I’ve checked out many playtest paperwork within the final two years. Whereas I’m doubtful that I’ve completed a lot to assist anybody with their designs, I get pleasure from bite-size items of design that allow me dig deep once I often need to do a extra surface-level have a look at some parts, particularly concerning subclasses.
We’ve already regarded on the Worlds Past Quantity’s Witch class playtest, however now they’ve launched their subsequent playtest, the Wizard of the Citadel subclass. Wizards of the Citadel symbolize extremely educated wizards working for a strong group. They’re students, intelligence brokers, and navy officers in some methods.
Disclaimer
My copy of this playtest comes from supporting the Worlds Past Quantity Patreon, which grants entry to varied extras, together with these playtests. I’ve not had the chance to play with these choices, or run for a personality utilizing them, however I’m fairly comfy with D&D 5e, each as a DM and a participant. Brandes Stoddard, one of many designers who labored on this, is an efficient pal of mine, however I gained’t let that sway me an excessive amount of.
Worlds Past Quantity Playtest: New Wizard Subclass–Wizard of the Citadel
Idea Design: Aabria Iyengar, Brennan Lee Mulligan, Mazey Veselak
Design: Dan Dillon, Brennan Lee Mulligan, Hannah Rose, Brandes Stoddard, Mazey Veselak
Playtester in Chief: Aabria Iyengar
Format: Ruby Lavin
Illustrators: Corey Brickley, Tucker Donovan, Lorena Lammer
Experimental Parameters
The playtest PDF is six pages lengthy. In the event you’re used to seeing different playtest paperwork, this one will most likely stand out as a result of it has the format generally seen in closing releases and contains full-color art work. Each web page of this doc has playtest content material.
Numerous sidebars present setting-specific data from the precise play sequence’ setting and data on how some points of the subclass work in a different way between the 2014 and 2024 D&D guidelines.
Going to College
The earlier playtest doc, which included the witch, was a little bit extra normal. Witches are an idea that may exist as a category in nearly any D&D setting, and the category didn’t have any particular interactions with setting-specific parts. The Wizard of the Citadel are a little bit totally different in that they symbolize wizards educated by the Citadel, particular group that exists within the World Past Quantity setting. They symbolize a strong group that not solely safeguards their native lands but in addition exists as proof of a wizard’s significance. Some wizards don’t go to the Citadel, however are they value speaking about?
Whereas this subclass signifies a wizard educated on the citadel, the setting data signifies that not each wizard educated on the Citadel takes this subclass, and there are particular roles for different specializations, corresponding to Abjurers.
As a result of a faction closely influences this within the sport world, it is going to be value noting how effectively this subclass would translate to a unique setting, which can not have the identical assumptions because the setting of the AP.
The Wizard of the Citadel subclass will get these options on the indicated ranges:
- third–Spellcraft Secrets and techniques, Ritual Diagrams
- sixth–Utilized Arcana
- tenth–Cryptic Rider
- 14th–Grasp of the Citadel
Spellcraft Secrets and techniques (third)
The primary subclass capability represents the specialised coaching that the Citadel offers its college students, representing secrets and techniques they maintain that aren’t generally recognized to different wizards. When the wizard first takes this subclass, they choose up three of those secrets and techniques and achieve a brand new secret for each extra stage they take within the wizard class. The wizard positive aspects the flexibility to switch a spell with one among these secrets and techniques a lot of instances, which is the same as their proficiency bonus for each quick or lengthy relaxation.
The doc contains over thirty secrets and techniques. Two of those choices modify how Counterspell works, and the doc notes easy methods to make the most of the secrets and techniques with the 2014 model of the spell.
The secrets and techniques permit spells to create a secondary impact, modify the foundations for focusing on characters, negate different spell set off situations, make counterspell simpler, trigger backlash to folks breaking your focus, enhance your efficient spell stage, use different folks as spell notes from which to manifest spells; reposition summoned creatures, alter the variety of targets for a spell, change the save used to counter a spell, and different results with an analogous scope.
As a result of this subclass is being developed along side an precise play, listening to a number of the reveals on the Patreon gives extra perception. This subclass characteristic arose from a want to have a method for wizards to switch spells equally to sorcerers however in a method that feels extra scholarly and particular.
It’s laborious to gauge the complete impact of a few of these secrets and techniques outdoors of play. I like their really feel, and I believe they get throughout the concept of a particular “secret” added to spell crafting moderately than the sort of freestyle jazz a sorcerer does with their sorcery factors. My intestine feeling is that they get method too many of those secrets and techniques. It makes the person selections and the flexibility to swap out secrets and techniques when the wizard ranges up, much less significant after they have a double-digit quantity of them by eighth stage. I do know there’s a restrict to how usually they’ll use secrets and techniques, and I don’t know that it’s a sport steadiness problem, as a lot as tuning the fitting really feel for making selections matter and have affect.
Ritual Diagrams (third)
The Citadel Wizard can draw a diagram as a part of a ritual, and so long as the diagram is energetic, you don’t have to make use of the ritual casting time every time you solid the identical ritual contained in the diagram. That is restricted by proficiency bonus, with every diagram functioning for a particular ritual spell.
Drawing exact diagrams is a kind of issues I’ve at all times pictured wizards doing, so I prefer to have a mechanic that performs with that picture. A part of me needs to say it’s best to need to reset diagrams on daily basis, so that you don’t have a spot the place you solid a ritual that’s at all times out there, however however, I believe that simply me reflexively not wanting something to be too everlasting. Functionally, the flexibility to solid your rituals at non-ritual velocity shall be balanced by the truth that it’s good to be in a single spot, which means it’s good to have that spot secured or have the flexibility to backtrack to it. It’s additionally explicitly known as out that it takes an motion to wreck the diagram by somebody inclined to take action.
I do know wizards are already burdened with extra necessities to spend gold than different courses, however possibly, there needs to be a price concerned within the materials used to attract the diagram.
Utilized Arcana (sixth)
Utilized Arcana introduces a sure course of examine that the Wizard of the Citadel has practiced. Every one among these Arcanas give the wizard proficiency in some sort of instrument. The arcana embody the next:
- Alchemy
- Celestial Navigation
- Forge Magic
- Inscription
Many of the advantages of the Alchemy Arcana contain consuming potions, so I think about folks within the alchemy class spend a number of time consuming for observe. You additionally do extra harm with alchemical provides that can be utilized in fight and get extra therapeutic from potions that restore hit factors.
Celestial navigation will get you two further spells in your spellbook. I’ll allow you to guess them, however they allow you to immediately transfer from one place to a different. You may as well double your tempo for those who’re navigating with instruments or carrying a map, which makes you higher than a ranger, however hey, if paladins can outclass them, why not wizards?
Forge magic will get you one other pair of spells in your spellbook and a further merchandise attunement slot, however provided that its a hoop, rod, employees, wand, or weapon (presumably one thing that may be solid and thus would profit out of your particular information).
Inscription offers you an opportunity that you simply don’t expend a scroll if you solid a spell from one, you’ll be able to inscribe spells at half the associated fee, and also you don’t use scrolls if you use them to inscribe a spell.
I believe gaining two free spells associated to an Arcana in your spellbook is a pleasant characteristic. Good sufficient that I want that had been commonplace for every Arcana. I perceive that utilizing spells from the SRD makes it laborious to search out good 2nd and 4th-level choices for Alchemy and Inscription, however I might find it irresistible if all of them had an analogous base. Inscription’s advantages could also be value not getting spells, in case your DM provides a number of scrolls into the treasure you discover.
Cryptic Rider (tenth)
It is a difficult capability. You solid a fifth stage or larger spell, and if you do, you’ll be able to solid a single motion, single goal spell that hits a goal that saved towards the preliminary spell. While you set off this capability, the primary spell you solid grants a bonus on saves towards it.
That is a capability meant to symbolize having a backup plan that outmaneuvers your enemies. I do know that is going to get you to burn by means of fifth stage or larger spells, which is its limiter, however I ponder how out of hand this may get in case you have an concept of what saves your opponents are unhealthy at, and you continue to have a reasonably affordable probability to get the complete impact from each spells.
This can be much less flavorful, however I might moderately have a proficiency bonus restricted capability to solid a spell with a casting time of 1 motion as a response when somebody saves towards your spell. However I may very well be fully shedding the “tricksy” feeling of this, making it that simple.
Grasp of the Citadel (14th)
That is meant to point out your capability to change spells as you solid them in a method that displays figuring out math, diagrams, parameters, vitality dispersal charges, and enjoyable educational stuff. The modifications which can be a part of this class characteristic are:
- Geometric Substitution–change an space impact of a spell that isn’t an emanation
- Vary Substitution–change contact to ranged or ranged spell to melee spell
- Elemental Substitution–change harm kind to something however Pressure
- Statistical Substitution–selected to make use of common harm after you roll harm
Including two of those to a single spell feels highly effective. Elemental and Statistical Substitution will most likely be the most well-liked secondary results to use. However it is a once-per-short or lengthy relaxation capability. It additionally has a characteristic that I like (that I don’t suppose I’ve seen shortly), expending a spell slot to recharge the flexibility with no relaxation. I like these.
A Fast Have a look at Spellcraft Secrets and techniques
I’m not going to do a deep dive into all of those; there are only a few that jumped out at me that I needed to the touch on.
Secret of the Burning Phrase–I’m unsure if I might give it any profit for eighth—or Ninth-level spells, simply to maintain from producing confusion with tenth—or Eleventh-level spells. I don’t suppose it’s an excessive amount of to imagine that some spells are too highly effective to profit extra even for those who actually pour your coronary heart and soul into them.
Secret of Immurement–I can see this secret inflicting points with Tiny Hut, utilizing the spell to tear up anybody outdoors whereas staying secure on the within.
Secret of the Peaceable Summons–I believe I might reword this to say that if the creature can take the assault motion or use spells that have an effect on others, it can not achieve this if modified by this secret.
Secret of the Repaired Kind–I don’t suppose it is a downside, a lot as I’m nonetheless going over the way it alters the assumed therapeutic financial system so as to add this to a spell that will get to take impact as effectively. However I’ve additionally nonetheless acquired to wrap my head across the elevated therapeutic throughout the board in 2024.
Secret of Spell-Shadowing–This appears a little bit random and virtually prefer it needs to be two separate, extra reliable secrets and techniques.
Closing Ideas
Brennan and Aabria, when speaking about this subclass, talked about that this isn’t the sort of subclass you set within the participant’s handbook as one among your first choices, and its a subclass for “magic nerds,” i.e. characters that know in regards to the “science” behind magic. That ready me for a extra advanced subclass than this truly is. I agree, it’s enjoying with choices and choices that a number of gamers aren’t going to wish to cope with.
In different phrases, it’s not as advanced as I assumed it could be. It isn’t a easy class, but when it’s not easy, that’s by intentional design, not conceptual drift.
So far as this being a subclass that can be utilized outdoors of the setting for which it was written, I don’t suppose that’s too tough. It will match with academically educated wizards taught in a facility with ample assets and examine materials. I may image this getting used to mannequin a spellcaster educated in one among Silverymoon’s schools or a scholar from Zobeck. As a result of it does have a number of tactical functions that might not be overt and may very well be helpful for espionage, I may see this modeling a Cormyrean Conflict Wizard effectively (you recognize, that class that, due to the identify, everybody thinks is about battlefield magic, after they’re extra like Cormyr’s secret police).
Every thing that causes any twitch in my mind is a matter of calibration moderately than being too far off monitor. Cryptic Rider often is the factor that bothers me probably the most, and I’m unsure if it’s actually a problem or if it simply isn’t expressed in a method my mind is comfy with.
