serious story applications if the warlock brings the vestige back to power.

The Monk uses Sorcerer spells because their power sources are so similar. Monks gain their abilities through self-reflection and understanding, and sorcerous magic comes from one's own body and soul. Monks already have other ways to perform minor miracles, so I think it makes sense that they could specialize in harnessing their personal strands of the Weave inherent in every living creature. They wouldn't be appealing to any greater power outside of themselves like most holy warriors do, and they're just not about the scientific hyper-analyzation that wizards use. (This is all from a thematic standpoint and I do not worry about game balance as long as something is at least decent)

Your other opinions are fair, but I personally like to see something other than the wizard/cleric lists are being used.

P.S.: As a fan of both Warlocks and Pets, I can assure you the whole dead-god deal creates wonderful story opportunities for both the player and the DM.

actually the sorcerer spell list has some movement buff spells and other spells that deal damage when you move past people. so personally i like it for a dc's flash build.

These aren't good...like at all. The rogue is the best, but its literally a bastardized spelltheif but somehow less interesting.

The monk is just...bladesinger. Weirdly bladesinger like ideas are some of my favorites, this just seems a bit uninspired and lame. Its like you had no better idea then...spellcasting monk? I really don't even understand why this is the desing for a psionic monk (3.5 is your game...there is ripe picking for this idea there, wink wink)

Paladin is boring, although the idea is cool. Its like you thought this class will get the item and then yay.....thats it? Seriously, its a subclass not just a theme. Although a lot of these issues are inherit to the terrible subclass system anyway. It actually isn't absolutely terrible just boring as can possibly be. I really don't think you had a full idea here.

Your warlock doesn't make sense. Seriously. It being a summoner focus...eh...which im not even sure I agree with as its a bit ambigious how this works with the base classes own features. This also is a flavor fail. What do vestiges how to do with summoning?

Stop trying to rush these out and actually work on them. This is terrible. And i usually like UA...

The Mystic monk needs some signature utility/flavourful feat on level 3. Similar to Arcane Rogue having Mage Hand Legerdemain. I imagine at least something like improved Prestidigitation without verbal and somatic component and with improved range. And possibly arcana proficiency to go with it.

But otherwise I'm really excited for the Mystic Monk and Vestige Warlock!